Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole

Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole is a delicious, indulgent dish that combines the flavors of French toast, cheesecake, and raspberries into one decadent casserole. Here’s a recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

For the Casserole:

• 1 loaf of French bread (day-old or slightly stale works best)
• 8 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries (or frozen, thawed)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp butter, melted (for greasing the casserole dish)

For the Streusel Topping:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cold butter, cubed

Directions:

1. Prep the bread:
   • Cut the French bread into 1-inch cubes. Place the cubes in a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish, evenly distributing them.
2. Make the cheesecake filling:
   • In a bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
   • Gently fold in the fresh raspberries (be careful not to break them up too much).
3. Make the egg mixture:
   • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until fully combined.
4. Assemble the casserole:
   • Spoon dollops of the cheesecake mixture over the bread cubes in the casserole dish. Then, pour the egg mixture evenly over the top. Press down on the bread cubes gently to help them absorb the egg mixture.
   • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight, allowing the bread to soak up the liquid.
5. Prepare the streusel topping:
   • In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
   • Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend the butter into the dry ingredients until it forms a crumbly mixture.
6. Bake the casserole:
   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the casserole.
   • Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown and puffed up in the center. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can cover it loosely with foil and continue baking.
7. Serve:
   • Let the casserole cool for about 10 minutes before serving. You can top it with extra fresh raspberries, powdered sugar, or a drizzle of maple syrup.

Enjoy your Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole! It’s perfect for brunch or a special breakfast.