Description
This Croissant Breakfast Bake with Chocolate Chips and Cream Cheese is a deliciously indulgent breakfast casserole that combines flaky croissants, rich cream cheese custard, and sweet semi-sweet chocolate chips. Perfect for a weekend brunch or special occasion, it offers a creamy, gooey texture that melts in your mouth, with the added bonus of a lightly golden top baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Croissant Mixture
- 1 (10 to 13-oz) package mini croissants, chopped
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Cream Cheese Custard
- 2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1⅓ cup sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups milk
Instructions
- Prepare Pan: Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) to ensure it reaches temperature for baking.
- Assemble Base: Evenly place the chopped mini croissant pieces into the prepared baking pan. Then, sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips uniformly over the croissants to distribute sweetness throughout the dish.
- Mix Custard: In a medium bowl, beat the room temperature cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract, mixing continuously until well combined. Finally, pour in the milk and blend until the custard mixture is fully combined and smooth.
- Combine and Soak: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the croissant pieces and chocolate chips in the pan. Make sure all croissant pieces are well coated with the custard to absorb the flavors.
- Rest and Refrigerate: Allow the dish to stand at room temperature for 20 minutes to let the croissants soak up the custard. For deeper flavor and texture, cover the pan and refrigerate overnight to soak thoroughly.
- Bake: Place the uncovered baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center is set and the top is lightly golden brown, indicating the custard is cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm to enjoy the creamy texture and rich flavors at their best.
Notes
- For best results, allow the croissants to soak overnight in the custard for a richer texture.
- You can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark or milk chocolate chips based on preference.
- Let the bake cool slightly before serving to help it set further.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.
- Room temperature cream cheese blends more smoothly and prevents lumps in the custard.
