Description
This Croissant Breakfast Bake with Chocolate Chips is a delightful and indulgent morning treat featuring day-old croissants soaked in a rich custard and studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips. Baked to golden perfection, this dish offers a wonderfully tender, custardy texture with pockets of melted chocolate, perfect for a cozy breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Croissant Layer
- 5 large day-old croissants, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Custard Mixture
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Layer croissants and chocolate chips: Evenly distribute the croissant pieces in the baking dish, then sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips over them to create pockets of melted chocolate throughout.
- Mix custard: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined, forming a rich custard base.
- Pour custard over croissants: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the croissant pieces, making sure to gently press the croissants down so they soak up the custard thoroughly for maximum flavor and moisture.
- Let soak: Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes so the croissants absorb the custard fully, resulting in a tender and custardy bake.
- Bake: Place the uncovered dish in the oven and bake for 45–50 minutes until the top is golden brown and puffed. If the bake browns too quickly, cover lightly with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool and serve: Remove from the oven, allow it to cool slightly, then serve warm. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh berries for an elegant presentation and extra flavor.
Notes
- Use day-old croissants for best texture as they absorb custard better.
- If the top browns too quickly during baking, cover loosely with foil.
- Customize the bake by adding nuts or dried fruit along with chocolate chips if desired.
- For a dairy-free variation, substitute whole milk with almond or oat milk and use dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Serve warm for the best experience; leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently.
