Easy Zesty Lemon Blueberry French Toast Casserole
A bright and comforting French toast casserole featuring zesty lemon and juicy blueberries, perfect for a quick and delicious breakfast or brunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes to 2 hours 5 minutes (including 1 hour soaking time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups day-old brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups whole milk (or almond milk for dairy-free option)
- Zest of 2 medium lemons
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw if frozen)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for greasing the baking dish)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Cut day-old brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes. If bread is fresh, toast cubes lightly for 5 minutes at 350°F to prevent sogginess.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest, lemon juice, and cinnamon until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth and frothy.
- Place bread cubes in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour custard mixture evenly over bread and gently press down to soak all pieces.
- Sprinkle blueberries evenly on top and fold lightly into the custard-soaked bread, being careful not to burst the berries.
- Cover dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight, to allow custard to absorb.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove casserole from fridge and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until top is golden brown and custard is set but slightly jiggly in center. Test doneness with a knife.
- Let casserole cool for 10 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
Use day-old bread or lightly toast fresh bread to prevent sogginess. Do not thaw frozen blueberries before adding to avoid mushiness. Cover with foil if top browns too quickly. Soaking overnight is ideal but 1 hour soak works. For dairy-free, substitute milk and butter accordingly. Fresh lemon zest is preferred over dried for best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 10
Keywords: French toast casserole, lemon blueberry casserole, breakfast casserole, brunch recipe, easy breakfast, lemon zest, blueberry, custard bake