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Easy Zesty Lemon Blueberry French Toast Bake

lemon blueberry french toast bake - featured image

A bright and custardy baked French toast featuring zesty lemon and sweet blueberries, perfect for an effortless and impressive breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups (about 240 grams) thick-cut brioche or challah bread, cubed
  • 1 ½ cups (225 grams) blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 ½ cups (600 ml) whole milk
  • Zest of 2 lemons
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons (45 grams) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing
  • ½ teaspoon (1 gram) cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • Optional: powdered sugar or maple syrup for serving

Instructions

  1. Cube the brioche or challah into roughly 1-inch pieces and place in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Scatter blueberries evenly over the bread cubes.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until smooth and well combined.
  3. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and blueberries. Use a spatula to gently press down the bread cubes to soak evenly.
  4. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or preferably overnight for maximum custard absorption.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the bake from the fridge and drizzle melted butter over the top.
  6. Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes until the top is lightly golden and crisp and the custard is set (a knife inserted near the center should come out clean).
  7. Let the bake rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with maple syrup if desired.

Notes

Use day-old bread for best soak and texture. If top browns too fast, tent with foil during last 15 minutes. Frozen blueberries can be used without thawing. For dairy-free, substitute milk and butter with plant-based alternatives. Gluten-free bread can be used but watch soak time.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon blueberry, french toast bake, baked french toast, brunch recipe, easy breakfast, lemon zest, blueberry breakfast