Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Bake (Print version)

Sourdough bread layered with blueberries and lemon custard creates a bright, tangy, and creamy breakfast casserole.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Fruit

01 - 1 loaf sourdough bread (about 14 oz), cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries
03 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Custard

04 - 6 large eggs
05 - 2 cups whole milk
06 - ½ cup heavy cream
07 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt
10 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Topping

11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
12 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
13 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

# How-To Steps:

01 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and arrange sourdough cubes evenly. Scatter blueberries and lemon zest over the bread.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, salt, and lemon juice until fully combined.
03 - Pour the custard evenly over the bread and berries, pressing down lightly to ensure all bread absorbs the mixture.
04 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for best results.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
06 - Drizzle melted butter over the surface. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle on top.
07 - Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
08 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally with maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar.

# Tips from the pros:

01 -
  • You can prep it the night before and just slide it into the oven while the coffee brews, which feels like a small miracle on busy mornings.
  • The combination of tart lemon and sweet blueberries creates a flavor balance that tastes fancy but requires zero fancy technique.
  • It feeds six people generously, making it perfect for sharing without the stress of cooking individual plates.
02 -
  • If your lemon juice is very acidic and the custard starts to look slightly curdled when you add it, don't panic—just whisk it gently and it will come together once it hits the heat, but this is why tempering the eggs first by whisking them with sugar matters.
  • Overnight chilling is not just nice-to-have; it's actually transformative because the bread fully hydrates and the flavors deepen, turning good into unforgettable.
03 -
  • Don't skip the lemon zest on top of the bread; it looks beautiful, distributes flavor evenly, and adds a hint of brightness that people will taste but struggle to name.
  • If your baking dish is shallower than standard, start checking for doneness around 40 minutes because ovens vary and you want the center just set, not rubbery.
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