Pioneer Woman Croissant French Toast Casserole: The Ultimate Breakfast Indulgence

You’re craving a breakfast that’s both incredibly easy and utterly decadent, right? Look no further than this overnight croissant French toast casserole, a dish that perfectly blends the buttery flakiness of croissants with a rich, cinnamon-spiced custard. This recipe takes the humble French toast to a whole new level, transforming it into a crowd-pleasing casserole that’s ideal for weekend brunches or special holiday mornings. Prepare it the night before for a stress-free morning, or bake it immediately for instant gratification. Get ready to discover why this croissant French toast casserole will quickly become a family favorite!

Watch the Step-by-Step Croissant Casserole Video

Want to see just how simple this recipe is? Check out our video tutorial for a visual guide to creating this mouthwatering French toast casserole. We’ll walk you through each step, offering helpful tips and tricks to ensure your breakfast masterpiece is a success. Don’t forget to subscribe to our [website’s newsletter] and [YouTube channel] for more delicious recipes and easy cooking inspiration!

Simple Ingredients for a Show-Stopping Casserole

One of the best things about this croissant French toast casserole is that it relies on simple, pantry-friendly ingredients. You likely already have everything you need to create this breakfast delight. For a complete list of ingredients and exact measurements, be sure to scroll down to our detailed recipe card below.

Croissants: The star of the show! We recommend using day-old croissants as they are slightly drier and will soak up the custard beautifully without becoming soggy. Medium-sized croissants work perfectly, but feel free to use larger ones and simply adjust the layering. Brioche bread is also a fantastic substitute if you prefer a different texture.
Eggs: While room temperature eggs are often preferred in baking, cold eggs work just as well in this recipe, making it even more convenient.
Milk & Cream: The combination of milk and cream is what gives this casserole its luxurious richness. For a lighter version, you can use all milk, or for an extra indulgent treat, use all cream or half-and-half.
Pure Maple Syrup: Don’t skimp on the maple syrup! Its distinctive flavor is essential to the custard’s sweetness and depth. Pure maple syrup is key – avoid syrups with corn syrup or artificial flavors for the best taste.
Cinnamon & Vanilla: A touch of ground cinnamon and vanilla extract adds warmth and aromatic complexity to the casserole. For an extra layer of spice, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg.
Berries: Fresh or frozen berries add a burst of freshness and vibrant color. We love a mix of raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, but feel free to use your favorites or whatever is in season. If using frozen berries for an overnight casserole, they will thaw perfectly in the refrigerator.

Essential Tools for Easy Casserole Prep

You won’t need any fancy equipment for this recipe! Just a few basic kitchen tools will have you well on your way to breakfast bliss. Check out our affiliate links below for some recommended casserole dishes and baking essentials – using these links supports our website at no extra cost to you!

Getting Started: Preparing Your Casserole Dish

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). For this recipe, a 9×13 inch rectangular casserole dish works wonderfully, but you can also use a large oval, round, or square dish of similar size. To prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup, generously spray the inside of your chosen dish with baking spray, making sure to coat the bottom and sides evenly.

Baking spray is your best friend here, preventing those delicious caramelized sugars from clinging to the dish. For even easier removal, especially with a square pan, you can line the dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang to lift the casserole out effortlessly.

Crafting the Delicious Egg Custard

The heart of this croissant French toast casserole lies in its flavorful egg custard. This is where the magic happens, transforming simple croissants into a melt-in-your-mouth breakfast. Here’s how to create the perfect custard:

In a large mixing bowl, crack in your eggs. Add the pure maple syrup, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and ground cinnamon.
Using a whisk, vigorously beat the eggs and spices together for a few minutes until the mixture is well combined and slightly frothy. This step is crucial for a light and airy custard.
Pour in the milk and cream. Remember, you can adjust the ratio of milk to cream to suit your preference – all milk for lighter, all cream for richer.
Whisk the dairy into the egg mixture until everything is thoroughly combined and set aside. Your custard is ready to embrace the croissants!

