Overnight Sweet Breakfast Casserole
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!
Equipment
- 1 8x11-inch OR 9x13-inch Casserole Baking Dish (for baking breakfast casserole)
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl (for making egg custard)
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Whole Milk
- 10 Large Eggs
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Orange Zest (about ½ an orange)
- 1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
- 1 TBS Unsalted Butter
- 1 Loaf Brioche Bread – cut into ¾’’ cubes (about 1 pound)
- 1 (12 ounce) Jar Fruit Preserves (I typically use Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves)
- As Needed Kosher Salt
- 1/3 Cup Sliced Almonds
- 3 TBS Heavy Cream (substitute: whole milk or half-and-half)
- Optional Garnishes: Fresh Mint Leaves, Sliced Fresh Fruit, Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Make Egg Custard: In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, orange zest and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Grease Pan, Add HALF the Bread: Grease an 8x11’’, or 9x13’’ baking dish with the butter. Then, add half of the bread cubes to the prepared baking dish, arranging them to cover the bottom of the dish.
- Add Half the Eggs: Slowly, and evenly, pour half of the egg-milk mixture (about 2 1/2 cups) over the bread in the casserole dish.
- Layer in the Good Stuff: Dollop half of the ricotta cheese (1/2 cup) over the soaked bread, being sure to drop the ricotta by the spoonful evenly over the bread. Next, dollop half of the preserves (1/2 cup) over the top of the casserole.Repeat the layers: Arrange the remaining bread cubes evenly over top of the preserves. Then, slowly pour the remaining egg-milk mixture over the bread. And finally, spoon the remaining ricotta and jam evenly over the top.
- Cover and Refrigerate - OPTIONAL: For best results, cover the sweet breakfast casserole tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.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. Remove and discard plastic wrap.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Brush Cream on Casserole, Add Almonds, Then Bake: Use a pastry brush to gently brush the top of the casserole with the heavy cream. Then, sprinkle the almonds all over top.Bake, UNCOVERED, for 55 minutes – 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed up, golden brown, and the center is set (meaning, the casserole doesn't jiggle when you shake the pan). (SEE NOTES)
- Let Cool Slightly, then Garnish: Remove the breakfast casserole from oven and place the pan on a wire rack. Set aside and let cool for 10 minutes before garnishing. Scatter fresh mint leaves and sliced or chopped berries over the top of the casserole and then dust powdered sugar all over the top.
- Slice and Serve: Use a sharp knife to cut the sweet breakfast bake into squares and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- While I recommend brioche bread for this breakfast bake, 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. But potato bread or Hawaiian rolls work great 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.
- Dislike ricotta? You can easily substitute goat cheese in an equal amount.
- If you want a pretty design on top of your casserole, 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 sweet casserole, 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 casserole 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 breakfast bake is browned to your liking before the center is set, lightly tent the top of the baking dish lightly with aluminum foil and continue cooking.
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Got questions? I've got answers! If you ever run into an issue, have a question, or need any clarification - please feel free to drop them in the comments section. I'm happy to help when I can!
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and the nutrition facts are an estimate based upon 8 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.
Nutrition
Calories: 520kcal Carbohydrates: 57g Protein: 19g Fat: 23g Saturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 327mg Sodium: 373mg Potassium: 282mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 26g Vitamin A: 895IU Vitamin C: 4.8mg Calcium: 239mg Iron: 1.9mg