Spring Brunch Strawberry French Toast (Print Version)

Baked toast casserole with strawberries, custard, and a touch of vanilla for a sweet springtime meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 6 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Fruit

09 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

→ Topping

10 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
13 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

→ Finish

14 - Powdered sugar for dusting
15 - Maple syrup for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Arrange bread cubes evenly in the prepared baking dish. Scatter sliced strawberries over the bread layer.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Pour custard mixture evenly over bread and strawberries. Gently press down to ensure all bread pieces absorb the custard.
04 - In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add cold butter cubes and work the mixture with a pastry cutter or fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
05 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the custard is set and the top is golden brown.
06 - Cool for 10 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar. Serve warm with maple syrup.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You can assemble it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning, which means actual relaxation before guests arrive.
  • The streusel topping gives you that satisfying crunch that makes people think you fussed way more than you actually did.
  • Fresh strawberries break down just enough to create little flavor pockets throughout, so every bite tastes different.
02 -
  • Don't skip pressing down the bread after pouring the custard—those few seconds of gentle pressure make the difference between a dry top and a creamy interior.
  • If you assemble this the night before, let it come closer to room temperature for about 15 minutes before baking so the baking time stays accurate and the bread bakes evenly.
03 -
  • Use bread that's a day or two old rather than fresh—it soaks up custard more effectively without falling apart into mush.
  • The streusel topping stays crispest if you don't mix the butter in completely; those little butter nuggets create pockets that turn golden and crispy.
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