Croissant Breakfast Bake Recipe
A rich and savory Croissant Breakfast Bake combining buttery croissants, savory ham, and creamy Gruyère cheese, enveloped in a flavorful custard of eggs, Dijon mustard, and aromatic spices. Perfect for a hearty brunch or special breakfast gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Total Time: 80 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 8 large butter croissants
Meat and Cheese
- 8 ounces ham, cut into 1 x ¼-inch strips
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
Custard Mixture
- 10 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (10 grams)
- 1 teaspoon salt (5 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups whole milk (16 ounces)
- 1 cup heavy cream (8 ounces)
Garnish
- Chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Dry the croissants: Tear the croissants into roughly 2-inch chunks. Spread them evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes to dry out and slightly toast them, which will help maintain texture after soaking.
- Arrange croissants in dish: Remove the dried croissant pieces from the oven and closely fit them into the greased casserole dish, creating an even base layer.
- Increase oven temperature: Raise the oven temperature to 325°F (165°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Add ham and cheese: Scatter the ham strips evenly over the croissants, then sprinkle shredded Gruyère cheese on top, ensuring coverage for a flavorful bite.
- Prepare custard: In a large bowl with a pourable spout, whisk together the eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, cayenne pepper, and ground nutmeg until the mixture is smooth and combined.
- Incorporate milk and cream: Whisk the whole milk and heavy cream into the egg mixture thoroughly, creating a creamy custard.
- Pour custard over croissants: Evenly pour the custard mixture over the croissant, ham, and cheese layers, making sure all pieces are soaked.
- Bake the casserole: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. The bake is done when the custard is fully set and the top turns golden brown.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the foil, sprinkle chopped fresh chives over the top for a bright finish, and serve warm.
Notes
- Drying the croissants before assembling helps prevent sogginess by allowing them to absorb the custard gradually without becoming mushy.
- This bake can be prepared the night before by assembling and refrigerating, then baking the next morning (add an extra 5-10 minutes to baking time if chilled).
- Gruyère can be substituted with Swiss or cheddar cheese if preferred.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and add sautéed mushrooms or spinach.
- Make sure the casserole is covered during baking to keep the custard moist and prevent over-browning.
Keywords: croissant breakfast bake, breakfast casserole, savory breakfast, ham and cheese bake, Gruyère casserole, brunch recipe
Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/croissant-breakfast-bake-recipe/
