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Make mornings magical with this make-ahead Sweet Breakfast Casserole with Berries! This easy recipe features layers of buttery brioche bread, creamy ricotta cheese, and sweet strawberry jam for a delicious and stress-free start to your day!
“Yum!! This is gorgeous and I can’t tell you how delicious it is, too! It gets harder and harder to come up with unique ideas for mother’s day every year, but she sure loved this strata” 🙂
-sue
Update: This post was originally published in April 2017. I’ve updated the article below to include more information about this strawberry breakfast idea. Plus, there’s now a step-by-step video showing you exactly how easy this sweet breakfast strata is to make at home.
Hi, friends! Since mother’s day is right around the corner, I figured it was the perfect time to share one of my go-to spring and summer holiday brunch dishes. This beautiful sweet breakfast bake is complete with juicy, fresh berries, creamy ricotta cheese, and toasty nuts. Just don’t forget the carafes of Mimosas and pitchers of bloody Mary’s!
Table of Contents
- About this sweet breakfast casserole
- Ingredients for breakfast casserole sweet
- FAQs: breakfast sweet casserole
- How to make sweet breakfast bakes
- Tips for the best sweet breakfast casseroles
- Serving this sweet breakfast recipe with strawberries
- Storing sweet brunch casseroles
- More easy breakfast casseroles!
- Overnight Strawberry Ricotta Breakfast Strata
About this sweet breakfast casserole
AKA Breakfast of CLASSY CHAMPIONS.
This layered casserole is loaded with silky, savory eggs, fluffy, buttery brioche bread, and studded with decadent, creamy ricotta and sweet, sticky strawberry preserves.
Generously garnished with crunchy, salty slivers of almonds; slices of juicy strawberries and cooling, fresh mint, this strata is ULTIMATE in the brunch department.
Luscious, light and fluffy, yet thick and creamy with toasty-crisp edges, the consistency and texture of this Overnight Strawberry Ricotta Breakfast Strata is similar to a soufflé… MINUS all the laborious work and worrying.
The layers of textures and flavors are definitely the star of this showy sweet and savory strata. If you want to do brunch like a BOSS, this sweet breakfast strata is where it’s at!
Why you’ll love this sweet easy breakfast
With layers of irresistible texture and flavor infusion, there’s nothing quite like this strawberry ricotta breakfast strata. As if you need more convincing, here’s why you’re going to love this summer breakfast casserole:
- Make ahead. Since this sweet breakfast strata has to be set overnight, it’s great for
making in advance. Simply slide it into the preheated oven the next morning! - Classy! While I love my classic Strawberry French Toast recipe, there’s something
about a strata which instantly adds a touch of sophistication to any meal time. - Perfect for special occasions. This sweet breakfast casserole is great for Christmas morning, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or a special birthday breakfast! Add a few Flavored Mimosa Cocktails to the mix and get celebrating.
- Breakfast, brunch, or dinner appropriate! The careful balance of sweet and savory
flavors in this dish makes this strawberry strata suitable for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
Ingredients for breakfast casserole sweet
- Unsalted butter – I use unsalted in most of my sweet baking recipes. If you opt for salted butter, omit the kosher salt list in the ingredients list.
- 1 loaf brioche – Day-old bread is best for this strata. Brioche is rich and buttery, making it an ideal choice for this luxurious sweet breakfast recipe. If you don’t have brioche bread, select another buttery yeast bread, such as challah. Potato bread and Hawaiian rolls also work.
- Milk – Whole milk adds flavor, but you can reduce the fat content by using reduced fat milk instead.
- Eggs – This is essential for making the custard mixture that holds the bread cubes together.
- Vanilla – Always use high-quality extract for best flavor. However, almond extract is a great alternative.
- Orange zest – Any variety of orange can be used for zesting purposes. It adds a lovely touch of citrus flavor to the custard mixture without being overpowering. But, you can use lemon zest instead.
- Ricotta cheese – A key ingredient for any strata recipe, whether sweet or savory, is the cheese! Ricotta is creamy and balances the sweetness of the strawberry preserves. However, goat cheese is a great alternative to ricotta and is an easy 1:1 substitution.
- Strawberry preserves – You can use any brand of strawberry preserves that you love. Or, a thick strawberry jam will work instead.
- Kosher salt – Omit if using salted butter in this recipe.
- Sliced almonds – Adds a delicious crunch to this easy sweet breakfast casserole. But, pecans or walnuts are also great. Or, omit if anyone has a nut allergy.
