Description

This Croissant Breakfast Bake is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for brunch or a special breakfast. Featuring flaky butter croissants, savory ham, and melted Gruyère cheese, all soaked in a flavorful custard of eggs, Dijon mustard, and cream, baked to golden perfection and garnished with fresh chives.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

8 large butter croissants
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 pan: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
Dry out croissants: Tear the butter croissants into large chunks about 2 inches in size. Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes to dry them out, ensuring they absorb the custard well later.
Arrange croissants: Remove the croissants from the oven and place them tightly in the prepared casserole dish.
Increase oven temperature: Raise the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking the entire casserole.
Add ham and cheese: Scatter the ham strips evenly over the croissant pieces and sprinkle the shredded Gruyère cheese on top.
Mix custard: In a large bowl with a pourable spout, whisk together the eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg until fully combined.
Add dairy: Whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream until the custard mixture is smooth and uniform. Pour it evenly over the croissants, making sure all pieces are nicely covered.
Bake the casserole: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes, or until the custard has set and the top is golden brown.
Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh chopped chives, and serve warm for a delightful breakfast or brunch.

Notes

Drying out the croissants at a low temperature ensures they absorb the custard without becoming soggy.
You can substitute ham with cooked bacon or sausage for variation.
Gruyère cheese can be replaced with Swiss or Fontina cheese if preferred.
For easier prep, chop fresh chives finely to sprinkle evenly just before serving.
This dish can be prepared the night before and baked fresh in the morning for convenience.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Category: Breakfast Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American / French-inspired

Keywords: croissant breakfast bake, breakfast casserole, ham and cheese bake, brunch recipe, egg custard bake