Description
Elevate your brunch game with this delightful Creamy Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake. This dish combines rich cream cheese and sweet blueberries nestled between layers of soft, custardy bread, perfect for lazy weekend mornings or special occasions.
Ingredients
- Sturdy bread (challah, brioche, or whole grain)
- Fresh blueberries (or frozen, thawed and drained)
- Regular cream cheese (or whipped cream cheese or dairy-free alternative)
- Large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan version)
- Whole milk (or almond milk, oat milk, or any non-dairy milk)
- Pure maple syrup (or honey or agave nectar)
- Vanilla extract (or almond extract)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Start by cutting your bread into cubes, about 1-inch in size. Place the bread cubes into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, half of the maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the blueberries.
- Layer the Mixture: Spoon the cream cheese and blueberry mixture over the bread cubes, spreading it evenly so every piece gets some love.
- Prepare the Egg Mixture: In another bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, remaining maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Pour this mixture over the bread and cream cheese layers, ensuring all the bread is soaked.
- Press and Chill: Gently press down on the bread to make sure everything is well absorbed. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you prefer.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the French toast bake for 45-50 minutes, or until it’s golden brown and set in the middle. You can cover it with foil for the first 30 minutes to prevent over-browning.
- Serve: Allow it to cool slightly before serving. Drizzle with extra maple syrup and top with fresh blueberries for a beautiful presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Category: Brunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: This dish is perfect for preparing ahead of time. Assemble it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning for a hassle-free brunch. Feel free to mix in other fruits or add spices for extra flavor. Serve with whipped cream or yogurt for added creaminess.