🍋 Lemon Cream Cheese Breakfast Bake

Bright, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious — the perfect sweet brunch treat!

📝 Ingredients

For the Bake:

• 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, cubed (about 8 cups)
• 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp milk (if needed for thinning)

👩‍🍳 Directions

1️⃣ Prepare

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2️⃣ Layer

Spread half the bread cubes in the dish.
Scatter cream cheese pieces evenly.
Top with remaining bread cubes.

3️⃣ Mix Custard

In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth.

4️⃣ Pour & Rest

Pour mixture evenly over bread.
Press gently so bread absorbs custard.
Let sit 15–20 minutes (or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor).

5️⃣ Bake

Bake 40–45 minutes until golden and set in the center.

6️⃣ Glaze

Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
Drizzle generously over warm casserole.

⏱️ Details

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Bake Time: 45 minutes
• Servings: 8
• Calories: ~420 per serving

✨ Tip: For extra softness, use slightly stale bread — it absorbs the custard beautifully.