This Healthy Blueberry Banana Baked French Toast Casserole is a quick and easy breakfast or dessert that can be baked right away or made the night before! A great make-ahead option for entertaining or busy mornings! {Dairy-free, vegetarian & can be made gluten-free}
During the holiday season, we wanted to try something a little different for our Christmas morning breakfast tradition.
For as long as I can remember, we always had this Egg & Sausage Bake on Christmas mornings (which our whole family LOVES), but I was in a recipe testing mood this year, so I wanted to try out a healthy baked french toast casserole.
But not just any old french toast casserole.
This one just happens to be free of any added sugar, but it still packed with plenty of flavour.
Let me introduce you to this Blueberry Banana Baked French Toast Casserole.
So easy, delicious and perfect for meal prep!
If you’re a lover of French toast, be sure to also try out this Protein French Toast and these Pumpkin French Toast Sticks!
How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole
One of my favourite parts about this recipe is that it can be whipped together in a pinch.
Only a few simple steps are required.
First, spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Dice the bread slices into approximately one inch cubes. Evenly distribute the bread cubes in the baking dish.
Next, in a large bowl mash the bananas until mostly smooth with a few lumps remaining. Whisk in the eggs, almond milk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
Pour the mixture evenly over the cubed bread until all of the bread pieces have been coated in the egg mixture.
Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
Next, evenly distribute the blueberries throughout the mixture, making sure that you poke some to the bottom of the casserole so that you get blueberries in every bite. Either place back in the fridge overnight, or bake immediately.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked through and surface is lightly browned.
Can this Baked French Toast Casserole be made the night before?
Yes! That’s the amazing thing about this French toast bake. You can fully prepare it the night before and pop it in the oven and bake it in the morning prior to serving!
It’s basically like overnight French toast.
And let me tell ya…nothing beats the smell of this stuff baking in the oven. Everyone will be jumping out of bed for breakfast!
I swear it smells just like freshly baked cinnamon rolls.
What kind of bread should I use for this Blueberry Banana French Toast Bake?
It really is a personal preference which type of bread you go with. For our baked french toast casserole, I used 100% whole-grain bread to add an extra dose of fibre and nutrients.
If you’re not a big fan of whole grain bread or can’t tolerate it, you can also sub in sourdough bread, regular white bread or gluten-free bread, if necessary.
What makes this French Toast Casserole healthy?
Let me just start by saying that this Blueberry Banana Baked French Toast Casserole is loaded with nutrients!
Here are some of the reasons why we love it as a healthier option:
- It’s a good source of protein since there is pretty much the equivalent of one egg per serving. That means we’re looking at about 10-15 grams of protein per slice depending on the type of bread you use, which makes it extra filling.
- There is NO REFINED SUGAR. It’s all natural baby. Most French toast casseroles that you come across have a bunch of sugar added, which makes it more like a cake than a healthy breakfast option.
- The bananas and blueberries not only add a dose of fibre, potassium, vitamin C and polyphenols, they also add that natural sweetness so no added sugar is required.
- You can make this casserole healthier depending on the type of bread you use. Try going for a minimally processed 100% whole-grain bread or sourdough bread as healthier options.
- It makes for a balanced breakfast. You get your protein, produce and grains all in one simple bake!
How to Serve this Baked French Toast Casserole
I highly recommend serving it warm with some additional toppings. To bring out the flavours and add some additional sweetness, try topping it with:
- A drizzle of maple syrup
- Some freshly sliced banana
- Fresh blueberries
- Yogurt
- Or a dollop of whipped cream, if you’re feeling a little more indulgent.
Can I freeze this Baked French Toast?
Yes, you can totally freeze this French toast casserole!
I recommend cutting it up into pieces and freezing the pieces individually in saran wrap, ziplock bags or air-tight containers so that you can simply grab a piece, reheat and eat!
Did I mention that it makes the perfect grab and go option for busy mornings?
How to reheat this French Toast Casserole
Your best bet for reheating the individual slices would be to warm them in the microwave for a minute or so if warming them up from a frozen state.
You can also reheat the casserole in the oven at 350 degrees F until heated through.
One thing is for sure, you NEED some of this Blueberry Banana French Toast Casserole in your life ASAP.
More similar recipes
- Baked Blueberry Oatmeal
- Mini Blueberry Banana Muffins
- Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Egg & Sausage Breakfast Casserole
- 5-Ingredient Mini Egg Cups
- Easy Baked Apple Oatmeal
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Blueberry Banana Baked French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 pieces whole-grain bread or sub in gluten-free bread, if necessary
- 3 large overripe bananas mashed
- 8 whole eggs
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Optional Toppings:
- Drizzle of maple syrup
- Banana slices
- Fresh Blueberries
Instructions
- Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Dice the bread slices in to 1 inch cubes. Evenly distribute the bread cubes into the baking dish.
- Next, in a large bowl mash the bananas until mostly smooth with a few lumps remaining. Whisk in the eggs, almond milk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the mixture evenly over the cubed bread until all of the bread pieces have been coated in the egg mixture.
- Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
- Evenly distribute the blueberries throughout the mixture, pressing into the top and down to the bottom so blueberries are incorporated throughout the casserole. Either place back in the fridge overnight, or bake immediately.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked through and bread is lightly browned.
- Serve warm with maple syrup or additional blueberries and banana slices, if desired.
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links which means that I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only promote products that I love and feel will benefit my readers :)
Can you use regular cows milk instead or is the almond milk necessary?
You can definitely use regular cow’s milk instead of the almond milk!
Is it possible to just omit the banana? or should I substitute it with something?
The banana adds some extra sweetness to the recipe, but you could definitely leave it out. You could try adding in 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey in place of the banana or leave it out all together if you don’t want any added sugar. If you’re topping it with maple syrup when serving, that will also help to sweeten it up. Hope that helps!