Description
Croissant French Toast Casserole packed with buttery croissants, vanilla, and cinnamon; a comforting, crowd-pleasing breakfast bake.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 large croissants (about 12 oz/340g), slightly stale or toasted
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups (480ml) whole milk
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ⅓ cup (67g) brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Dish Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring all sides are well-coated. This prevents sticking and adds an extra layer of buttery flavor to your Croissant French Toast Casserole.
- Step 2: Prepare The Croissants Tear or cut your croissants into roughly 2-inch pieces. If using fresh croissants, first toast them as mentioned in the pro tips. Arrange the croissant pieces evenly in your prepared baking dish, making sure to create a relatively flat surface while maintaining some texture and dimension.
- Step 3: Create The Custard Mixture In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs until well beaten. Add the milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is completely combined and the sugar has dissolved. The custard should be smooth and free of egg streaks.
- Step 4: Combine Croissants And Custard Slowly pour the custard mixture over the croissant pieces, making sure to cover all areas evenly. Use the back of a spoon to gently press the croissants down, helping them absorb the liquid. Take your time with this step – you want every piece to be in contact with the custard.
- Step 5: Rest And Absorb Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight (8-12 hours). This resting period is crucial for developing the perfect texture in your Croissant French Toast Casserole.
- Step 6: Prepare For Baking When ready to bake, remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes while your oven preheats to 350°F (175°C). This takes the chill off and ensures more even baking.
- Step 7: Add The Topping In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the casserole, then dot with the cold butter cubes. This will create a delicious caramelized crust as it bakes.
- Step 8: Bake To Golden Perfection Bake the casserole uncovered for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set but still slightly jiggly. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.
- Step 9: Rest Before Serving Allow the Croissant French Toast Casserole to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. This helps the casserole set up properly and makes it easier to portion. Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (estimated 1/8 of the casserole)
- Calories: 450 calories per serving
- Sugar: 24 grams
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 23 grams
- Saturated Fat: 13 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 50 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Protein: 9 grams
- Cholesterol: 185 mg