Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 large day-old croissants, torn into smaller pieces
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup milk, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously butter a 9-inch pie plate or baking dish to ensure the French toast bake doesn’t stick during cooking. Set the prepared dish aside.
- Mix custard: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Soak croissants: Add the torn croissant pieces to the custard mixture. Gently fold to coat all the croissant pieces thoroughly with the custard, allowing them to absorb the liquid evenly.
- Assemble in baking dish: Transfer the custard-soaked croissants into the buttered pan, spreading them out evenly to ensure consistent baking.
- Bake to golden brown: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and the center is set and no longer jiggly.
- Cool and serve: Remove the French Toast Bake from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. Serve warm, optionally topped with powdered sugar, fresh berries, crème fraîche, whipped cream, and maple syrup for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Day-old croissants work best as they soak up the custard without becoming too soggy.
- For a nuttier flavor, consider adding chopped pecans or walnuts before baking.
- Allowing the bake to cool slightly before serving helps it set and makes slicing easier.
- Can be prepared the night before by assembling and refrigerating, then baking in the morning (add a few extra minutes to baking time if cold).
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-American