Blackberry French Toast Casserole

My sister-in-law shared this recipe with me. It’s perfect if you’ve got overnight company and want to serve something for breakfast the next day but don’t want to spend all morning in the kitchen. Just make it up the day before and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Pull it out of the fridge an hour or so before baking and voila! You’ve got breakfast without too much trouble.

Blackberry French Toast Casserole

1 Cup Blackberry Jam
1 12-ounce loaf French bread, cut into 1 ½ inch cubes
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 - 2 cups whole fresh blackberries, rinsed and dried (optional)
4 large eggs
2 cups half-&-half
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
Toppings: maple syrup and whipped cream

Cook the jam in a small saucepan over medium heat, 1 – 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring once. Place half the bread cubes in the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Top with cream cheese cubes, blackberries (if using) and drizzle with melted jam. Top with remaining bread cubes. Whisk together the eggs and next three ingredients. Pour over bread mixture. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Cover tightly and chill overnight.

Preheat over to 325 degrees. Bake covered 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 more minutes or until bread is golden brown and mixture is set. Serve with toppings and fresh fruit.

Serve with bacon, if desired. Did you know you can bake bacon in the oven? It’s better than standing over a stovetop. Just lay bacon strips on a lightly greased rimmed cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until desired crispness is reached. If you want an extra treat, sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar over the bacon before baking. You can also cook the bacon the night before as well. When the bacon is done and cooled, wrap it in foil and put it in the fridge. The next morning, pop it in the oven with the casserole the last 15 minutes or so.

The yumminess.

Slice the bread in half the split 

it into thirds lengthways.



Slice each third into four strips and cube.

Before it's baked...

Mix up the half&half, eggs, cinnamon 

and vanilla. Pour over the whole she-bang.



Serve with syrup and whipped cream....