Blueberry Surprise French Toast Casserole

yooper's Note:

This gem comes from the Turkey Run Inn at the Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. Perfect make ahead dish for a special holiday breakfast or brunch. Prep time does not include overnight chill time.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 12 slices dry white bread , cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 8 cups, see NOTE)
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese , cut into 3/4 inch cubes
• 1 cup fresh blueberries or 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 12 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup maple syrup or ½ cup maple syrup
• blueberry-flavored syrup or maple syrup or maple syrup

Directions:

1. Place half of the bread cubes over the bottom of a well-buttered 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
2. Sprinkle cream cheese and blueberries over bread cubes.
3. Arrange remaining bread cubes over blueberries.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs with a rotary beater, beat in milk and the 1/2 cup syrup.
5. Carefully pour egg mixture over the bread mixture.
6. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.
7. Bake, covered, in a 375 oven for 25 minutes.
8. Uncover and bake about 25 minutes more or till a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, and topping is puffed and golden brown.
9. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
10. Serve warm with blueberry-flavored or maple syrup.
11. NOTE: To dry bread slices, arrange bread in a single layer on a wire rack, cover loosely and let stand overnight.
12. Or cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes, spread in a large baking pan.
13. Bake, uncovered in a 300 oven for 10 to 15 minutes or till dry, stirring twice, cool.

Reviews

[Bogey'sMom]

This was terrific served with warm maple syrup. I substituted Ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread for the bread and cut the eggs to 8 to make it a little healthier. I also only used 8 oz cream cheese.

[annlouise]

I think this is the 3rd time I've made this, and we all love it. The only thing is that I can't imagine adding a full 16 oz of cream cheese. On today's batch I only put in 6 oz, and it seemed just right. I also used 1/2 blueberry bread, 1/2 white. Mmmm!

[Gingerbee]

This was a hit on Christmas morning. I used an italian panetone bread I had instead of white bread. It was extra delicious because the bread had a few raisins and a nice taste on it's own. My cream cheese cubes didn't melt as I thought they would but were an amazingly special "surprise" when you bit into this wonderful casserole. I'd make it again; it was very easy and actually tasted like a warm blueberry danish! We did pour on warm maple syrup for the added treat.