Croissant French Toast Recipe (2024)

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By Jess Smith

4.47

Published Oct 03, 2022Updated Feb 21, 2024

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Get ready to give your brunch game an upgrade. This simple recipe for Croissant French Toast turns stale croissants into a crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch.

Croissant French Toast Recipe (2)

No matter how many recipes I create and photograph and put on TikTok, at the end of the day I’m still a parent. And that means that I deal with all of the will-my-kids-eat-it worries at dinner. But the easiest win is always breakfast-for-dinner. And no breakfast-for-dinner has ever won as many points of approval from my kids as Croissant French Toast.

Buttery croissants dipped in rich custard, seared until golden brown, and topped with fresh berries is impossible not to love. And whether you serve this one for breakfast, brunch, or “brinner”, I can guarantee it will be your new favorite way to make French Toast. Best of all, it uses incredibly simple ingredients. Just grab some croissants on your next grocery store run and you probably have everything else you need.

This recipe is one of my favorites for special occasions like any holiday brunch, Mother’s Day, or Easter. And while this recipe is currently tops in my house, we also love a good classic French Toast, French Toast Casserole (which, honestly, is more like bread pudding than classic French Toast), or my Christmas morning favorite Cinnamon Crunch Bagel Bake.

How to Make Croissant French Toast

  1. Slice. Start with day-old or slightly stale flaky croissants and slice them in half lengthwise.
  2. Whisk. Make the custard mixture by whisking together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
  3. Dip. Dip each slice of croissant in the custard egg mixture.
  4. Cook. Cook the croissant slices on a well-buttered griddle or large nonstick skillet until golden brown. It takes about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
  5. Serve!

If you’re making this recipe for a crowd, be sure to scroll down for instructions on how to keep the croissants warm as you cook them in batches.

Croissant French Toast Recipe (3)

Ingredients

  • Croissants – The round, grocery store-style croissants work best for this recipe, but any croissants will work. Even the mini croissants are great here, just be sure to grab more than one per serving. If you’re using fresh, bakery croissants, it’s best to wait for a day or two so they are slightly stale and will hold up best to cooking.
  • Eggs – You’ll need eggs to make that custard mixture.
  • Milk – Absolutely any type of milk will work, though whole milk will give you the most rich, creamy texture. You can even add a splash of heavy cream to make the custard more creamy.
  • Sugar, Pure Vanilla Extract, Salt – These just help to balance and flavor the custard. I use regular sugar, but brown sugar will give the custard a hint of caramel flavor.

That’s all you need!

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What to Serve on Top

Just like regular French Toast, the croissant version is great with butter, warm syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and any of your favorite fresh berries. These also make a great base for a more savory breakfast, topped with a fried egg and served with crispy bacon on the side.

Keeping French Toast Warm

If you don’t have a pan or griddle large enough to cook all of the French Toast at once, place a sheet pan in a preheated oven at 200 degrees F. As you finish cooking each slice of French Toast, transfer it to the sheet pan to keep it warm.

Croissant French Toast Recipe (4)

Tips for Success

  • The best croissants for French Toast are stale croissants. If you didn’t buy croissants ahead, most grocery store croissants are sturdy and will hold up well.
  • Don’t soak the croissants for more than a minute or two. While some bread will stand up to a long soak in custard, porous croissants will get too soggy.
  • Freeze any leftovers! See below for instructions.

How to Freeze French Toast

French Toast freezes well. Cook the French Toast and then allow it to cool to room temperature. Line the slices up in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze until solid, 4 to 5 hours. Transfer the slices to a freezer-safe bag, pressing out as much air as possible. Reheat in the toaster. Frozen French Toast is best if reheated within 3 months.

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Croissant French Toast Recipe (14)

4.47 from 32 votes

Croissant French Toast Recipe

Whether you’re making brunch for a crowd or just for yourself, Croissant French Toast is a fun upgrade to the classic version. All you need is a few day-old croissants and the regular French Toast ingredients.

To adjust the servings in this recipe, click on the number next to servings.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl

  • Whisk

  • Griddle or Large Nonstick Pan

Ingredients

  • 4 Croissants, preferably day old
  • 4 large Eggs
  • 1 cup Milk (preferably whole milk, but any milk will work)
  • 1 Tablespoon Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • Butter, for greasing the pan
  • Fresh berries, whipped cream, and maple syrup (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  • If the croissants aren’t already sliced open lengthwise, slice them open.

  • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy. Add milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt and whisk until combined.

  • Pour the custard into a 9×13 baking dish. Add the croissant halves in a single layer and let them soak in the mixture for one minute. Gently turn the croissants to soak the other side.

