Croissant French Toast Bake

Food & Drink
Written By Emmitt Parkman

Transform day-old croissants into an indulgent breakfast casserole that combines the flakiness of croissants with the rich, custardy goodness of French toast. Perfect for holiday brunches or special weekend mornings!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour (plus 4 hours or overnight chilling)

Servings: 8-10

Ingredients

For the Base:

  • 5 large day-old croissants, torn into large chunks

  • 6 large eggs

  • 2 cups Half and Half

  • 1/3 cup maple syrup

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoons ground ginger

  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Streusel Topping: (Optional)

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed

For Serving:

  • Warm maple syrup

  • Fresh berries

  • Whipped cream

  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Baking Dish

    1. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter

    2. Arrange torn croissant pieces evenly in the dish

  2. Make the Custard

    1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt until well combined

    2. Pour mixture evenly over the croissants

    3. Press down gently to ensure all pieces are coated

    4. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight

  3. Prepare the Streusel

    1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt

    2. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs

    3. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use

  4. Bake the French Toast

    1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)

    2. Remove baking dish from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes

    3. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over the soaked croissants (optional)

    4. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until golden brown and custard is set

    5. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving

Recipe Notes

  • Use day-old croissants for best results; fresh ones can become too soggy

  • For extra richness, choose all-butter croissants

  • The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance

  • Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days

  • Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds

Make-Ahead Tips

  1. Prepare the entire casserole and streusel topping separately

  2. Store both covered in the refrigerator overnight

  3. Add streusel just before baking

  4. Allow extra baking time if baking straight from the refrigerator

Variations

  • Chocolate Lover's Version: Add 1 cup chocolate chips before pouring the custard

  • Berry Delight: Layer 2 cups mixed berries between the croissant pieces

  • Orange Spice: Add orange zest to the custard and replace cinnamon with cardamom

  • Nutty Twist: Add 1 cup toasted pecans or almonds to the streusel topping

Why This Recipe Works

The flaky, buttery layers of croissants create more texture than regular bread, while their rich flavor adds an extra dimension to classic French toast. The overnight soak allows the custard to fully penetrate the croissants, resulting in a perfectly moist interior with a crispy, sweet streusel topping.

Perfect for feeding a crowd, this make-ahead breakfast casserole lets you enjoy your morning without the last-minute cooking rush. Simply pop it in the oven and let the heavenly aroma of butter, cinnamon, and vanilla fill your kitchen!

Note: Croissants for this recipe were locally sourced from The Flour District located in Lynchburg,VA

Emmitt Parkman
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