Name: Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 loaf (16 ounces) brioche or challah, sliced into 1-inch cubes; 2 6 oz. half pints blueberries (12 ounces total); 2 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, softened (16 ounces total); 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 6 eggs, room temperature; 2 cups half and half, room temperature; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 2 teaspoons lemon zest; 1/4 teaspoon salt; Blueberry sauce; Berry syrup like boysenberry (store-bought); Maple syrup; Strawberry syrup

Nothing says weekend comfort food quite like this Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe. It’s that perfect blend of fluffy brioche, creamy cheesecake layers, and bursts of fresh blueberries baked into one warm, irresistible bake. Trust me, once you make it, this will be your go-to brunch treat.

This image shows a white baking dish filled with a layered bread pudding with blueberries. The bottom and middle layers are made of golden-brown toasted bread cubes that have a soft, moist texture. Scattered evenly between and on top of the bread cubes are fresh, deep blue blueberries adding a pop of color. The surface of the pudding looks slightly shiny and custardy, with the edges of the bread browned and crisp. A golden spoon is partially scooping out a serving, showing the layers and some of the blueberries inside. The background is a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can’t tell you how many times I've pulled this Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe out for family gatherings and cozy weekend mornings. It’s comforting, bursting with flavor, and surprisingly simple to prep ahead of time, so you wake up to breakfast bliss.

Simple Overnight Prep: You assemble it the night before, and wake up to a casserole that’s ready to bake — saving you precious morning time.
Fluffy Yet Creamy Texture: The cream cheese custard makes every bite silky and rich, taking classic French toast up a notch.
Fresh Blueberry Burst: The blueberries add a natural sweetness and pop of color that wakes up your taste buds instantly.
Versatile Serving Options: Whether you drizzle maple syrup or homemade blueberry sauce, it pairs beautifully with your favorite breakfast toppings.

A white plate holds a patchwork of soft, golden yellow cake pieces, each soaked and layered unevenly with a thick, glossy, dark purple-blue blueberry sauce and whole blueberries. The blueberries are shiny and juicy, piled generously on top and around chunks of the cake, with some sauce dripping slightly on the plate. A gold spoon rests on the lower right, scooping a mix of both the yellow cake and the rich blueberry topping. The plate sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe plays a key role in creating the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Brioche or challah gives the base a tender, buttery crumb, while cream cheese enriches the custard, making it luscious and creamy rather than just eggy.

Flat lay of a sliced loaf of brioche bread cut into cubes, fresh plump blueberries scattered naturally, two blocks of smooth cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, six whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl filled with creamy half and half, a small white ceramic bowl of pale yellow lemon juice, a small white ceramic bowl of finely grated lemon zest, a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract, and a small white ceramic bowl of fine salt, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Brioche or Challah Bread: I prefer brioche for its buttery richness, but challah works beautifully too. Just toast the cubes slightly to help them hold up in the custard.
Blueberries: Fresh or frozen, they add that juicy burst and gorgeous color. If you’re using frozen, just brush off excess frost — no need to thaw.
Cream Cheese: Softened at room temperature, it blends smoothly into the custard and brings a subtle tang that makes this casserole unique.
Granulated Sugar: It sweetens the custard just right without overpowering the natural blueberry flavor.
Eggs: Room temperature eggs whisk into the custard effortlessly, giving the bake structure and fluffiness.
Half and Half: Keeps the custard creamy and rich without being too heavy like heavy cream.
Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla warms up all the flavors and complements the cream cheese beautifully.
Lemon Juice and Zest: The zingy brightness cuts through the richness and pairs wonderfully with the blueberries.
Salt: Just a pinch to enhance all the sweet, tart, and creamy notes.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the things I love is how you can tweak this Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe to fit your style or pantry. Whether you want to swap out fruits or change up the sweetness level, it’s super flexible.

Variation: I’ve tried adding raspberries along with blueberries, and the tart contrast adds another delicious layer. You can definitely use mixed berries depending on what you have on hand.
Make it dairy-free: Use coconut cream instead of half and half and a dairy-free cream cheese substitute. The texture will be a touch different but still very tasty.
Spice it up: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the custard gives a cozy twist that pairs beautifully in fall and winter months.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe

Step 1: Toast the Bread Cubes

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Spread the brioche or challah cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet—this is crucial so they toast evenly. Bake them about 10 minutes, just until they’re lightly toasted on the outside but still soft in the center. This little step helps prevent sogginess when soaked in custard and adds that slight toasty note everyone loves. Keep an eye on them so they don’t crisp up too much or burn.

