Chocolate Croissant Breakfast Bake (Print View)

Buttery croissants baked with rich chocolate in a vanilla custard, creating a decadent morning treat that's perfect for sharing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pastry

01 - 4 large all-butter croissants, preferably day-old, cut into large pieces

→ Chocolate

02 - 4.25 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped or chocolate chips

→ Custard

03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1.5 cups whole milk
05 - 0.5 cup heavy cream
06 - 0.5 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
08 - Pinch of salt

→ Topping

09 - 1 tbsp powdered sugar, for dusting
10 - Fresh berries, for serving

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Arrange the croissant pieces evenly in the prepared dish. Scatter chopped chocolate evenly over and between the croissant pieces.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt until well combined.
04 - Pour the custard mixture slowly and evenly over the croissants, lightly pressing down so all pieces soak up the mixture. Let sit for 10 minutes.
05 - Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the custard is set and the top is golden brown.
06 - Cool for 10 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar. Serve warm, with fresh berries if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms ordinary leftovers into something that feels like a fancy French patisserie creation
  • The custard soaks into every buttery layer, creating pockets of chocolate in each bite
  • You can assemble it the night before and wake up to something incredible
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that fresh croissants turn into gummy pudding instead of fluffy custard layers
  • Letting it sit for those 10 minutes before baking is what transforms it from bread pudding into something elegant
  • The center should still have a slight wobble when you remove it from the oven, as it continues cooking while cooling
03 -
  • Tent with foil if the top browns too quickly while the center still needs time
  • Sprinkle some extra chocolate on top halfway through baking for that professional look

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