Description
This Berry Croissant Breakfast Bake is a delightful and easy-to-make dish perfect for brunch or a sweet breakfast treat. Featuring flaky croissants soaked in a creamy custard with mixed berries, this recipe combines buttery, fruity, and creamy flavors baked to golden perfection in just over an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Croissants and Fruits
- 6 Croissants (choose slightly stale or day-old for optimal flakiness)
- 2 cups Mixed Berries (a mix of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries)
Custard Mixture
- 2 cups Whole Milk (can substitute with almond or oat milk)
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (can replace with additional milk or non-dairy cream)
- 4 large Eggs (essential for binding the mixture)
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract (use pure extract for the best flavor)
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar (sweetens the custard)
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest (optional, brightens the dish)
Finishing
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar (for dusting before serving)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Croissants: Slice the croissants into halves or quarters and layer them evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- Add Berries: Sprinkle the mixed berries evenly over the layers of croissants, distributing the fruit for bursts of flavor.
- Make Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and optional lemon zest until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine and Soak: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the croissants and berries, gently pressing down to help the custard soak into the bread. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor and texture.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the custard is set around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bake to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving, then dust with powdered sugar for a sweet finishing touch.
Notes
- Using stale or day-old croissants helps absorb the custard better without becoming too soggy.
- Feel free to substitute whole milk and heavy cream with non-dairy alternatives like almond or oat milk for a dairy-free version.
- Refrigerating the assembled bake overnight enhances the flavor and texture.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of granulated sugar to your taste.
- Serve warm for best taste and texture.
