Description
This Berry Croissant Bake is a delightful and easy breakfast casserole featuring flaky croissants layered with fresh berries and a creamy custard mixture. Baked to golden perfection, it makes a perfect warm and comforting dish to start your day or serve at brunch gatherings.
Ingredients
Bakery
- 4 large croissants (broken into small pieces; use baked croissants, not dough)
Fruits
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup raspberries
Dairy & Eggs
- 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese (softened)
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
Other
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Cooking spray (for greasing the dish)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly spray a 9 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange croissants and berries: Evenly spread the broken croissant pieces in the baking dish. Then, distribute the sliced strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries evenly over the croissant pieces.
- Make the custard mixture: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually add the granulated sugar, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract, mixing continuously until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine and chill: Pour the creamy custard mixture evenly over the croissants and berries in the baking dish. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 14 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the custard to soak into the croissants.
- Bake to finish: Remove the cover and place the dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the custard is fully set. The bake should look puffed and firm in the center.
- Serve warm: Serve the Berry Croissant Bake warm, optionally dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with syrup for extra sweetness. Enjoy this comforting dish fresh out of the oven.
Notes
- Use day-old or stale croissants if possible for better texture absorption.
- You can substitute or add other berries such as blackberries or cherries according to preference.
- For a richer flavor, use whole milk or half-and-half instead of regular milk.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated in the oven or microwave.
- This bake can be prepared the night before and refrigerated overnight for convenience.