Preparing the Croissants for Casserole Greatness

With the custard ready, it’s time to prepare the croissants. Day-old croissants are ideal as they are less likely to become mushy. Brioche or even thick-cut French bread will also work beautifully with this method.

Using a serrated knife, carefully slice each croissant in half lengthwise. If you’re using particularly large croissants, you can also halve them vertically after splitting them lengthwise to make serving easier and ensure even custard saturation.

Assembling Your Croissant French Toast Casserole

Now for the fun part – putting it all together! This French toast casserole is incredibly easy to assemble, promising maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Prepare your berries by gently washing them. If using strawberries, hull and slice them into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Take one halved croissant piece at a time and dunk it into the prepared egg custard. Allow the croissant to soak for a few seconds on each side, ensuring it’s thoroughly saturated with the custard mixture.
Begin layering the custard-soaked croissants in your prepared casserole dish. As you layer, sprinkle a generous handful of mixed berries over each layer of croissants. We love tucking berries between the croissant halves for bursts of flavor throughout the casserole. Continue layering croissants and berries until the dish is filled.
Pour any remaining egg custard evenly over the top of the layered casserole. Sprinkle the remaining berries over the very top for a beautiful and fruity finish.
Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the custard is completely set and no longer jiggly in the center. For the last 6 to 8 minutes of baking, remove the foil to allow the croissant tops to turn a beautiful golden brown and slightly crispy.

Overnight Instructions for a Stress-Free Morning

Want to wake up to the aroma of freshly baked French toast without the morning rush? Here’s how to prepare this croissant casserole the night before:

Assemble the casserole according to the instructions above, up to the point of baking.
Instead of baking, cover the assembled casserole dish tightly with foil and place it in the refrigerator to chill overnight.
In the morning, remove the casserole from the refrigerator while your oven preheats to 375°F (190°C).
Bake the chilled casserole at 375°F (190°C) for approximately 50 minutes. Because the casserole is cold from the refrigerator, it will require an extra 10 to 15 minutes of baking time to ensure it’s heated through and the custard is fully set.

Serving and Enjoying Your Croissant French Toast

Once your croissant casserole is baked to golden perfection, it’s time to dig in! We recommend serving it immediately while it’s warm and at its most delicious. If you’re not serving right away, you can keep it warm in a low oven until ready to serve. For an extra touch of indulgence, add a pat of butter to each serving while it’s still warm – it melts beautifully into the casserole.

Using a large spoon, scoop generous portions of the croissant French toast casserole onto individual serving plates. Drizzle with warm pure maple syrup and add a sprinkle of fresh berries for an extra burst of flavor and visual appeal. Enjoy every decadent bite!

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5 from 2 votes

Overnight Croissant French Toast Casserole (video)

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 40 minutes | Servings: 6

This easy, overnight croissant French toast casserole is loaded with berries, infused with maple syrup and cinnamon, creating the perfect breakfast or brunch centerpiece!

Ingredients

For the French Toast Casserole:

10 medium day-old croissants
6 large eggs
¼ cup pure maple syrup
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
1 cup whole milk
1 cup cream, or half-and-half
3 cups mixed berries

For Serving:

Pure maple syrup
Mixed berries
Butter (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with baking spray.

Prepare the Custard:

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, maple syrup, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
Whisk in milk and cream until smooth. Set aside.

Assemble the French Toast:

Slice croissants in half lengthwise. If large, halve vertically as well.
Wash and prepare berries; slice strawberries if using.
Dip each croissant half in custard, saturating well.
Layer croissants in the dish, sprinkling berries between layers.
Pour remaining custard over top; sprinkle with remaining berries.

Bake the Casserole:

Cover with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes, until custard is set.
Remove foil for the last 6-8 minutes to brown tops.

Overnight Option:

Assemble casserole, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Bake chilled casserole for 50 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
Serve warm with maple syrup, berries, and butter if desired.

Nutrition

Course: Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine: American, French

Holiday: Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day

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