- Cream – Provides a luxurious consistency and richness of flavor in the egg-custard mixture. Or, use whole milk or half-and-half instead if you prefer.
Recipe variation
- Bread. Challah bread is similar to rich and buttery brioche bread. I’ve found that potato bread and Hawaiian rolls also work well in this sweet egg bake.
- Fruit. This is a strawberry brunch casserole, which is great for Spring and Summer. Feel free to use blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry preserves instead and garnish the breakfast casserole dessert with fresh berries to match the preferred choice of preserves. And, if you really want that fresh fruit to shine, consider macerating it.
- Gluten-free. Source gluten-free brioche bread to cater to dietary needs, or another gluten-free bread that is buttery and rich with similar fluffy texture to brioche.
- Sweetness. This overnight sweet breakfast casserole isn’t overly sweet, making it ideal for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner! That said, if you have a sweet tooth and want to boost the level of sweetness in this dish, add some sugar or maple syrup to the egg custard mixture. Sugar could also be sprinkled over the top of the egg-soaked brioche layers when assembling the casserole.
- Garnish it. I garnish this breakfast sweet casserole with fresh mint, thin slices of strawberries, and powdered sugar. Consider using pecans, candy bacon pieces, and balsamic syrup to accentuate the savory-sweet flavor combination. Alternatively, a drizzle of sweet and salty caramel sauce would be amazing!
FAQs: breakfast sweet casserole
What is a sweet breakfast bake?
A breakfast strata is an American layered casserole dish. Commonly served for brunch, a breakfast strata is similar to a frittata or a quiche. Stratas typically consist of bread, eggs, milk, cheese and may (or may not) include meat and/or vegetables.
Why does this sweet strata have to sit overnight?
Chilling these sweet breakfast casseroles overnight allows the egg custard mixture to soak into every inch of the bread cubes. It’s also a popular and proven way to intensify flavors in a dish as the ingredients have time to meld together.
Apart from improved flavor, allowing egg-custard casseroles to set overnight helps to prevent the casserole from falling apart once baked and served in individual portions.
How long can a breakfast casserole soak?
It’s best to allow this sweet easy breakfast to soak in the fridge overnight. If you are in a rush, chill the assembled casserole in the fridge for a minimum of an hour.
Why is my sweet breakfast strata falling apart?
This could be as a result of using fresh bread instead of day-old or slightly stale bread. Fresh bread will disintegrate into the egg-custard mixture, making the casserole more mushy in consistency and fall apart when served. If you only have fresh bread on hand, follow my tip on toasting it first.
What to serve with a sweet breakfast dish?
This easy, overnight strawberry ricotta breakfast strata is very filling, however if you are looking to serve this layered casserole as a part of a breakfast spread, there are a few sides you can serve to round out this meal!
Since there is no meat in this strata, serving stand alone meats such as bacon or sausage would be delicious options! As well, fresh fruit, fruit salad or yogurt would pair excellently.
If you have a family (like mine) who loves all things potatoes, hash browns or any sort of breakfast potato would be another great option!
Toasted bread or croissants with homemade (or store-bought) jam are typically included in a breakfast spread, but since this strata is made up of bread and jam, I’d probably steer clear of those two options. 😉
How to make sweet breakfast bakes
Mother’s Day brunch should be fancy, but not demanding! As such, this sophisticatedly sweet breakfast casserole is easier than pie to prepare AND it can be made in advance. Here’s how:
- Cube some brioche bread and place half of it in a greased baking dish, making sure you arrange the bread to cover the bottom of the dish.
- Next, you whisk together some eggs with a bit of milk, vanilla extract and orange zest.
- Then SLOWLY, and EVENLY, pour half of the egg-milk mixture over the bread in the baking dish. And then dollop half of the ricotta over the egg soaked bread, followed by half of the Bonne Maman preserves.
- Repeat the process with the remaining bread cubes, egg-milk mixture, ricotta and preserves.
- Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and transfer it to the refrigerator.
- Now go about your life. Pour yourself a glass of wine, make the kids some dinner, or write a Mother’s day card for your mom. Whatever’s clever, you guys. Just do you and have a good night.
- In the morning, pull the strata out of the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter while you preheat the oven.
- Uncover the strata, brush it with a few splashes of cream and generously sprinkle on some almonds. Transfer the strata to the oven and bake for about 55 minutes, or until the strata is puffed, golden brown and the center is set (it shouldn’t be jiggly when shaken).
