Berry French Toast Casserole

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Berry French Toast Casserole is an easy make-ahead breakfast! The flavorful pops of fresh fruit and melt-in-your-mouth buttery streusel topping, are delicious. It’s easily our favorite french toast casserole!

Why You’ll Love This Berry French Toast Casserole Recipe

• Bright pops of fruit. I have always loved a classic overnight French toast casserole, but this one has little something extra special. The addition of seasonal berries adds bright pops of flavor and a bit of added moisture that’s just to die for.
• Buttery streusel topping. I love the buttery, cinnamon-y streusel topping on this sweet breakfast treat. It adds even more flavor and moisture.
• Great to make-ahead. This French toast casserole is so quick and easy to throw together and then pop in the fridge the night before you want to bake it up. It’s the perfect make-ahead breakfast/brunch recipe.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this berry French toast casserole. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.

• Sourdough or French bread – I personally love sourdough bread, but any crusty bread will work. You don’t want something too soft or it won’t hold up well.
• Blueberries and strawberries – You could even add raspberries, if you’d like. I prefer fresh berries, but thawed frozen berries should be ok. Just keep in mind that they may be a little more mushy.
• Eggs – Use large eggs, not medium or extra large.
• Milk – I recommend using whole milk or 2% milk.
• Heavy whipping cream
• Granulated sugar and light brown sugar – I like using both. The light brown sugar deepens the flavor profile of the custard and the streusel topping.
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon – I love the way cinnamon and berries taste together. It’s one of my favorite combos! If you want to add a little extra, go for it!
• All-purpose flour
• Salt – For flavor, so your casserole isn’t bland.
• Butter – I use unsalted butter. If you have salted butter on hand, you can use that. Just leave out some or all of the added salt.

How To Make Overnight Berry French Toast Casserole

Here’s a quick overview of how to make this brunch delight. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

• Lay the foundation. Cut the bread into 1-inch chunks and scatter the bread and fruit in the bottom of a greased 9X13-inch casserole dish.
• Add the custard. Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla, and cinnamon and pour the mixture evenly over the bread and berries.
• Chill. Cover the casserole and chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
• Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

• Make the streusel topping. Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Then cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Crumble the streusel topping over the casserole.
• Bake. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. I don’t cover the casserole while it bakes, but you can. It may just need a few more minutes in the oven.

How Do You Know When French Toast Casserole Is Done?

It can be a tad tricky to tell when french toast casserole is done. You want it to be a little liquidy in the center, but you need to ensure the liquid is from the berries (rather than undercooked custard).

Stick a butter knife into the middle of the casserole and push it to the side a bit. If you can still see milky/eggy-looking liquid, bake the casserole for a bit longer. If you see a colorful, fruity liquid, those are likely just fruit juices. Your casserole is done and ready to enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Before diving headfirst into this recipe, take a look at these simple tips and tricks.

• Use a crusty bread. Soft bread with more moisture will not soak up the custard properly and will likely yield soggy results. So go with a nice crusty bread. If you want to use a softer bread (such as challah or brioche), let the bread cubes sit out for a few hours to dry up before adding the custard.
• Grease the baking dish. This French toast casserole loves to stick to the bottom of the baking dish so be sure to grease your 9X13 liberally before loading it up with bread, fruit, and custard.
• Don’t skip the chill. Once you pour the custard over the bread and fruit, give the casserole at least several hours to chill in the fridge. During this time, the bread will absorb the sweet, creamy custard.
• Cook it how you like it. Some people like their French toast casserole a little more cooked and firmer while others like it less cooked and more custard-like. The choice is yours. More time in the oven will give you a firmer casserole. Less time will give you gooey-er, custard-like results.

Fun Variations

• Fun with fruit. If you aren’t a berry person, you can totally use a different fruit of your choosing. Chopped peaches and apricots would be fun. So would chopped mango.
• Tropical twist. You can also replace the berries with chopped mango and/or pineapple, add a dash of coconut extract to the custard, and sprinkle some flaked coconut over the topping.
• Try it with chocolate. If you would like to fold some white chocolate or dark chocolate chips in with the fruit or sprinkle them on top, you totally can.

Serving Suggestions

I like to keep things simple and serve this overnight berry french toast casserole with a drizzle of warm maple syrup and a swirl of Homemade Whipped Cream. Sometimes, when I’m in an extra sweet mood, I’ll dust the casserole with powdered sugar and finish it with a drizzle of Hot Fudge Sauce or Strawberry Sauce.

Looking for more fun brunch items? This French toast goes so well with my Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole or a couple of simple Hard Boiled Eggs. Round out the meal with a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice or my favorite Green Smoothie.

Proper Storage

• Refrigerator. Once the French toast casserole has cooled to room temperature, cover the baking dish tightly with a layer of plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container. You can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer. Allow the casserole to cool completely and then wrap the baking dish tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap. Alternatively, arrange slices in a single layer in an airtight container. You can store the leftovers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in the fridge before reheating.
• To reheat. While you can enjoy leftover berry French toast casserole cold, it’s much better reheated. Remove the plastic from the casserole dish or transfer leftover slices to a baking dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until the casserole is heated through. You can also microwave a serving or two in 30-second intervals until warm.

More French Toast Casserole Recipes

• Overnight Cinnamon French Toast Casserole
• Overnight Baked Banana French Toast Casserole
• Overnight Pumpkin Spice Baked French Toast Casserole
• Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole
• Overnight Birthday Cake French Toast Casserole

This recipe was updated 6/25/2024. If you’d like the original recipe, you can download this PDF.

Print