This overnight French toast casserole with raspberries is a treat to wake up to. Simply prepare the night before and bake in the morning.

What makes you happy?

If I were to go by the people in my Facebook groups, pictures on Instagram and the folks I follow on Twitter, I would guess:

Obsessing over topics and misrepresenting the answers received to questions about said topics.
Hating on people of other ideologies and beliefs. Vocally and incessantly.
Living in the past. Like seriously, never letting go of the things that happened years ago.
Creating an airbrushed version of their life where everything is picture perfect — including all children and pets.
Eating gigantic, oversized, crazy milkshakes.

In this social media-heavy world where algorithms decide for us what we want to see, it’s easy to lose sight of real life. Social media seldom really reflects it — even among those who approach it with the same honesty they do in face-to-face interactions.

You know what makes me happy?

Receiving letters from friends in my mailbox. Catching up with friends — on the phone or over a drink. Even getting a kind email. It’s a more personal experience — one that says “I care about YOU.”

Cooking is also a way to express that you care. It’s a love language — and one that I am happily fluent in.

This Raspberry French Toast Casserole recipe is a great way to express your love and make others happy.

Making Raspberry French Toast Casserole

Chunks of good bread. Bright berries. Easy preparation.

This Raspberry French Toast Casserole recipe is perfect for December because it tastes like summer but calls for good, frozen berries so it can be made anytime.

The overnight preparation of this French toast casserole allows the egg mixture to soak into the bread so it makes up moist and light. In the morning, you take it out of the fridge, let it sit at room temperature while you preheat the oven and then bake it.

Thirty minutes later, or so, it comes out of the oven with crisp edges and a soft, delightful center. The bright berries add little pockets of sweet-tart. You can enjoy it as is or drizzle it with maple syrup.

Oh, the delight.

Yes, this can bring a spot of happiness into a winter day. Why not make some soon?

Raspberry French Toast Casserole

Yield: 4 servings

This overnight French toast casserole with raspberries is a treat to wake up to. Simply prepare the night before and bake in the morning.

Ingredients

4 cups cubed French bread (about ¾ of a baguette)
1 cup frozen raspberries
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
3 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Spray an 8x8-inch oven-safe glass baking dish with cooking oil spray. Arrange the bread cubes in the baking dish. Top with the raspberries, spreading them evenly around the dish.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla. Pour over the bread mixture, taking care to coat each piece of bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, remove the baking dish from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while you preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the oven is preheated, cook the French toast for 20-25 minutes, until golden and set. Remove from the oven and slice into four pieces. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup, if desired.