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Overnight French Toast Casserole in Red, White & Blue

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Overnight French Toast Casserole is an easy make-ahead breakfast recipe perfect for easy weekend mornings or to feed a crowd. 

Baking pan of Overnight French Toast Casserole in Red, White and Blue with a single serving on white plate

 Updated May 17, 2018

I love a long weekend especially when I have special recipes on hand to make it easier and more fun.

My priority is spending time with friends and family, not slaving in the kitchen. Warmer weather makes it easy to pop things on the grill without much effort, saving lots of prep time and clean-up for lunch and dinner.

Breakfast should be just as easy shouldn’t it? What could start a day better than overnight French toast in a make ahead breakfast casserole?!

Baking dish of gluten-free Overnight French Toast Casserole with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries

I’m sharing a family favorite today that is perfect when hosting a houseful or just wanting a Sunday brunch feel without the slaving to make it happen.

A make-ahead breakfast casserole is the ticket, especially when it can be made the night before.

I originally shared a holiday version of this eggnog (Overnight Strawberry-Eggnog French Toast Breakfast Casserole). It makes breakfast festive and delicious with a special holiday flavor signature of eggnog.

This version is perfect for the Memorial Day weekend (or July 4th) with a little bit of red, white and blue!

Mouthwatering ingredients like strawberry preserves, cream cheese and fresh berries will make this a new favorite!

A single serving of Overnight French Toast Casserole with berries on a white plate with a red handled spoon

Overnight French Toast – An Any Day Favorite Breakfast

Easily made either with gluten or gluten-free bread, the combination of the baguette, strawberry preserves, Neufchatel (light cream cheese) and an egg-milk mixture does not become soggy overnight as one might imagine.

Instead it bakes up with a crunchy, toasted bread top covering a bread pudding underneath.

Candidly my family is happy to nosh on this for any meal of snack when I make it.

The flavor is irresistible. The homey flavor of strawberry preserves combined with the tangy light cream cheese, nutmeg, brown sugar and berries with the custardy texture of the bottom layer for a comfort food breakfast recipe you’ll love.

A Good Baguette Is Key for a great Overnight French Toast Casserole

The texture of a baguette as opposed to regular bread is the secret to this delicious recipe!

It allows the overnight soaking and still holds it’s structure (though the bottom layer softens when baking in an appealing way), and the top crisps perfectly.

Traditional bread would not provide the same result largely due to the texture of the outside layer of the baguette which is firmer and covers more surface area of the bread.

Overnight French Toast Casserole with a red and white checked cloth

How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole – Step by Step:

This make ahead breakfast casserole could not be easier. Just 15 minutes is all it takes to put this overnight french toast together!

  • Butter a 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan.
  • Briefly microwave the Strawberry preserves to achieve a consistency that can be drizzled.
  • Add half of the cubed baguette in a single layer to the prepared 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish.
  • Spread the cubed Neufchatel or lower fat cream cheese evenly over the bread.
  • Evenly drizzle the preserves over the bread cubes. Add the remaining bread is spread on top.
  • Whisk together the eggs, spices and half and half  and pour evenly over the top of the bread.
  • Evenly distribute the berries and brown sugar over the top.
  • Seal the casserole and chill overnight or up to 24 hours.
  • Bake the casserole for 20 minutes covered and an additional 10-15 uncovered.
  • After cooling for a few minutes the Overnight French Toast Casserole is served with warm syrup!

Single serving of Overnight French Toast Casserole on a white plate with spoon

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Baking pan of Overnight French Toast Casserole in Red, White and Blue with a single serving on white plate
5 from 16 votes
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Overnight French Toast Casserole in Red, White and Blue

This overnight breakfast casserole is a perfect solution when serving a crowd or time is running short. It cooks up beautifully with well toasted bread on top and a bread pudding texture underneath. 

Total Time NOTE: the time noted is for compiling the casserole and cooking ;it does not include the chilling time.

Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword french toast, make ahead breakfast casserole
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 12 10-12 servings
Calories 247 kcal
Author Toni Dash

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Strawberry Preserves
  • 9 cups French bread baguette cut into 1 ½ inch cubes (approximately one 13 ounce baguette) I used 3 Udi’s gluten-free French Baguette
  • 1 8-ounce package Neufchatel Cheese or lower fat Cream Cheese , cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 4 large Eggs
  • 2 cups Half and Half
  • 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg , freshly grated if possible
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 cup fresh Raspberries (frozen and thawed berries may be used)
  • 1 cup fresh Blueberries (frozen and thawed berries may be used)

Instructions

  1. Lightly butter a 13x9 inch baking dish.
  2. Place the strawberry preserves in a bowl and microwave for a minute until they are fluid enough to drizzle; set aside.
  3. Spread half of the bread cubes in a single layer on the bottom of the prepared pan.
  4. Evenly distribute the Neufchatel or cream cheese cubes over the bread. Drizzle the warmed preserved evenly over the bread and Neufchatel.
  5. Distribute the remaining bread cubes over the top of the mixture.
  6. Whisk together the eggs, half and half, nutmeg and vanilla. Pour evenly over the casserole.
  7. Sprinkle the berries over the top of the casserole, followed by the brown sugar. Seal tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours.
  8. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered an additional 10-15 minutes until the casserole sets at the bottom. 


    Note: if needed place the foil loosely back onto the top of the casserole for the last 5 minutes so the bread does not over brown.

  9. Remove from oven allow to cool for a few minutes and serve. May be served as with traditional French toast with syrup if desired (it's great and sweet enough without it too!)
Nutrition Facts
Overnight French Toast Casserole in Red, White and Blue
Amount Per Serving
Calories 247 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 76mg 25%
Sodium 189mg 8%
Potassium 152mg 4%
Total Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 20g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin A 4.8%
Vitamin C 8.1%
Calcium 8.1%
Iron 7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Overnight French Toast Casserole is a delicious, easy breakfast recipe. Raspberries and blueberries create a red, white and blue theme. A creamy bottom layer and crunchy top make this a crowd pleaser very time. #Glutenfree or with gluten options. #breakfast #frenchtoast #breakfastcasserole #MemorialDay #FourthofJuly #easyrecipe
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  9. I see some yummy berries in there. I think this is even easy enough for my 8 yr old to make. Thanks!!

    Reply


  11. How yummy! I love the flavors here, and I love that I can make it the night before and have it ready to go in the morning. LOVE this!

    Reply


  13. French Toast Casserole is pretty much my favorite breakfast ever. EVER! I never thought to make it with berries though – thank you for much for the recipe!

    Reply

  15. I love this idea for breakfast. This weekend is our first long holiday weekend of the “summer” in Canada. We celebrate Victoria Day on Monday. I will have to do mine red and white.

    Reply

  16. That’s SO pretty! I love this for breakfast or brunch, but would honestly eat it as breakfast for dinner, too!
    Great thing to take to a 4th of July pot luck, as well!

    Reply


  17. I want a big scoop of this!! It must be amazing with all of the fresh berries in season now too!

    Reply

  19. This is truly a festive idea for a breakfast casserole. I am in love with the colors, they make me really want to whip this up for Sunday breakfast for the family.

    Reply

  21. I cannot for the life of me eat soggy anything so I’m really happy for that disclaimer. Would love to try this!

    Reply


  22. Oh my gosh, that looks so amazing!! I have to make that for the family. It would be a great weekday breakfast for the kids too before school … although school is done next week! A great summer breakfast too!

    Reply


  23. Looks delicious and you always have such great ideas. This would be perfect for when we have out of town company in a couple of weeks.

    Reply
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