This decadent Croissant French Toast Casserole is the easiest make-ahead breakfast bake, made with flaky, buttery croissants layered with creamy custard and sweet berries that turn jammy in the oven. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd and also reheats well.
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Croissant French Toast Casserole Video
Watch how easily I make this beautiful croissant breakfast casserole using leftover croissants. They are flaky and gooey and sweet—the perfect breakfast to share.
Croissant French Toast Bake
This Croissant Breakfast Bake recipe is incredibly easy and make-ahead friendly, so it’s perfect for baby showers, brunch dates, or any time you’re treating someone to breakfast. It’s lightly sweet, buttery, and tastes amazing drizzled with maple syrup. Using croissants in French Toast adds all those delicious buttery layers that soak up the custard beautifully, and I love the crisp and flaky edges on top with a tender center.
This recipe was shared with me by one of my readers, Galina S. from Ohio, because she often makes this recipe for brunch, and it’s always a HUGE hit. I knew I had to try it since I had finally perfected my Homemade Croissant recipe. It didn’t disappoint.
While we usually opt for more sensible breakfast options, like Chia Seed Pudding, Overnight Oats, my Homemade Granola, and Cottage Cheese Egg Bites, this croissant breakfast bake hits the spot when you need something a little more indulgent.
Ingredients and Variations
There are many layers of flavor here, from the croissants, juicy berries, and the custard center.
- Croissants – you’ll need 5-6. Fresh croissants work, but you can also use day-old or stale croissants with great results (similar to my Almond Croissants recipe) because it’s dry enough to suck up the custard!
- Eggs – These make the basis of the custard and give the casserole a bit of rise – and if you’re a glass-half-full kinda person, eggs also add a dash of protein (hey, it’s all about balance, right?)
- Whole milk, heavy cream, and butter – complete the decadent creamy custard. You can swap with non-dairy alternatives, like full-fat coconut cream and dairy-free milk and butter, but it may turn out more runny.
- Sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon – give the perfect amount of sweetness and warm spice.
- Berries – blueberries or mixed berries for the inside, and more to garnish the finished dish. You can swap with any stone fruit or nuts for a seasonal take, for example, try chopped peaches, plums, cherries, almonds, or pecans.
Natasha’s Tip for Adding Fruit
I add blueberries and blackberries inside the casserole, and then garnish the finished casserole with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. I found strawberries and raspberries are best added fresh, since they tend to dry out in the oven.
How to Make Croissant French Toast Bake
This Croissant Breakfast Bake makes a 13×9 tray of buttery, toasty, custardy goodness.
- Prep – set the oven to 350°F and butter your 9×13 casserole dish.
- Cut the croissants into 1” pieces with a serrated knife, kitchen shears, or tear with your hands, and then spread evenly in the bottom of the greased dish.
- Mix the custard – whisk the rest of the ingredients, except the berries, together in a bowl.
- Build the casserole – pour the mixture over and press down the croissants to soak it in, and then, sprinkle most of the blueberries and blackberries over the top. For the best jammy flavor in each bite, push the berries between the chunks of croissant. Let it rest for 15 minutes or overnight (see make-ahead instructions below).
- Bake in the oven for 45 minutes until the top is toasted and the custard is set.
Serve garnished with plenty of fresh berries, which makes this casserole visually stunning. Remember, the casserole isn’t too sweet, so don’t be shy about adding the maple syrup.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
There’s nothing like waking up with breakfast made and ready to slip into the oven. This is the perfect overnight French toast breakfast bake, and leftovers reheat well.
- Make-Ahead: Store assembled casserole covered overnight in the fridge before baking. Then bake right from the refrigerator.
- To Refrigerate: Store cooled leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days, as long as the berries stay fresh (blueberries will hold up the best).
- Freezing: Store uncooked or cooled French toast bake in the freezer in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight.
- To Reheat: Heat a whole cooked casserole or individual portions in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 350°F for the best results. You can also warm in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave until warmed through and the top is lightly crisp.
Serve Croissant French Toast Bake With
I love topping this croissant breakfast bake with more fresh berries and the classic toppings of powdered sugar and maple syrup, but you can have fun with it and serve with Blueberry Sauce, or Raspberry Maple Syrup and a bit of Homemade Whipped Cream or Honey Butter.
Treat your guests to this croissant French Toast Casserole recipe at your next breakfast or brunch occasion, because it’s perfectly sweet, jammy, and decadent, and just right for a special occasion meal with friends and family. Make it ahead to make hosting even easier!
Croissant French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 5-6 large croissants, fresh or a few days old
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup whole milk, warm
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cups blueberries or mixed berries, plus more to garnish (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)*
Instructions
- Prep – Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9"x13” casserole baking dish
- Cut croissant into small pieces (about 1-1.5” cubes) and place in dish
- Make the custard – In a bowl, whisk together eggs, warm milk, cream, butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt
- Build the casserole – Pour the mixture over croissants, pressing down with a spatula to absorb. Add blueberries on top and push them between the croissant layers. Let sit for 15 minutes (even better overnight!)*
- Bake for 45 minutes until set and golden, and enjoy this warm.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Crowd-Pleasing Brunch Recipes
This Croissant French Toast Bake is the perfect recipe to wow guests at brunch, along with these go-to recipes to feed a crowd at brunch:
- Oven-Baked Bacon
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Hash Brown and Egg Breakfast
- Breakfast Tacos
- Bread Pudding
- Breakfast Egg Muffins
- Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
- Quiche Lorraine
Oh no, now you went and did it; I am out of control. We have fresh peaches available right now, so that’s what I used. Oh my! Now I’m thinking rhubarb and strawberries, or cranberries with fiori di sicilia and orange zest. This is going to be dangerous!
P.S. I love seeing your kiddos participating.
This one is addicting, I had to pace myself! I’m so glad you loved it too, Aunt J! I think I’ll be making it again this weekend.
Hi Natasha. Love all your recipes. But I was wondering if you have a Zapekanka recipe?
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying them! I don’t have a recipe for that yet but thanks for the suggestion!
How much do the croissants weigh? I’d like to substitute sourdough or French bread.
Hi Pat! I did not weigh them but a standard good size croissant is likely about 70g.
Excellent!! Loved that I could prep it the night before and get it going in the morning to have a hands off breakfast. I sweetened it up with honey while the husband liked it as it was. Will make again
I’m so glad you loved it!
This recipe for the Croissant French Toast Bake was truly delicious and easy to bake! A definite crowd pleaser!
Looks delicious & I would like to make it. I can’t find heavy cream. Do you think using whipping cream would work? Also, do you leave it covered or uncovered when baking! Thankyou for all your great recipes! 😋😋😋
Hi Dana, whipping cream will work great. They’re very similar one just typically has more fat in it.
This was such a beautiful casserole and so delicious. I loved it with just blueberries stuffed between the layers and then more blueberries on top but yours is stunning with a mix of berries. I can’t wait for my homegrown blueberries to ripen so I can put them into this bake!
What is your homemade vanilla recipe please ?
Hi Mary, This is my homemade Vanilla Recipe. I hope this helps.
This looks amazing! I’m always looking for a new breakfast casserole! Can you bake it without the fruit? I think I’d like to serve it with all that fresh fruit on the side.
Hi Janet! Yes, you can leave them off. I hope you love the recipe!
You mention that this dish is not sweet, so don’t scrimp on the maple syrup, but I don’t see maple syrup listed anywhere in the recipe. Please tell me how much and how to use maple syrup. Thank you!
Hi Janine! See the section above, “Serve Croissant French Toast Bake With.”
It’s an optional topping, and you can add it to your preferred sweetness level.
Could I use frozen mixed fruit instead of fresh
Hi Kathy! I haven’t tested this with frozen berries to know if it requires any adjustments to offset the additional moisture.
If you experiment, let us know. A few tips that could help- don’t thaw the berries. You may try tossing them through cornstarch or reducing the custard by a few tablespoons if it’s too wet.
Looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it and enjoy it!!
I hope you love the recipe!