Happy Valentine’s Day! Somehow, someway, today snuck up on me.
At my “EB Mine” Brunch, I served the savory Goat Cheese, Spinach, and Tomato Quiche with this sweet Overnight Blueberry French Toast. It’s hard to believe, but this french toast bake used a dozen eggs giving it more staying power and balance than your traditional carbohydrate-rich breakfast options.
But really, the cream cheese helped pique my interest in trying this particular recipe. 😉
The cream cheese…and the fact that this can be made ahead of time and baked in the morning, making it perfect for guests…or leftovers for the week!
I think the next time I make this, I will try an apple-cinnamon rendition…yum!
With the plentiful amounts of eggs and milk, the bread soaked up all the liquids and baked to a soft, french toast consistency without the hassle of soaking individual slices of bread and cooking the slices one by one. And yes, the cream cheese added a little something special. 😉
To make this an extra special meal, I served champagne and fresh blood orange slices.
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Overnight Blueberry French Toast slightly adapted from Real Mom Kitchen and Chef in Training
12 slices bread, cut into cubes (I used a 1 lb 2 oz whole grain bakery loaf)
5 oz reduced fat cream cheese, cut in cubes
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
12 large eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups fat-free milk
Directions:
Arrange 1/2 of the bread cubes in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle cream cheese cubes and blueberries evenly over the bread cubes. Top with remaining bread cubes.
Mix together eggs, milk, and syrup. Pour over bread cubes and cover pan with foil. Let chill in refrigerator overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Bake covered with foil for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes or until fluffy and golden. Serve with syrup and fresh fruit, if desired.
Yield: 8 servings (about 1 1/3 cup each)
Nutrition Information (per serving): 392 calories; 12.3 g. fat; 336 mg. cholesterol; 519 mg. sodium; 52.5 g. carbohydrate; 3.9 g. fiber; 18 g. protein
Result: This french toast was super simple to make and turned out great. I opted for a hearty whole grain bread to increase the nutrition and fiber. I decreased the amount of cream cheese and opted for a reduced fat version, as well as fat-free milk. If french toast is a favorite, this dish is one to try! Enjoy!
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I am actually off today (wee!) which will be spent grading research papers and assignments, as well as working out. Luckily, I had this amazing brunch to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Mr. Prevention because tonight…I’m teaching. For the past 2 years I’ve had to teach Valentine’s Day evening and play hockey games during the Super Bowl…what’s up with that!? Oh well...
Don’t forget to enter the “EB Mine” Giveaway from Eggland’s Best…it ends tonight!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
xoxo,
Erika - The Teenage Taste says
February 14, 2012 at 7:06 amThis looks so good – I love your addition of cream cheese and blueberries! I’ve always wanted to try making a oven-baked french toast casserole! 🙂
Kate says
February 14, 2012 at 7:10 amThis would be a perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast because you make it the night before and then voila, no one has to get up early to serve breakfast in bed!
Maeghan says
February 14, 2012 at 8:01 amThis looks wonderful and so easy! I love stuffed french toast with blueberries so this is definitely going on the “Must Make” list!
Alida says
February 14, 2012 at 8:09 amThis looks incredible! I have yet to make an overnight French toast, but have always wanted to. This recipe looks like the perfect place to start :). Happy Valentine’s Day!
Heather says
February 14, 2012 at 8:14 amYou are teaching and I am in class tonight!
I have made overnight french toast once before and loved it – this almost looks like a bread pudding. I love cream cheese too!
Happy Valentines Day!
thehealthyapron says
February 14, 2012 at 8:26 amI just made a similar recipe from Elle Krieger a few weeks ago! IT was fantastico!
Samantha @ Bikini Birthday says
February 14, 2012 at 8:34 amThat sounds really decadent!
You’re right, it would be an awesome make-ahead breakfast for guests.
Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life says
February 14, 2012 at 9:50 amThat looks delicious!!
Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living says
February 14, 2012 at 9:57 amI could definitely wake up to this ;).
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
February 14, 2012 at 10:56 amLove the photos– and hey, I’ll be teaching tonight too 🙂 Romantic, right?
Beth says
February 14, 2012 at 11:08 amDrool inducing. I am going to make this for my mom on her b’day !
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
February 14, 2012 at 11:33 amWow, I had no idea bread pudding could be that simple – there’s so few ingredients! And it looks amazing. I need to try this! I love the blueberries but an apple cinnamon combo sounds great too. Happy Valentines Day!
janetha says
February 14, 2012 at 11:51 amThis looks incredible! I love French toast/bread pudding/anything of the sort. Yum!
Kristen (swanky dietitian) says
February 14, 2012 at 11:55 amThis looks divine!
I am loving your breakfast ideas! I will have to remember this one. Looks fabulous!
Hope you enjoy your day off and have a great Valentine’s Day!
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
February 14, 2012 at 12:10 pmOvernight means easy breakfast…. Love it!!!! I have all ingredients on hand but will probably use marionberries instead of blueberries so the hubs eats it too. Looks soooo good Nicole. Enjoy your day off 🙂
Cara says
February 14, 2012 at 12:49 pmYum! Sounds amazing with the cream cheese 🙂
Renee @ Mykitchenadventures says
February 14, 2012 at 4:26 pmI made a very similar version to this one with strawberries last year that was a hit! Yummmy!
Lindsay @ biking before bed says
February 14, 2012 at 4:36 pmI always think of French toast as super high calorie and time consuming. This recipe proves me wrong!
Leah @ Why Deprive? says
February 14, 2012 at 5:30 pmThis sounds amazing!!
Happy Valentine’s Day Nicole. Sounds like we both have pretty romantic plans. I’ve got a class and you’re teaching. So much fun eh? 🙂
Erin says
February 15, 2012 at 10:45 amA hot breakfast that I can make the night before to pop in the oven in the morning is wonderful!
Jessica says
February 16, 2012 at 12:19 amMy mom makes a baked french toast that is really good, but I really like this variation with blueberries and cream cheese. Also love the photos, feels like I could just sit right down at the table with you!