Croissant French Toast Bake
This decadent french toast croissant casserole only takes 10 minutes to prep before popping it in the oven! It’s the perfect quick and easy weekend brunch for holidays like Christmas and Easter.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 medium croissants
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- Powdered sugar optional topping
- Maple syrup for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grab a shallow casserole dish. Gently tear the croissants into roughly 1-inch pieces and stuff them into the bottom of the casserole dish, making sure they're packed tightly in a single layer. (Note that for scaling this recipe, you will have to adjust the size of your casserole dish.)
- Make the french toast custard. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Then add the vanilla extract, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, and whisk thoroughly to combine.
- Pour the custard evenly over the croissant pieces in the casserole dish, making sure the croissants are covered completely in liquid.
- Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, until slightly puffed and golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes away clean. Let cool at least 5 minutes.
- Optionally dust with powdered sugar, then serve with maple syrup.
Notes
Pouring the custard: It's okay if you have some pieces of croissant sticking up out of the liquid after pouring the custard into the dish - the exposed areas will get a little crispy, which adds a nice texture to this french toast bake. Just make sure to pour the custard evenly over the whole dish so that the liquid fills in all the cracks, which will ensure the croissants soak it up and become nice and soft in the oven.
Tip for dusting powdered sugar: If you have a fine mesh sieve, pour a small amount of powdered sugar into it (over a bowl or the sink, so you don't get sugar all over the counter or your floors). Then, holding the sieve over the casserole dish with one hand, gently tap it with the heel of your other hand to release the powdered sugar!
Notes on scaling: The size of your casserole dish and the time this needs to bake in the oven will depend on how you scale the recipe. Choose a casserole dish that will allow you to stuff the croissant pieces snugly into the bottom, keeping them in a single layer as best as you can - you want it to be a little difficult to get the last few pieces in there! This helps the croissants absorb all the custard and become gooey without losing their fluffy texture.
Serving size and suggestions: One batch (4 servings) is enough for about 4 people if you're also serving fruit, bacon, eggs, or other brunch foods with this breakfast casserole. It's a great addition to a full breakfast spread for holidays like Mother's Day, Easter, and Christmas! Just don't forget to grab a bottle of your favorite maple syrup :)
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 446IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg
