Description
A comforting and wholesome Blueberry Baked Oatmeal recipe featuring cubed bread soaked in a cinnamon-vanilla custard with fresh or frozen blueberries, baked to golden perfection. This easy-to-make breakfast casserole offers a warm, fruity start to your day and can be customized with nuts and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Fruit
- 6 cups cubed bread (brioche, challah, or French bread)
- 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
Custard Mixture
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk (or dairy-free alternative)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or coconut cream)
- ½ cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
Toppings (Optional)
- ½ cup chopped nuts
- Powdered sugar, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), ensuring it reaches the right temperature for baking the oatmeal evenly.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and to help with even browning.
- Lay Bread Cubes: Spread the cubed bread evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the base layer.
- Add Blueberries: Evenly sprinkle fresh or frozen blueberries over the bread cubes to distribute fruit flavor throughout.
- Mix Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until smooth and combined.
- Combine: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and blueberries, pressing down gently with a spatula to ensure all pieces absorb the custard.
- Rest Mixture: Let the dish sit for 10 minutes to allow the bread to soak up the custard fully. For enhanced flavor, cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Add Nuts (Optional): Sprinkle chopped nuts on top if desired for added texture and flavor contrast.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the custard is set in the center.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the baked oatmeal to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar, then serve warm for the best taste experience.
Notes
- You can substitute the heavy cream with coconut cream for a dairy-free option.
- For added flavor, soak the mixture overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Chopped nuts are optional but add great crunch and nutrition.
- Use maple syrup or honey based on your preference for sweetness.
- Fresh or frozen blueberries both work well; no need to thaw frozen berries before using.
- Powdered sugar topping is optional and adds a lovely touch of sweetness and presentation.
