Blueberry French Toast Casserole With Berries Between

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (14 g)
• 1 French loaf, day-old, cubed (680 g)
• 2 cups blueberries (300 g)
• 8 large eggs (400 g)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk (360 g)
• 1 cup half-and-half (240 g)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10 g)
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (6 g)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (3 g)
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar (70 g)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (30 g)
• 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (42 g)

Instructions

1. Prep dish. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spread bread cubes on a rimmed pan and bake at 300°F for 10 minutes, stirring once, until dry at the edges but not browned. Cool while you prepare the custard.
2. Whisk custard. Whisk eggs, milk, half-and-half, granulated sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and cinnamon in a large bowl until smooth. Let stand 2 minutes, then whisk again to distribute the zest and spices.
3. Layer berries. Scatter one third of bread in the dish and top with half the blueberries. Repeat once, then finish with remaining bread. Pour custard evenly over everything and press gently with a spatula until cubes are mostly moistened.
4. Chill. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Set the dish on the counter while the oven heats to 350°F. Stir brown sugar, flour, and cold butter together until clumps form.
5. Bake. Scatter topping over the casserole and bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes. It is ready when the top is deeply golden and the center reaches 160°F. Tent loosely with foil if the top darkens early.
6. Rest and serve. Rest the casserole 15 minutes on a rack before cutting. Slice into 12 squares and use a thin spatula for lifting. Serve warm with maple syrup, yogurt, or whipped cream.

Notes

• Fresh berries give cleaner color; frozen berries create more purple juices, and both work. Keep frozen berries in the freezer until layering, and do not rinse them.
• Use a thermometer in the center instead of relying on the browned top. From an overnight chill, add 5 minutes before checking, since a cold dish may need the longer bake time.

Nutrition Facts