Easy Baked Raspberry French Toast

Baked Raspberry French Toast

🍓🍞 Baked Raspberry French Toast — The Brunch Showstopper You Didn’t Know You Needed

Golden, buttery bread, tart raspberries, and a drizzle of maple syrup — this Baked Raspberry French Toast is basically dessert disguised as breakfast, and I’m not mad about it.

Breakfast is supposed to be the most important meal of the day, but let’s be honest — most mornings it’s a granola bar in the car or coffee that’s gone cold before you finish it. That’s why brunch exists: to remind us that breakfast can be indulgent, joyful, and worth slowing down for.

This Baked Raspberry French Toast is the kind of dish that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together. It’s buttery, custardy, fruity, and just sweet enough to make you feel like you’re eating cake for breakfast (because you basically are). The Hawaiian rolls soak up a rich custard of eggs, cream, and vanilla, while fresh raspberries add a tart pop that keeps things from being too sweet. And the best part? You bake it all in one dish, which means less time flipping slices at the stove and more time sipping mimosas.

Why this recipe is a keeper:

Easy elegance — looks fancy, but it’s secretly simple.
Crowd‑pleasing — perfect for holidays, brunches, or “just because.”
Make‑ahead friendly — assemble the night before, bake in the morning.
Balanced flavor — buttery bread + tart berries + maple syrup = perfection.
Versatile — works with almost any fruit you’ve got on hand.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you team “French toast forever” or team “pancakes ride or die”?

We always make French Toast casserole for Christmas morning but lately I have realized that it would be good for any morning routine. You can make it the night before and then put it in the oven while you are getting kids ready for school. Trust me, there won’t be any left after breakfast!

I’m telling you right now that this French Toast Casserole is so good, you may find yourself wanting it for not only breakfast, but also for your lunch, midday snack, dinner, and dessert as well!

WHICH BREAD IS BEST FOR FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE?

In this recipe you use Hawaiian rolls but you could use any slider size rolls, and it’s best if the bread is dry and not too soft. This allows it to soak up the yummy sauce from the casserole better and prevents the the rolls from becoming too soggy.

CAN FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE BE FROZEN?

Yes! Make the casserole in a freezer safe baking dish (such as a disposable aluminum foil pan) and bake as directed, then allow it to cool completely. Wrap in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to three months. Allow the casserole to defrost completely in the refrigerator for roughly 24 hours before baking. Reheat the casserole, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing

3/4 cup maple syrup, plus more for serving

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

One 12-ounce package Hawaiian slider rolls

1 tablespoon lemon zest

2 pints fresh raspberries

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sugar

3 large eggs

a pinch of salt

4 pieces cooked bacon, finely chopped, for garnish

directions

Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter.
Add the butter to the bowl and whip on medium speed for 1 minute. With the mixer running, slowly pour in the maple syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla and whip until completely combined. Transfer to a serving bowl and reserve.
Keep the rolls intact and slice across the equator to create 1 large top and 1 large bottom roll. Place the bottom roll in the baking dish, then spread with 4 tablespoons of the maple butter. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and half of the raspberries and top with the top roll.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, cream, sugar, eggs, remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt. Pour the mixture over the rolls. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the foil, then continue to bake until golden brown, about 10 more minutes.
Arrange scoops of the maple butter on top and sprinkle with the bacon and remaining raspberries. Serve with additional maple syrup.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Serving, Serves 8)

Calories: ~420
Protein: 7g
Carbs: 48g
Fat: 22g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 28g

🥕 Nutritional Facts & Fun

Raspberries: Vitamin C + antioxidants + tart pop.
Eggs: Protein + custardy texture.
Hawaiian rolls: Sweetness + pillowy softness.
Maple syrup: Natural sweetness + cozy vibes.
Lemon zest: Brightness + balance.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you like your French toast fruity, or loaded with chocolate chips?

Did you try our Baked Raspberry French Toast? What did you think? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram!

🧒 Kid Tips

Call it “breakfast cake” to make it sound fun.
Let kids sprinkle berries or sugar on top.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream for extra smiles.
Cut into squares for easy little‑hand portions.

🛒 Grocery Hacks

Hawaiian rolls: Freeze extras — they thaw beautifully.
Raspberries: Frozen works too — just thaw and drain first.
Butter: Buy in bulk, freeze sticks for later.
Maple syrup: Real maple syrup makes a difference.
Cream: Half‑and‑half works if you don’t have heavy cream.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you usually buy real maple syrup, or stick with pancake syrup?

🎯 Reader Challenge

This week, I challenge you to make Baked Raspberry French Toast and serve it in a fun way. Maybe it’s in mini ramekins, maybe it’s topped with powdered sugar, maybe it’s paired with a mimosa bar. Post your creation with #LouLouGirlsFrenchToastGlow so we can all drool together.

🥪 Leftover Remix

French Toast Parfaits: Layer cubes with yogurt and granola.
French Toast Trifles: Layer with whipped cream and berries.
French Toast Milkshakes: Blend with ice cream and milk.
French Toast Bread Pudding: Bake leftovers with custard.
French Toast Sundaes: Top with ice cream and hot fudge.

💬 Reader prompt: Would you rather turn leftovers into parfaits or sundaes?

💭 Final Thoughts

This Baked Raspberry French Toast is proof that brunch doesn’t have to be complicated to be legendary. It’s buttery, fruity, and versatile enough to be a holiday centerpiece, a weekend treat, or a “just because” breakfast. Plus, it’s the kind of recipe that makes everyone smile — and isn’t that the best kind of cooking?

Here’s the thing about French toast — it’s never just bread and eggs. It’s the smell of butter melting, the joy of berries bursting, the comfort of knowing you’ve got a dish that’s both playful and indulgent.

And this Baked Raspberry French Toast? It’s a keeper. It’s golden, it’s fruity, it’s indulgent, it’s fun. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve turned everyday ingredients into something bakery‑worthy.

But what I love most is how recipes like this bring us together. Food has that magic — it’s not just about eating, it’s about sharing. It’s about swapping tips, laughing over syrup‑sticky fingers, and building little traditions that make life tastier.

So here’s my challenge to you: make this dish, share it with your people, and then tell me your twist. Did you add chocolate chips? Did you sneak in almonds? Did you double the syrup just because you could? (No judgment — I’d be first in line for that version.)

💬 Reader prompt: Should we do a “French Toast Series” next? I’m dreaming up blueberry cream cheese French toast, s’mores French toast, and maybe even savory ham‑and‑cheese French toast.

Until then, may your bread be pillowy, your berries juicy, your syrup flowing, and your kitchen filled with laughter, love, and second helpings. Because at the end of the day, recipes like this aren’t just about cooking — they’re about celebrating the little joys that make life delicious.

And if you take nothing else from this post, let it be this: brunch is not a luxury, it’s a lifestyle. And with recipes like this, you’re officially the hostess with the mostest. 🌸🍓🍞