Baked Strawberry French Toast with Cream Cheese is a delicious and easy-to-make breakfast dish. It features French bread cubes and fresh strawberries, baked with cream cheese and a custard mixture for a sweet and savory flavor.
This casserole can be made the night before making it perfect for weekend and holiday breakfast. Try it for a special morning treat!
Breakfast casserole
This baked French toast with strawberries is perfect for a special occasion breakfast, or for a lazy weekend morning when you have more time to indulge in a delicious breakfast treat.
It's easy to make and can be customized to suit your taste preferences, so feel free to experiment with different types of bread or fruit toppings.
Whether you're a fan of sweet or savory breakfast dishes, this Baked Strawberry French Toast with Cream Cheese is sure to satisfy your cravings.
Key ingredients
This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- French Bread - Use a loaf of your favorite type of French bread. Allow the bread to become slightly stale, but not dry. You can cut up the bread into cubes and let it sit out for 30-45 minutes
- Milk - Use whole milk or 2% milk
- Cream Cheese - Cut into small cubes
- Strawberries - These are the star of the show! Save some extras to add as a garnish.
Step-by-step directions
In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.
- Cut bread into large pieces
- Mix eggs, cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon together
- Layer half the bread in a greased baking dish
- Add half the sliced strawberries and all the cubes of cream cheese
- Pour about half of the egg mixture over the bread
- Add remaining bread and strawberries
- Pour the remaining egg mixture over the casserole
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 55-60 minutes until set
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with syrup
Recipe tips
- Let the bread soak: Give the bread enough time to soak up the egg mixture. This will ensure that the French toast is moist and evenly cooked.
- Use stale bread: If your bread is too fresh, it will become too soft and can fall apart when soaked in the egg mixture. Use bread that is at least a day old for best results.
- Let it rest: Let the French toast rest for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven. This will allow the custard to set and make it easier to slice and serve.
Variations
Make this breakfast french toast your own by using your favorite ingredients
- Use raspberries or blueberries
- Omit cream cheese
- Sweeten with maple syrup instead of the sugar
- Add finely chopped ham
- Top with whipped cream
More French toast recipes
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my delicious breakfast recipes!
Baked Strawberry French Toast
Equipment
- 9 x 13" Baking Dish
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 14 ounce Loaf French bread (cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 10 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup cream
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 ounces cream cheese (cut into ½ inch cubes)
- 1 pound strawberries (sliced)
Topping
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional)
- 1 cup strawberries (garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9 x 13" baking dish
- Combine eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon together10 eggs, 2 cups milk, ¼ cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ cup cream
- Layer half of the bread in baking dish. Add half of the strawberries and all of the cream cheese.14 ounce Loaf French bread, 1 pound strawberries, 8 ounces cream cheese
- Pour about half of the egg mixture over the top.
- Add remaining bread cubes and sliced strawberries. Pour remaing egg mixture over the top, trying to cover all of the bread.
- Cover with plastic wrap and press down lightly on the plastic wrap to lightly compress the bread
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight so bread can absorb the liquid.
- Cover with foil and bake in preheated 350° oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking for another 25-35 minutes until the casserole has set. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and fresh strawberries, optional2 tablespoons powdered sugar, 1 cup strawberries
Notes
- Let the bread soak: Give the bread enough time to soak up the egg mixture. This will ensure that the French toast is moist and evenly cooked.
- Use stale bread: If your bread is too fresh, it will become too soft and can fall apart when soaked in the egg mixture. Use bread that is at least a day old for best results.
- Let it rest: Let the French toast rest for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven. This will allow the custard to set and make it easier to slice and serve.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Susan Santare says
Can frozen strawberries be used? Also, can it be frozen? It sounds delicious.
Kathy says
Hi Susan,
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries in this recipe. You can freeze the casserole after it's fully baked. Allow it to cool, wrap and place and then freeze.
Enjoy!
Kathy
Valentina says
Wow, this is over-the-top. I would love it for breakfast, brunch, and especially for dessert. It's so pretty, too. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy says
Thanks! 🙂
David @ Spiced says
What a fun idea! We make Robbie French toast on occasion (it's the only way he'll eat eggs...ugh, kids). But I've never tried French toast in a casserole form. I totally want to make this! You're right that this would be perfect for Easter brunch. And I love all of those berries in there, too!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
If this is not the most perfect brunch recipe, I don't know what is! Pinned and can't wait to try next weekend! Looks so good, Kathy 🙂
Kathy says
It is perfect for brunch! Enjoy! 🙂