Description
Heavenly croissant baked French toast blends rich textures with sweet strawberries and creamy cheese. French breakfast lovers will delight in this indulgent morning treat that elevates classic brunch expectations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large croissants (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1.5 cups/225 g fresh strawberries (sliced)
- 8 oz/225 g cream cheese (cubed)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup/240 ml milk
- 1 cup/240 ml heavy cream
- 0.5 cup/100 g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.5 cup/75 g powdered sugar (for dusting)
- maple syrup (optional, for serving)
- whipped cream (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish, creating a base layer with half the torn croissant pieces, ensuring even distribution across the bottom.
- Layering: Sprinkle strawberry chunks and cream cheese cubes over the initial croissant layer, then add a second layer of croissants, strawberries, and cream cheese to build a textured ingredient mosaic.
- Custard Creation: Whisk eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large bowl until the mixture becomes a smooth, homogeneous liquid.
- Soaking: Pour the custard over the layered ingredients, gently pressing to ensure complete saturation. Wrap the dish in plastic and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight for maximum flavor infusion.
- Temperature Adjustment: Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F with the rack positioned in the center.
- Baking: Transfer the dish to the preheated oven, baking for 40-45 minutes until the surface turns golden-bronze and the custard sets with a subtle firmness.
- Finishing Touches: Allow the baked dish to cool briefly, dust with powdered sugar, and serve warm. Accompany with maple syrup, whipped cream, or additional fresh strawberries as desired.
Notes
- Soak Strategically: Allow croissants to absorb custard thoroughly by refrigerating for at least 2 hours, enabling deeper flavor penetration and ensuring a rich, custardy texture throughout the dish.
- Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Use slightly stale or day-old croissants to absorb liquid more effectively and maintain structural integrity during baking, preventing a mushy consistency.
- Temperature Matters: Let the casserole rest at room temperature before baking to ensure even cooking and prevent cold spots that might result in uneven texture or partial raw sections.
- Customize Creatively: Swap strawberries with seasonal fruits like blueberries or peaches, or add nuts like sliced almonds for extra crunch and personalized flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg