French Toast Croissant Casserole Recipe

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Hello Daring Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: Luscious French Toast Croissant Casserole delivers your favourite breakfast flavors in an irresistible toasty-warm bake good for household breakfast or a festive brunch. Spoon via the crispy, flaky prime right into a decadently custardy heart. Deliciously indulgent! 

• Crowd Pleaser: Everybody loves buttery croissants, maple vanilla flavors, and juicy berries.
• Best French Toast: A lot faster than cooking particular person slices of bread!
• Fundamental Substances: This recipe makes use of primarily kitchen staples—you simply have to purchase the croissants.
• Make Forward: This one-bowl, hands-off recipe could be assembled as much as 8 hours upfront.
• Excellent for a Get together! Not solely does this golden-brown casserole look nice, it’s additionally generously sized, particularly when a part of a buffet. And it’s simple to make two you probably have numerous mouths to feed.

The warmly candy and splendidly homey flavors of brown sugar and maple syrup are beloved, and after you take pleasure in this French toast bake you’ll additionally love my Crunchy Maple Cookies, Canadian Butter Tarts, Maple Pecan Blondies, and Microwave Caramel Popcorn!

I am keen on a freshly baked candy breakfast casserole. I’ve made many, however that is my first time utilizing croissants. The additional butter within the dough simply makes the dish over-the-top particular. I made a decision so as to add lemon zest to the custard, and it actually brightens up the dish and enhances the berries. When baking this dish comprehend it ought to nonetheless have a bit jiggle within the center—that may guarantee it’s nonetheless custardy on the within. Identical to when baking a conventional custard, you bake till there’s a barely wobble in heart. Do not forget that while you take it out of the oven and it settles, the eggs will proceed to prepare dinner.

Desk of Contents

What’s French Toast Croissant Casserole?

• French Toast Croissant Casserole is a baked breakfast dish the place torn or halved croissants are soaked in a wealthy custard constituted of eggs, milk (or cream), sugar, vanilla, and heat spices like cinnamon. The combination is poured over the croissants and baked till golden on prime and custardy within the heart.
  • Buttery Texture: The croissants’ flaky layers take in the custard fantastically with out getting mushy.
  • Wealthy Taste: A wealthy, just-sweet sufficient combination of egg, complete milk, darkish brown sugar, and vanilla is poured over the croissants.
  • Versatile Toppings: dusted with powdered sugar, and topped with berries and syrup.

• As a result of they’re buttery and flaky, croissants present French toast casserole with wealthy taste and unbeatable texture. Utilizing day-old croissants ensures a young however not soggy texture.
• Soaking day-old or stale bread in egg is an historical strategy to revive bread that’s misplaced its softness. French toast, or ache perdu (“misplaced bread”), developed right into a casserole-style dish within the twentieth century, well-liked for its ease and make-ahead comfort.

Key Substances and Substitutes

Butter

• Use butter to grease the pan to maintain this croissant French toast casserole from sticking.
• The butter additionally provides taste and makes the skin of the casserole splendidly golden-brown and crispy.

Croissants

• Layered croissants, made with buttery laminated dough, create delicate layers within the casserole.
• I take advantage of bigger croissants as a result of they often have extra precise dough quantity and fewer air than mini croissants. This implies they may take in extra custard.
• Should you solely have small croissants, you should utilize these as a substitute.
• Substitute: Should you don’t have croissants, use 4.5 cups of cubed day-old or dried-out challah bread or brioche bread.
  • You gained’t get the identical flakiness as with the croissant casserole, however it can nonetheless style nice!

Eggs

• Eggs give the custard a wealthy taste and bind the combination collectively.
• Moreover, eggs give this breakfast casserole wealthy taste and a golden coloration.
• Heat up your eggs to room temp in the event that they’re proper from the fridge. Listed here are my simple tricks to Get Room Temperature Eggs.
• Substitute: As a substitute of eggs, you should utilize silken tofu (use 1/4 cup (2 oz/57 ml) per egg; 1 1/2 cups (12.6 oz/360 ml.

Complete milk

• Complete milk offers this croissant casserole creaminess and a contact of sweetness.
• For the very best outcomes, be sure you use complete milk with a fats content material of no less than 3.25%.
• Substitute: You should use an equal quantity of half-and-half, which can make the French toast casserole extra custardy.
  • Alternatively, use an equal quantity of full-fat oat milk.

Darkish brown sugar

• Darkish brown sugar sweetens this breakfast casserole and provides it a beautiful trace of caramel.
• As a result of darkish brown sugar has extra moisture than white sugar, it contributes to the stunning tender heart.
• Make your individual brown sugar with my fast recipe.
• Substitute: You should use gentle brown sugar right here.

Lemon zest

• Lemon zest offers a contemporary citrus accent that balances out this dish’s wealthy sweetness.
• Substitute: Alternatively, use the identical quantity of orange zest

Vanilla extract

• Vanilla extract enhances the custard, including heat sweetness and a floral be aware.
• Substitute: You should use vanilla bean paste.

Salt

• Salt is crucial to deliver out the flavors and stability the sweetness. Please don’t skip it, or your French toast croissant bake will style flat.

Powdered sugar

Berries

• Berries add a punch of juicy, shiny fruity taste, which pairs gorgeously with the custard.
• Recent or frozen berries are wonderful. Should you’re utilizing frozen, thaw them in a colander and drain the additional juices earlier than utilizing.
• Substitute: Any mixture of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries works effectively right here.

Maple syrup

• Maple syrup provides a heat, earthy sweetness to the croissant French toast casserole.
• The maple syrup additionally sweetens the casserole.
• Substitute: You would additionally use honey to drizzle on prime.

Learn how to Make French Toast Croissant Casserole

Put together the croissants and custard combination

1. Organize the croissants: Slice the croissants in half lengthways and organize them in a buttered 4-quart (4 liter) baking dish.

2. Combine the custard: In a big bowl, whisk collectively the eggs, milk, brown sugar, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and salt, then pour over the croissants.

Relaxation

3. Let relaxation for a minimal of half-hour on the counter (or within the fridge for as much as 8 hours) to permit the croissants to soak up the entire custard.

Bake and serve

4. Put together to bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), then cowl the casserole with foil and bake for half-hour.

5. End baking: Take away the foil and proceed baking for one other 15-20 minutes, till the custard is ready and the croissants are golden and crispy.
6. Serve: Mud with powdered sugar and serve whereas nonetheless sizzling with contemporary berries and maple syrup.

Gemma’s Professional Chef Suggestions

• Day-old is greatest: Make certain that your croissants are a day or two previous, as they may higher take up the custard if that’s the case.
• Drying tip: In case your croissants are very contemporary, you may dry them out within the oven: reduce them in half and place them on a baking sheet. Bake them at 250°F (120°C) for 15-20 minutes. Let cool earlier than continuing.
• Croissant measurement: We made this recipe with giant Costco-sized croissants. If yours are small, use 8 croissants.
• Ample soaking time: Make sure to depart time to let the croissants take in the custard earlier than you bake this casserole,  as a result of the custard will set earlier than it absorbs within the oven.
• Fruit choice: As a substitute of berries, you may serve this with any contemporary seasonal fruit.  We love this with contemporary peaches in the summertime!

Make Forward and Storage Directions

• Make Forward Suggestions:
• Let your croissants dry out for a day or two earlier than baking.
• This croissant French toast bake could be made a day forward of time:
  • Assemble the casserole, cowl effectively with cling wrap, and refrigerate for as much as 12 hours.
  • Earlier than baking, take the casserole from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature.
• Learn how to Retailer Leftovers: Refrigerate leftover breakfast casserole coated effectively or in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.

FAQs

How do I guarantee my croissant French toast bake has the proper texture?

• Utilizing day-old, barely stale croissants is essential, as they may take up the custard with out falling aside.
• Press the croissants gently into the custard combination in order that the custard is absorbed evenly.
• In case your casserole is getting too brown earlier than the custard is ready, tent it with a bit of aluminum foil.

Flavorful mix-ins and toppings.

• Add a splash of Irish cream to the custard.
• Dollop in some cream cheese to style earlier than baking, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Combine in bittersweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips. Simply add a sprinkle or use extra, relying on how chocolatey you prefer it.
• Swirl in just a few tablespoons of Nutella earlier than baking.
• Drizzle the completed French toast bake with caramel sauce.
• Serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or yogurt.

Can I make this croissant French toast casserole with out eggs?

• Sure, you can also make this croissant French toast casserole with out eggs.
• Silken tofu could be substitute right here. Substitute 1/4 cup (60 g/2.1 oz) of silken tofu for every egg.
• For extra egg substitutes, take a look at my information, 12 Finest Egg Substitutes in Baking and Learn how to Use Them.

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