- Go pour you and your mom a carafe of mimosas and surprise her with this Overnight Strawberry Ricotta Breakfast Strata breakfast in bed.
Now give yourself a round of applause. You have officially just become the golden child of the family.
Tips for the best sweet breakfast casseroles
- While I recommend brioche bread for this breakfast recipe, you can use any bread you would like. For the most luxurious, rich mouthfeel I suggest a buttery yeast bread similar to brioche, such as challah. However, potato bread or Hawaiian rolls will work too.
- You need stale, day old bread for this strata. Fresh brioche bread will completely disintegrate into the egg and milk mixture. However, if all you have is fresh bread, do NOT worry! You can just toast the bread to get the same results as stale bread. Place the cubes of bread on a sheet pan and toast them in a 250 degree F oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the cubes are just barely starting to crisp on the outside.
- If you don’t care for ricotta, you can easily substitute goat cheese in an equal amount.
- If you want a pretty design on top of your strata, you can use a butter knife to gently swirl through the ricotta and preserves to create a pattern.
- For the BEST flavor and results, refrigerate the strata, covered tightly, overnight. Giving the bread time to really soak up the egg mixture makes a world of difference. Nevertheless, you can bake it the same day if needed. Just make sure you let the strata sit on the counter for at least 30 minutes to soak up some of the flavor while the oven preheats.
- If the top of the strata is browned to your liking before the center is set, tent the top of the baking dish lightly with aluminum foil during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking.
Dont spend Mother’s day stressing in the kitchen! Instead, ditch the stress of brunch prep with this no-fuss sweet breakfast bake. Get ready to kick back, relax, AND impress this holiday season.
Until next week friends, cheers – to all the wonderful mamas out there!
Cheyanne
Craving MORE? Follow all the deliciousness on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!
More easy breakfast casseroles!
- Frittata with Potato
- Asparagus Frittata
- Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
- Baked Cinnamon French Toast
- Breakfast Egg and Sausage Casserole
How to make an Overnight Strawberry Ricotta Breakfast Strata at home👇
Overnight Strawberry Ricotta Breakfast Strata
Ingredients
- 1 TBS Unsalted Butter
- 1 Loaf Brioche – cut into ¾’’ cubes (about 1 pound)
- 3 Cups Milk
- 10 Large Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Orange Zest (about ½ an orange)
- 1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
- 1 (12 ounce) Jar Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves
- Kosher Salt
- 1/3 Cup Sliced Almonds
- 3 TBS Cream (can substitute whole milk or half-and-half)
Optional Garnish: Fresh Mint Leaves, Slices of Strawberries, Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Grease an 8×11’’, or 9×13’’ baking dish with butter. Place half of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish, arranging them to cover the bottom of the dish. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, orange zest and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Slowly, and evenly, pour half of the egg-milk mixture (about 2 1/2 cups) over the bread in the baking dish. Spoon half (1/2 cup) of the ricotta over the soaked bread, dolloping the ricotta by the spoonful evenly over the bread. Repeat with half (1/2 cup) of the preserves. Arrange the remaining bread cubes evenly over top. Slowly pour the remaining egg-milk mixture over the bread. Spoon the remaining ricotta and jam evenly over the top.* For best results, cover the strata tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.*
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. If you have refrigerated the strata, remove it from the fridge and let the strata sit on the counter while the oven preheats to remove the chill. Uncover the strata, brush with cream and sprinkle the almonds on top.
- Bake, UNCOVERED, for 55 minutes – 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the strata is puffed, browned and the center is set (it shouldn’t jiggle when shaken)*. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh mint, strawberries and powdered sugar if using. Cut into squares and serve. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Tia Purcell
I made this with “day old” potato rolls and 10oz raspberry jam instead. Since the recipe calls for 12 oz of preserves, I was worried it wouldn’t be sweet enough and added 1 individual packet of stevia. In hindsight, I don’t think the stevia was needed at all. I also used regular 2% milk brushed on the top, and didn’t have fresh raspberries, so I elected to serve it as is (no sliced fruit or mint), along with a side of fresh peaches and banana slices since that was all I had on hand. It still came out absolutely delicious!! Will make again for sure.
Cheyanne
Hi Tia,
I’m happy to hear you were able to make this recipe work with what you had available and I’m absolutely thrilled you enjoyed it! Serving it with fresh peaches and bananas sounds delicious!! Thank you for coming back and letting me know how everything went over!!
Amy
OH MY GOD! I had a blast with this recipe. I was initially skeptical about it. I thought no way it could take as good as it looks but man was I wrong! It kinda looked a bit too complicated for me to try but I had to give it a try. I’m so glad that I did because it turned 3X better then I had hoped for.
Thanks
Amy
Cheyanne Bany
Hi Amy! I’m absolutely thrilled you enjoyed this strata! And I’m certainly happy to hear it wasn’t actually as complicated to make as you thought! 😉
Cheers and thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it went over!
Sophia
This breakfast dish is SO flavorful and fresh! Love the use of brioche and the preserves in your recipe! This is just perfect for summer brunch or any holiday! Thank you for the excellent recipe! Hope you have a great week!
Molly
Is there anything better than brioche and strawberries? This is soooo good!
Amy
Does it need to be eaten while hot, or can I bake it and then take it to a brunch?
Cheyanne Bany
Hi Amy!
Honestly, the strata is better while hot. But it’s a matter of personal preference. My husband did eat the leftovers cold and enjoyed them, but even he agreed, it is better warmed up. You can absolutely prepare and bake the strata in advance, then store it covered in the refrigerator. To reheat it, allow the dish to come to room temperature on the counter (about 20 minutes) while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover the casserole dish with a piece of aluminum foil and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the strata is warmed throughout. Just keep in mind, the strata will always be best when eaten the same day it is originally baked. Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! 🙂
Kapri
I made this!!! I had a meeting @ work & the food theme was brunch type foods. I saw this & had to make it!
Reasons I loved it. It was not overly sweet. The preserves gave it just enough sweetness. And you HAVE to use that type of preserves!! It naturally has an orange undertone. So that plus the orange zest just melded together & made the dish. The cream on the top made it so it wasn’t a crunchy top & a more soft bottom. It was perfect & I would make it again.
I live @ a high altitude so I needed more time to cook than 1 hour.
Izzy
This had Mother’s Day brunch written all over it! I love that I could assemble it a day ahead so that mom could get my full attention. And everyone raved about this dish. Thank you 🙂
Michelle
Oh wow, this was amazing and so easy to make!
Kate
I think I am going to just casually leave my computer set to this post for the next two weeks and hope the people in my house get the HINT, because this is Mother’s Day gloriousness! Pinned!
Kathy
This was perfect for Mother’s Day! I love that you can get it all ready the night before and then just pop it into the oven! It makes the morning SOOOOOOOO much easier.
Ava
This is a strata like no other, Cheyanne! I love that you added ricotta with all those lovely berries, and there are no better preserves than Bonne Maman! This was the ultimate breakfast in bed for my mother on Mother’s Day. I’m just hoping someone will be kind enough to make it for ME next year because I would be so happy to have this!
Katherine
Ok, first of all, I definitely also had to look up ‘tertile’ haha. I like it. Second of all, can someone please message my husband that I would like to be woken up with a carafe of mimosas on Mother’s Day!? Brilliant idea. Brilliant breakfast idea. Cheers to the weekend, Cheyanne!
Michelle
Everyone went NUTS over this strata. Very good. Hope you have a great weekend!
Sue
Yum!! This is gorgeous and I can’t tell you how delicious it is, too! It gets harder and harder to come up with unique ideas for mother’s day every year, but she sure loved this strata 🙂
Ang
I don’t remember when I last had a bread pudding…this was incredibly delicious!
Mary
Feeling the Mother’s Day love from my little girl. You will always be my “love bug”. This looks so delicious. Maybe MOD will make it for me. Da Mama.
Shashi
Wow – This is soo soo pretty! I’m sorry you won’t be able to enjoy hanging with your mom and breakfasting over this and mimosas this year 🙁 But thanks so much for sharing this with us! I cannot make this for my mom as she’s diabetic but I’m gonna drop hints for my daughter to make this for me 🙂 A couple of weekends ago I overslept and woke up and she had made my favorite oat pancakes so am sure she’d jump on the hint!
Happy Thursday to ya and hope your weekend is wonderful!
Olive
Holy moly! This was totally amazing! The colors, the preserves, the ricotta, the brioche! I loved the ENTIRE recipe. Nothing better than breakfast in bed on that special day!
Jennifer
Really hoping someone makes me this delicious breakfast for Mother’s Day!! Both my kids are great cooks, so there’s really no excuse. Will print out the recipe and casually leave it on the counter as a hint 😉