Stale Croissant French Toast (Printable version)

Day-old croissants immersed in vanilla custard, baked until golden with butter and almonds topping.

# What You Need:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 6 stale croissants, sliced in half horizontally
02 - 4 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
05 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Toppings & Garnish

09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)
11 - Powdered sugar, for dusting
12 - Maple syrup, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Place the sliced croissants evenly in the prepared dish, overlapping slightly as needed.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
04 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the croissants, pressing gently to ensure they absorb the liquid. Let soak for 10 minutes.
05 - Drizzle melted butter over the top and sprinkle sliced almonds if desired.
06 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the custard is set and the surface is golden brown.
07 - Allow to cool slightly, dust with powdered sugar, and serve warm accompanied by maple syrup.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You can finally rescue those sad, stale croissants in the most delicious way possible.
  • It looks and tastes impressive but only takes a few easy steps, making you brunch royalty without breaking a sweat.
02 -
  • Rushing the soaking step can leave dry patches—always let the croissants linger in the custard.
  • Baking too long dries out the custard, so watch for that golden puff and a just-set center.
03 -
  • Always use day-old or slightly stale croissants for the creamiest casserole.
  • A splash of almond extract or a hint of lemon zest can surprise everyone in the best way.
Go back