Next Post
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
There’s no better way to serve French toast than this Berry and Cream Cheese Croissant French Toast Bake. Not only is this french toast incredibly easy, it’s also better than any other french toast you’ve ever had. Soft, buttery, flaky croissants layered with sweet fruit jam and extra creamy, cream cheese. Then baked in an eggy french toast “batter”. It’s the perfect (make ahead) brunch entrée for both spring and summer, and super pretty when topped with fresh berries. No one will pass up this french toast!
As you’ll see later this week, I am very much into spring brunch foods right now. Today I’m sharing something sweet. Later this week I’ll be sharing something more on the savory side. I am really excited about both recipes. With Easter being this weekend, I figure you can never have too many brunch recipes. I’m also just really happy to be back in the kitchen creating recipes that are full of spring color. Finding inspiration in each of the seasons is the best!
Which brings me to this french toast. While slightly over the top with the flaky croissants, sweet jam, fresh berries, and pockets of cream cheese (yes pockets of cream cheese). This bake is honestly so delicious and the perfect breakfast/brunch to serve over Easter weekend, for upcoming Mother’s Day, and really any other day you please.
I have been dying to make a good spring French toast for weeks now. You guys know I love a good French toast recipe, but I wanted something a little different. Something that hasn’t been overdone, and that would be easy for us to throw together. Something that can be made either the night before, or quickly in the morning. Trust me, I get that holidays can be insanely hectic with family and friends crowding up the kitchen and demanding attention. I’ve made the mistake of playing short order cook one too many times. It’s really only been within this last year that I finally got smart and started coming up with recipes like this french toast bake.
When hosting a brunch, you need a few dishes on the menu that can be made almost entirely in advance. This french toast bake can be prepared the night before. Then simply bake it off in the morning. It’s the recipe every hostess needs.
Tip: I’d also recommend a good pitcher style cocktail…because cocktails are almost always the first thing people are looking for when they walk in the door. It’s true.
I obviously have a few french toast recipes here on HBH, but this one is surely the easiest of them all. And while I will not say it’s my all time favorite (because I really love all the French toast recipes I have shared!!), I will say that this croissant french toast bake is very high on my favorite’s list.
Because what’s not to love about this recipe? Every ingredient is a special one…again, croissants, jam, berries, and cream cheese.
This recipe starts out like any other baked french toast recipe. Make the eggy batter, which is an easy mix of milk, eggs, good vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon. It’s as simple as it gets, but for whatever reason it creates the best eggy french toast.
PS. who do you think first thought to dip bread in beaten eggs and then pan fry it? I will forever be curious about how that genius mind thought this concept up. I’m also very grateful for whoever this person was.
Croissants are one of my favorite pastries, and one of the best breads to use in a french toast. Their light, buttery, and airy layers really soak up that eggy batter. As the french toast bakes, the croissants stay soft in the center, but slowly caramelize on the outside and form a bit of a crunchy crust. It’s the best of both worlds, soft in the middle with a nice crunch on the outside.
Now, here’s the important step. The croissants are layered with sweet jam and cream cheese. The layering creates pockets and swirls of both jam and cream cheese throughout this french toast bake. I really cannot even begin to describe just how good every bite it.
If you love spreading toast with jam, and if you love a cream cheese bagel, you will 100% love everything about this french toast.
As soon as the french toast comes out of the oven, finish it off with a handful of your favorite berries and a drizzle of real maple syrup. Again, nothing not to love here.
And of course, one of the best things about this recipe, is just how easy it is to make and serve. Simply assemble and chill until ready to bake…then bake and serve. Simple, pretty, and delicious!
If you make this baked croissant french toast, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch the How To Video:
Baked Berry and Cream Cheese Croissant French Toast.
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 2099 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 cups roughly torn, day old croissants (about 12-16 croissants)
- 1 jar (10 ounce) high quality fruit preserves, such as blueberry, strawberry, or blackberry
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into small cubes
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries
- 1 cup heavy cream
- powdered sugar and maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Grease a 9x13 inch-baking dish with butter.2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Add the torn croissants and gently toss with egg mixture. Arrange half the croissants in the prepared baking dish. Dollop the jam and cream cheese over the croissants. Add the remaining croissants overtop. It's OK if not all of the jam and cream cheese are fully covered. Pour the remaining egg mixture over the croissants. 3. Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to overnight. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 4. Lay the thinly sliced butter over the croissants. Transfer to the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until the French toast is golden and crisp. If the tops of the croissants begin to brown too quickly, loosely cover the french toast with foil.5. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Stir in 1 tablespoon powdered sugar or maple syrup, if desired. 6. Serve the french toast warm, topped with whipped cream, fresh berries, and maple syrup. Enjoy!