Step 2: Whip Up the Cream Cheese Custard

In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy—no lumps here. Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating well in between. Then, gradually pour in the half and half, followed by the vanilla extract, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Whatever you do, make sure these ingredients are near room temperature; cold mixing just won’t give you that perfectly smooth custard. If you spot tiny white flecks of cream cheese, don’t stress—those melt away during baking.

Step 3: Assemble Your Casserole

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly, then layer half the toasted bread cubes evenly in the bottom. Sprinkle half the blueberries over the bread. Pour half the custard mixture evenly on top. Repeat those layers with the remaining bread, blueberries, and custard. I like to gently press down with a spatula or my hands so the bread absorbs as much custard as it can (don’t worry if the tops peek out). Cover the dish tightly with foil and pop it into the fridge overnight, or for at least a few hours, so all those flavors meld beautifully.

Step 4: Bake Your Dreamy Casserole

When you’re ready, take the casserole out of the fridge and let it come closer to room temp while you preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake covered with foil for 30 minutes to keep it nice and moist, then remove the foil and bake for another 15 to 25 minutes uncovered. You’ll know it’s done when a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, and the internal temp hits 165°F—this keeps that perfect creamy center without being runny.

Top Tip

After making this Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe several times, I’ve learned a few tricks that take it to the next level and help avoid common pitfalls.

Room Temperature Ingredients: This is non-negotiable for smooth custard! I always warm my eggs by placing them in warm (not hot) water for 20 minutes and microwave half and half just until it feels room temp to the touch.
Don’t Skip Toasting the Bread: It sounds like an extra step but really makes a difference in texture by giving the bread structure before soaking.
Careful with Blueberries: Using frozen blueberries directly works great, just brush off any frost so you don’t add extra moisture or cool down the custard too much.
Press Gently: When assembling, don’t smash hard — just enough so the custard covers most of the bread to avoid dry patches and help even absorption.

How to Serve Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe

blueberry french toast casserole - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually top this casserole with a generous drizzle of blueberry sauce made from scratch because it amplifies the blueberry flavor beautifully. Maple syrup is always a great fallback if you’re short on time. Fresh mint leaves and a light dusting of powdered sugar also add a perfect finishing touch for presentation and flavor.

Side Dishes

To keep things classic, I like pairing this casserole with crispy bacon or turkey sausage. A simple side of fresh fruit salad balances the richness nicely. On special occasions, a light green salad with vinaigrette can be a refreshing contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthday brunches or holidays, I sometimes bake this casserole in individual ramekins for a personalized touch. Another fun idea is layering it in a trifle dish with whipped cream on top and extra berries scattered around for a stunning visual that tastes just as good as it looks!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I tightly cover my leftover casserole with plastic wrap or pop it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge where it keeps well up to 5 days. The flavors only deepen, and it reheats beautifully for quick breakfasts or snacks.

Freezing

I’ve frozen leftovers wrapped tightly in plastic and foil, and after thawing overnight in the fridge, the casserole reheats well with only a slight texture change—still delicious and convenient for busy mornings.

Reheating

The easiest way is microwaving individual slices for 30 to 45 seconds to get warm without drying out. For a crisper top, reheat covered in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe without overnight chilling?

Yes, you can! Skip toasting the bread and mix the bread cubes directly with the custard to ensure full saturation. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes (or longer in the fridge) before baking. The texture will be a bit less fluffy but still very tasty.

Can I use frozen blueberries instead of fresh?

Absolutely! Just use them straight from the freezer without thawing. Brush off any excess ice to avoid extra moisture in the casserole. Frozen blueberries work wonderfully and add that juicy burst upon baking.

What’s the best bread to use for this casserole?

I recommend brioche or challah bread for their soft, buttery texture that soaks up the custard without getting too soggy. Thick slices cut into 1-inch cubes work best to maintain structure during baking.

Can I make a half batch or smaller portions?

Yes! You can easily adjust the servings using the sliding scale on the recipe card. For a half batch, bake it in an 8×8-inch pan and reduce the baking time to about 30-35 minutes, checking doneness as usual.

Final Thoughts

This Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe has become one of my absolute favorites for lazy weekend mornings or special brunches with friends and family. It’s comforting and impressive without being complicated. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do – it’s the kind of cozy recipe you’ll want to revisit again and again, especially when those sweet blueberry moments are calling your name.