Blackberries and Cream Croissant French Toast Bake

Everything you love about classic french toast (+ berries & cream cheese!) in a delicious, overnight breakfast casserole.

Course Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine American

Keyword berries, berry, blackberries, blackberry, breakfast casserole, breakfast for a crowd, brunch, cinnamon, croissant, eggs, make ahead, make ahead breakfast

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Refrigeration Time 10 hours

Total Time 11 hours 15 minutes

Servings people

Calories 701kcal

Author Tristin Rieken

Ingredients

8 ounces croissants 3-4 large
½ cup blackberry jam
4 ounces cream cheese softened
3 large eggs
¾ cup whole milk
½ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar plus more for dusting
½ cup blackberries fresh or frozen
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
⅛ teaspoon fine salt
2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cut croissants in half lengthwise. Toast cut side up, until crispy and browned about 3-5 minutes. Remove and cool.
Beat room temperature cream cheese with a few tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth.
Smear one half of each croissant with sweetened cream cheese and a bit of blackberry jam. Do not worry too much about even coverage or covering the entire surface. Recombine croissant halves then cut into halves or thirds.
Butter a roughly 8x8" oven safe baking dish and layer croissant pieces in dish.
Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, salt and spices together to form the cinnamon custard base. Pour over croissants and sprinkle on berries, reserving a few for serving.
Cover french toast bake tightly with buttered foil and refrigerate at least 10 minutes up to 18 hours. It does not have to sit overnight and can be baked after only 10 minutes of soaking. But is best prepared 10 to 18 hours in advance to allow custard mixture to fully soak into croissants and ensure the best texture. Don’t go any longer than 18 hours or risk croissants breaking down too much and becoming a soggy mess.
When ready to serve preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake covered until completely set in the center, 45-50 minutes.
Uncover and continuing baking until golden brown and crispy, 10-15 minutes longer.
Cool at least 5 minutes then sprinkle with powdered sugar. Scoop out individual portions and serve with a smear of blackberry jam and reserved blackberries. Sweetened yogurt or whipped cream optional.

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