  • Heat a griddle or large nonstick pan to low-medium heat.

  • When the griddle is hot, grease the surface generously with butter.

  • Working with one croissant at a time, remove it from the custard, letting excess drip off. Cook the croissants on both sides until golden brown, pressing down gently as they cook. It should take 3 to 4 minutes per side.

  • Serve warm with fresh berries, whipped cream, and / or maple syrup.

Notes

Keeping it warm – If you don’t have a griddle large enough for a whole batch of this French Toast or if you’re making enough to serve a crowd, place a sheet pan in an oven preheated to 200 degrees F. As you finish cooking each slice of French Toast, transfer it to the sheet pan to keep it warm.

Freezer instructions – Cook the French Toast and then allow it to cool to room temperature. Line the slices up in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze until solid, 4 to 5 hours. Transfer the slices to a freezer-safe bag, pressing out as much air as possible. Reheat in the toaster. Frozen French Toast is best if reheated within 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 227mg | Sodium: 458mg | Potassium: 233mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $8.00

Calories: 346

Keyword: brunch, Holiday recipe

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Categorized as:
Breakfast and Brunch, Family-Friendly, Party and Entertaining

About Jess Smith

Jess is the recipe creator and photographer at InquiringChef.com. She spent nearly a decade as the Chief Recipe Developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Her colorful, healthyish recipes have been featured in popular online publications including Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost.

Read More About Me

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Croissant French Toast Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do you eat with croissant toast? ›

Croissant toast can be enjoyed on its own or topped with a variety of sweet or savory toppings, such as jam, honey, cheese, or bacon. It is a perfect choice for those who want a quick and easy breakfast that is both tasty and satisfying.

What is the original French toast? ›

According to a collection of recipes from the early 5th century AD, the dish we now know as French toast existed as early as the age of the Roman Empire. In their style of French toast, called Pan Dulcis, Romans would soak bread in a milk and egg mixture, then fry it in oil or butter.

Should I toast my bread before making French toast? ›

Use stale bread or toast the bread until it's golden-brown. It needs to be sturdy to hold up to the egg mixture. If the bread is fresh from the bag or you toast it too lightly, the finished dish will be soggy. Soak the toasted or untoasted bread for about 10 seconds per side to achieve the optimal texture.

Should French toast have more eggs or milk? ›

Whatever you decide on, the ratio of liquid to egg will still be about ¼ cup liquid to one egg, and one egg per two slices of bread. So, if you want to make four slices of French toast, you would need four slices of bread, two eggs, and ½ cup milk. How's that for an easy recipe?

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream for French toast? ›

Heavy Cream-use heavy cream for an extra decadent French toast. You can also use half milk and half heavy cream. Almond Milk-unsweetened vanilla almond milk makes great French toast. I love the extra vanilla flavor.

Is it better to cook French toast fast or slow? ›

Cooking it low and slow lets the bread soak up even more flavor. Stuffed French Toast: Chocolate, fruit, cream cheese or savory ingredients can all be stuffed inside French toast for extra flavor.

How long do I toast a croissant? ›

Slice the croissants in half horizontally. Place in the toaster with the cut surface facing down and toast for 4 minutes on pastry mode. Make sure each croissant has ample space in the toaster—you may need to do two rounds of toasting, once for each croissant.

What do French people eat croissants with? ›

Croissants are typically eaten for breakfast with jams or cheese such as brie or camembert. French toast is a dish made of bread soaked in eggs and milk, then fried.

What is best paired with croissant? ›

Here are a few of our favorite combinations:
  • Mascarpone, fresh berries, and a drizzle of honey.
  • Brie and jam (toasting recommended)
  • Sliced figs, honey, and sea salt.
  • Lemon curd and fresh whipped cream.
  • Nutella, mascarpone, and fruit (such as bananas or berries)
  • Ricotta, roasted red peppers, salt, and pepper.
Nov 17, 2020

What makes French toast eggy? ›

If the balance is off and you include too many eggs or not enough milk, the finished French toast will have a scrambled egg-like flavor. When scaling this recipe up or down, keep in mind that you need 1/4 cup of milk for every egg.

How is French toast made in France? ›

A staple food in France, French toast is named “Pain perdu” which translates literally to lost bread, reflecting the use of stale bread so it doesn't get “lost”. These slices of breads dunked in an eggy mixture and toasted in a pan are comforting, sweet and tender – and a breeze to make at home.

What is a good French toast bread? ›

Use brioche or challah. These egg-based breads have a high butter content, meaning their crumb is tender and rich but light. In other words, they're an ideal foundation for super decadent yet airy French toast.

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