Baked French Toast with Croissants and Berries

Name: Baked French Toast with Croissants and Berries
Prep time: 130 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 180 min
Yield: 8 people
Ingredients: 8 croissants (, cut in half lengthwise); 2-1/2 cups milk or half and half; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 6 large eggs; 1/2 cup light brown sugar (, lightly packed); 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup California Giant Berry Farms strawberries (, cut into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces); 1 cup California Giant Berry Farms blueberries; powdered sugar (, for dusting baked casserole); 1 cup pure maple syrup; 1 tablespoon dark rum, (optional)

December 8, 2017 20 Comments

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Yum

This Croissant Baked French Toast has been sponsored by California Giant Berry Farms. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

I can hardly believe that a year as passed since I started my Brand Ambassadorship with California Giant Berry Farms. 2017 has flown by, and what a delicious year it has been!

Today, I have the perfect recipe for your holiday breakfast and brunch menu: berry-studded Croissant Baked French Toast. This decadent French toast casserole combines buttery, flaky croissants with a rich spiced custard, and sweet, juicy strawberries and blueberries.

But, wait, there’s more! For an adults-only add on, I like to serve this baked French toast with a drizzle of rum-spiked maple syrup. It’s the perfect finishing touch for a breakfast that has “holiday” written all over it!

Baked French Toast with Blueberries and Strawberries

Berries are such a great way to bring color and flavor to a variety of dishes throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season. Even at the beginning of December, the non-GMO strawberries I picked up from Cal Giant were picture-perfect. Isn’t their vibrant color festive?

I’m constantly adding berries to my breakfast recipes, from pancakes and waffles, to French toast, yogurt parfaits, and porridge. In this Baked French Toast recipe, I utilize fresh berries twice, layering them between the custard-soaked croissants and scattering them on top of the casserole.

As the French toast bakes, the berries will plump and intensify their flavor. If you have especially juicy berries, like Cal Giant’s, a few will burst, creating a sweet, jammy consistency around the edges of the casserole. So. Good.

Making Overnight Baked French Toast with Croissants

Baked French Toast can be made with just about any bread you love, from French bread to brioche, and even a Christmas panettone. I love to use croissants for an ultra-luxe breakfast treat.

As tempting as it is to eat croissants when they’re brought home fresh from the bakery, it’s best to use day-old croissants in this recipe. They’ll soak up the custard better and yield a better textured, puffed French toast that isn’t too soggy.

This Baked French Toast casserole can be fully assembled the night before serving and baked in the morning. It’s perfect for an effortless Christmas morning breakfast. Just take it out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and pop it in the oven while you and your family are opening presents.

More recipes featuring California Giant Berry Farms:

Strawberry Chipotle Glazed Ham
Whipped Goat Cheese and Herb Dip
Lemon Cream Mixed Berry Tart
Blackberry El Diablo Cocktail