Tried this recipe yesterday and it was absolutely delicious! My family loved it so much that they kept having it as dessert throughout the day after lunch and dinner. I only had mascarpone in the fridge and no cream cheese so I used that instead. Definitely will try with cream cheese next time. Thank you for another great recipe.
Thank you so much Sara! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! I hope you continue to love others of mine! xTieghan
Hi! I don’t have cream cheese at home but have ricotta and mascarpone cheeses. Which one would you recommend for this recipe? Can’t wait to try it this weekend.
Hi Sara,
I think ricotta would be great! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious! I used raspberry jam and fresh strawberries. Can’t wait to try other berry/jam combos!
Thank you so much Kate! xTieghan
This was delicious and so easy! Will be a holiday staple for sure.
Thank you so much Katie! I am really happy to hear that! xTieghan
Making this right now! I used blueberry preserves… I am super excited!! Ive also made the cheesy herb rolls (currently in fridge for later) and I have made the roasted cauliflower salad, the chili lime salmon, the chipotle chicken tacos (but I used ground turkey) this week! Im
planning to order your cookbook soon 🙂 thanks for helping quarantine go a little smoother… ???
Aw you are too sweet! I hope this one turns out amazing for you, Anne! Also, I hope you love the cookbook! Let me know what you make from it ? Have a wonderful Sunday! xTieghan
Can store bought crescent rolls (the dough in the can) be substituted for the croissants? ….Baked them and let sit for a day. No croissants to be found in the stores!
Hi Wendy,
Absolutely! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
OMG….. Just had this for brunch, prepared the night before. The most delicious thing ever …..everyone said better than any cafe,and looked like something out or a magazine lol . Thankyou so much for my now go yo brunch ?
Aw that is so sweet to hear! Thank you so much Sue! xTieghan
which brand/fruit preserves did you use? Thanks 🙂
Hi Anne,
I like to get my preserves from Whole Foods! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this for breakfast this morning. Seriously one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Thank you for the amazing recipe!!
Thank you Melissa! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made this for a baby shower brunch and it was a huge hit!! Didn’t even use high quality croissant, just ones from grocery store. Do think they were bigger then normal croissants so I ran out of egg mixture thus using fewer croissants but still worked out great! The leftovers reheated next day were super yummy too! Thank you as always Tieghan!
I am so glad these turned out so well for you and everyone else, Zoha! Thank you so much for trying this! xTieghan
I have a desperate question! I somehow overlooked the day old (already cooked croissants) -I used dough that has been torn etc to follow other directions. Is there any hope that this will turn out??? I have it in the fridge to use to cook tomorrow. ??♀️
Hey Brandy! I am sure it will be just fine! Sounds like you did everything right. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Happy New Year! xTieghan
I cannot wait to make this for Christmas morning! I had this at a sprinkle and it was simply amazing, so I had to ask for the recipe.
I am so glad you loved this and I hope it turns out amazing for Christmas morning! Thank you! xTieghan
You’ve done it again! I just wowed our friends with this incredible dish! It was incredibly easy and being a new mom, I appreciated being able to assemble it the night before when baby was asleep. I can’t wait to make it again.
Just a thought – instead of jam could I use your maple apple butter, and have some yummy caramelized apples in place of the berries – just to make it a bit more “fall-ish”?
Favorite breakfast dish ever! We’ve made this 4 times now I think and keep coming back. ITs perfection.
Thank you so much Kristin! xTieghan
Dear Tieghan,
I am making this recipe tomorrow morning but I am wondering what cream cheese I can use.. so I bought also Ricotta and Mascarpone ans was thinking about mixing the two however I am not sure whether that would work out as both of the cheese are creamy (not squares like what you have). Do you think mine would still turn out to be good? Is the cream cheese you are using sweet? Thank you so much for answering in advance 🙂 xx Zsofia (from Germany)
Hi there! You can use dollops of mascarpone or ricotta in place of the cream cheese. That will be so delicious! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan