Description
A delightful Berry Croissant Breakfast Bake combining flaky croissants with mixed berries soaked in a creamy vanilla custard. This easy recipe is perfect for a comforting breakfast or brunch, offering sweet fruity flavors and a golden baked finish in just over an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Croissant and Fruit
- 6 croissants (slightly stale or day-old for optimal flakiness)
- 2 cups mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries)
Custard Mixture
- 2 cups whole milk (can substitute almond or oat milk)
- 1 cup heavy cream (can replace with additional milk or non-dairy cream)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (pure for best flavor)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
Finishing
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for dusting before serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Slicing Croissants: Slice the croissants into halves or quarters depending on size, then layer them evenly in the prepared baking dish, creating a base for the bake.
- Add Berries: Sprinkle mixed berries uniformly over the layered croissants to distribute sweet and tart flavors throughout the dish.
- Make Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and optional lemon zest until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine: Pour the custard mixture over the croissants and berries, gently pressing down to ensure the croissants absorb the custard evenly. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor infusion.
- Baking: Bake the assembled dish in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. The bake is ready when the top is golden brown and the custard is set around the edges without wobbling.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow the bake to cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire rack, then dust the top with powdered sugar before serving for a sweet finishing touch.
Notes
- Using slightly stale or day-old croissants helps them soak up the custard without becoming too soggy.
- The custard can be prepared and the dish refrigerated overnight for convenience and enhanced flavor absorption.
- You can replace whole milk and heavy cream with plant-based alternatives like almond or oat milk, making the dish dairy-free.
- Lemon zest is optional but adds a bright, fresh note that complements the berries.
- Serve warm for best texture and flavor.
