Pancake Casserole Breakfast With Sausage and Berries

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for dish (28 g)
• 2 cups buttermilk pancake mix (240 g)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk (360 g)
• 4 large eggs (200 g)
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup (105 g)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10 g)
• 8 ounces fully cooked breakfast sausage, chopped (227 g)
• 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries (225 g)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (1 g)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, optional (55 g)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (1 g)

Instructions

1. Prep dish. Set a rack in the center and heat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch dish, coating corners well. Place melted butter in a large mixing bowl and let it cool briefly so it will not tighten the egg mixture.
2. Whisk liquids. Crack eggs into bowl with butter. Whisk in milk, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth and evenly colored. The syrup should disappear into the liquid before dry ingredients go in.
3. Add mix. Add pancake mix, cinnamon, and salt. Stir with a spatula just until dry streaks disappear; small lumps are welcome. Fold in sausage and frozen blueberries, using broad, gentle turns so berries do not break.
4. Fill pan. Scrape batter into prepared dish and smooth top gently. Tap dish twice on counter to level batter, then arrange any visible sausage pieces and blueberries evenly rather than leaving them piled at one end.
5. Bake. Bake uncovered for 32 to 38 minutes, until lightly golden and set in center. A thin knife near middle should not show wet batter, and center should reach 160°F. Lay foil loosely over top if it browns early.
6. Rest and slice. Rest casserole 10 minutes on rack before cutting 12 squares. Serve warm with extra maple syrup, yogurt, or sliced bananas. For neat portions, use a thin metal spatula and wipe it between cuts.

Notes

• Keep frozen blueberries frozen until folding them in. Thawed fruit releases more juice and can leave purple pockets around the slices.
• Use fully cooked sausage, not raw sausage, because the small pieces are simply warmed as the pancake bakes. Chop pieces no larger than half-inch.
• A standard 9-by-13-inch dish gives the intended thickness. A smaller, deeper dish needs extra time; check the center rather than relying on the timer alone.

Nutrition Facts