Overnight Berry Breakfast Casserole Recipe
A wholesome and easy-to-make overnight breakfast casserole featuring layers of slightly dried bread, fresh berries, and a custard-like mixture of applesauce, milk, egg whites, and maple syrup. This recipe requires minimal prep the night before and bakes to a golden, comforting dish perfect for a nutritious breakfast or brunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (including bread drying if using pre-baked bread)
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: Approximately 8 hours (including overnight refrigeration)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 6 cups berries (approximately 32 oz)
Bread
- 1 lb thick bread, cut into 1-inch pieces
Custard mixture
- 1 1/3 cup applesauce (or mashed banana)
- 2/3 cup milk of choice
- 2/3 cup egg whites (or additional milk of choice)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or agave or honey)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the bread. If the bread is fresh and soft, let it sit uncovered for a day to dry out slightly or bake slices at 300°F for 15 minutes until slightly hardened. This ensures the bread absorbs the custard properly without becoming mushy.
- Assemble the casserole. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. Cut the bread into approximately 1-inch pieces and evenly layer them in the pan.
- Mix custard ingredients. In a bowl, whisk together the applesauce, milk, egg whites, maple syrup, and vanilla extract (omit vanilla if using vanilla-flavored milk) until smooth.
- Combine and refrigerate overnight. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread in the pan. Spread the berries evenly on top. Cover the pan and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld and bread to soak.
- Bake the casserole. The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the casserole in the center rack and bake for 1 hour or until the bread is lightly golden and set.
- Serve. Enjoy the casserole hot or cold as a flavorful and nutritious breakfast option.
Notes
- You can substitute applesauce with mashed banana for a different flavor and natural sweetness.
- Use any combination of fresh or frozen berries depending on availability and preference.
- Maple syrup can be replaced by agave syrup or honey as a natural sweetener.
- Using egg whites can reduce fat and cholesterol content; alternatively, use whole eggs for a richer texture.
- Drying the bread beforehand is essential to prevent a soggy casserole.
- Refrigerate overnight to enhance flavor and texture before baking.
Keywords: overnight breakfast casserole, berry casserole, baked breakfast, healthy breakfast, make ahead breakfast, fruit casserole, low fat breakfast
