Description
Indulgent French Toast Casserole with croissants whisks breakfast lovers into a luxurious morning experience. Golden layers of buttery croissants mingle with rich custard, promising a delectable start you won’t forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 large croissants, torn into chunks
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 ml) milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
Sweeteners:
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Flavor and Topping Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- Maple syrup (for serving)
Instructions
- Meticulously coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with butter or cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage. Artfully scatter torn croissant fragments across the dish, creating an even layer that fills the entire surface.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, vigorously combine eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Whisk until the mixture transforms into a smooth, homogeneous liquid with no visible sugar crystals.
- Gently cascade the luxurious custard over the croissant pieces, delicately pressing down to guarantee complete absorption. Wrap the dish securely with plastic wrap and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours, preferably overnight, enabling the croissants to fully embrace the creamy essence.
- When preparation time arrives, activate the oven and calibrate the temperature to 350°F, allowing it to reach full heat potential while you complete final preparations.
- Craft the crumble topping by amalgamating flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Introduce cold butter, using a pastry cutter or nimble fingers to create a textured mixture resembling coarse, irregular pebbles.
- Distribute the crumble topping uniformly across the saturated croissant landscape, ensuring complete and even coverage. Transfer the assembled casserole into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 40-45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and a set, slightly jiggly center.
- Extract the casserole from the oven and allow it to rest and settle for 10 minutes. Delicately dust with a snowfall of powdered sugar and present alongside warm maple syrup for an indulgent finishing touch.
Notes
- Let the croissants dry out slightly before tearing to help them absorb the custard more effectively, preventing a soggy texture.
- Experiment with different bread types like brioche or challah for unique flavor variations while maintaining a rich, decadent profile.
- Consider reducing sugar for a less sweet version by cutting granulated and brown sugar amounts by one-third, which works perfectly for those watching sugar intake.
- Prep this dish the night before for an effortless morning breakfast, allowing flavors to meld and saving precious time during busy mornings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg