Description
Indulgent croissant French toast casserole brings comfort to weekend brunches with rich, custardy layers. Warm spices and caramelized edges create a luxurious breakfast experience you’ll savor to the last delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 croissants (medium-sized, one day old preferred)
- 8 eggs (large, beaten)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (Canadian)
- ¼ cup butter (thinly sliced)
- 2 tbsps white granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- Ground cinnamon (for dusting)
- Vanillin sugar (for dusting)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for serving)
- Ice cream (optional, for serving)
- Additional maple syrup (optional, for serving)
- Fresh fruit (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Coat a 9×13 inch baking dish thoroughly with nonstick spray, creating a smooth surface for the casserole.
- Egg Mixture: Whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl until completely smooth and uniform in texture.
- Croissant Assembly: Slice croissants horizontally, creating matching top and bottom halves. Layer bottom halves across the greased dish, minimizing space between pieces.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour half the egg mixture over croissant bottoms, ensuring complete absorption. Drizzle maple syrup evenly to enhance sweetness and complexity.
- Layer Construction: Place croissant top halves over the bottom layer, forming a complete sandwich structure. Distribute remaining egg mixture, thoroughly saturating all surfaces.
- Chilling Phase: Cover casserole with wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 12 hours, allowing flavors to meld and ingredients to fully integrate.
- Temperature Preparation: Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°F with center rack positioning.
- Final Touches: Dot surface with butter cubes, sprinkle cinnamon and vanilla sugar across the top for additional flavor and visual appeal.
- Baking Process: Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, watching for golden-brown coloration and set center. Cover with foil if edges brown too quickly.
- Serving Presentation: Rest casserole for 10 minutes after removing from oven. Dust with powdered sugar and serve alongside vanilla ice cream or fresh berries for an elegant finish.
Notes
- Overnight Soak Strategy: Let the casserole rest in refrigerator for maximum flavor infusion and bread absorption, ensuring rich, custardy texture throughout.
- Temperature Transition: Allow casserole to warm to room temperature before baking, preventing uneven cooking and potential cold-center issues.
- Browning Protection: Watch edges carefully during baking, covering with foil if they brown too quickly to prevent burning while ensuring even cooking.
- Resting Ritual: Always let casserole rest 10 minutes after baking, allowing custard to set and making serving easier and more structurally stable.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 469
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg