Strawberry French Toast Casserole
A golden, bubbling, overnight French toast casserole featuring brioche bread, a sweet strawberry custard, and pockets of strawberry cream cheese. Perfect for stress-free brunches.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf brioche bread sliced to 1/2-inch thickness
- 6 large eggs room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup strawberry preserves divided into two 1/2 cup portions
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract pure
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar for dusting
- 1 cup fresh strawberries washed, hulled, and sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Prep a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or butter.
- Arrange the brioche bread slices in the dish, overlapping them slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and 1/2 cup of the strawberry preserves until smooth.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread. Gently press the bread down to ensure it absorbs the liquid.
- In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the remaining 1/2 cup of strawberry preserves. Spoon this mixture over the top of the bread.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove plastic wrap and let the dish sit while the oven heats. Bake for 50-60 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
- Let rest for 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh strawberries and a dusting of powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
The eggs and cream cheese MUST be at room temperature for the best texture. If you are short on time, submerge the cream cheese (in the foil) in warm water to soften.