Description
This Berry Croissant Breakfast Bake is a deliciously easy-to-make, flaky breakfast casserole layered with fresh mixed berries and soaked in a rich custard. Perfect for a make-ahead brunch or a cozy weekend breakfast, it combines buttery croissants with a creamy, vanilla-infused custard topped with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 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, but brightens the dish)
Topping
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for dusting before serving)
Instructions
- Preparation Steps: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and assist even cooking.
- Layer Croissants: Slice the croissants into halves or quarters and arrange them evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create the base layers.
- Add Berries: Sprinkle the mixed berries evenly over the croissant pieces, distributing them to ensure every bite will have fruit.
- Prepare 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 fully combined.
- Combine Custard and Croissants: Pour the custard mixture over the croissant and berry layers in the baking dish. Gently press down to help the croissants soak up the liquid evenly. Let the dish sit for 15-20 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight to enhance flavor and texture.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is beautifully golden and the custard is fully set around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bake to cool for 10-15 minutes after baking to let everything set. Just before serving, dust the top generously with powdered sugar for a sweet and decorative finish.
Notes
- Using day-old or slightly stale croissants helps absorb the custard better without becoming soggy.
- You can prepare this dish the night before, refrigerating it after pouring the custard, which enhances the flavor.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream and whole milk with non-dairy alternatives such as coconut or almond milk and use a non-dairy cream.
- Adding lemon zest is optional but recommended to brighten the flavor profile.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
