Baked Blueberry Lemon French Toast

Prep: 5 min.

Cook: 2.5 hours

Serves: 8

Tired of the same old morning routine? Get ready to elevate your breakfast game with a delightful twist on a classic favorite: Baked Blueberry Lemon French Toast!

French toast casseroles are perfect for a weekend brunch with family and friends, a cozy Christmas morning delight, or even a comforting weeknight dinner. It's a delicious and satisfying dish that can easily feed a crowd, making it ideal for whenever you want to treat you and your family to a little culinary indulgence—you deserve it!

Picture this: warm, custardy goodness infused with the tangy zing of lemons and the burst of sweet blueberries, all baked to golden perfection. Not only do fresh blueberries add a burst of freshness and a pop of color to your French toast bake, but they’ll also take your taste buds on a flavor adventure that’ll make every morning a celebration.

What’s the best bread to use for a French toast bake?

Choosing the right bread is crucial for a delectable French toast bake. The ideal bread should balance texture and flavor, allowing it to soak up the custard mixture while maintaining its structure during baking. We recommend our King’s Hawaiian sweet bread!

King's Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls add a sweetness to your French toast bake. Their delicious flavor makes for a unique twist on the classic recipe.

How can you avoid a soggy baked French toast casserole?

Fresh bread tends to become overly mushy when soaked in the custard, so we recommend using slightly stale bread. This is the perfect dish for clearing out your pantry of bread that’s on its way out! If your bread is fresh, consider toasting it in the oven for a few minutes to remove excess moisture.

How do you know when French toast is fully cooked?

Your bake should have a uniform golden-brown color over the top layer. This indicates that the custard has set and the custard has caramelized, creating a delicious crust.

Whether it's a lazy Sunday brunch or a special occasion breakfast, this dish is bound to steal the show. So, go ahead, dive in, and enjoy the magic of fruity breakfast bliss!

1. Build Your Berrylicious Bake

Want to upgrade your French toast bake? Look no further than King's Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls. Their buttery, slightly sweet flavor profile adds an extra layer of indulgence to this classic breakfast dish.

To turn these little rolls into a culinary masterpiece, start by slicing them into bite-sized cubes. Then, place a layer of cubed bread evenly into a 9 x 13 baking dish coated with nonstick spray. Top with blueberries in an even layer, repeating this process twice and ending with a layer of bread.

2. Bring on the Flavor

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This creamy custard mixture will be the base of your French toast bake.

Once you’ve combined everything, pour the mixture evenly over the bread. Cover the baking dish and place it in the refrigerator for at least two hours (or overnight). The longer, the better—we want every cube to be fully saturated.

Soaking allows the bread (or in the case of a French toast bake, bread cubes) to absorb the flavorful custard mixture for a rich, sweet, and aromatic flavor. It also ensures that the bread becomes fully saturated with the egg mixture, leading to a soft and bread-pudding-like interior after baking. This creates a pleasant contrast with the crispy and golden outer layer, giving the French toast bake a delightful texture.

3. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, it’s time to prepare your crumb topping for a delightful crunch with every bite.

4. Create Your Crumble

To make the crumb topping, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Then, add cold butter and toss the mixture to coat.

Use your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. Now, here comes the fun part—sprinkle that crumbly topping all over the top like you're creating a sweet, buttery mosaic.

Remember: Crumb toppings can be easily customized to suit different flavor preferences. You can experiment with different ingredients, like different types of sugars, spices, or even citrus zest, to add a unique twist.

5. Into the Oven It Goes!

Bake your Blueberry Lemon French Toast in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until it’s puffed up, golden brown, and smelling like pure bliss. Seriously, your kitchen will smell like a breakfast wonderland.

6. Garnish and Dig In

Once your French toast casserole emerges from the oven, let it cool for a minute. Then, sprinkle powdered sugar over the top.

Pile on those fresh berries or banana slices for a burst of color and freshness. And if you’re feeling extra fancy, a generous dollop of whipped cream, honey, or warm maple syrup on top is the ultimate crowning glory.

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