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Ham and Cheese Croissant Bake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 69 reviews

This Ham and Cheese Croissant Bake is a rich, savory breakfast casserole featuring flaky croissants, smoky ham, and melted Gruyere cheese, infused with fresh herbs and a creamy custard base. Perfect for brunch or a hearty breakfast, it combines buttery croissants with a luscious blend of eggs, cream, and aromatic seasonings, baked to golden perfection and garnished with fresh chives and optional hollandaise sauce for an elegant touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Base

  • 10 large croissants
  • 6 oz sliced ham
  • 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese

Herbs and Aromatics

  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage leaves

Custard

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 1/2 cups half and half
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Garnish

  • Minced chives, for serving
  • Hollandaise sauce, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the croissants and ham: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Tear the croissants into bite-sized pieces and place them evenly in a greased baking dish. Distribute the sliced ham over the croissant pieces.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In a skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced thyme and sage and cook for another minute until fragrant. Remove from heat.
  3. Make the custard mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, kosher salt, black pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg until smooth.
  4. Assemble the bake: Spread the sautéed onion and herb mixture evenly over the ham and croissants in the baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded Gruyere cheese over the top. Pour the custard mixture evenly over everything, pressing down lightly to make sure all the croissant pieces absorb the custard.
  5. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the custard is set, the top is golden and bubbly, and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
  6. Rest and garnish: Remove the bake from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes to set. Sprinkle minced chives over the top and optionally serve with hollandaise sauce on the side for an extra creamy, tangy finish.

Notes

  • Using day-old croissants helps them absorb the custard better without becoming too soggy.
  • Gruyere cheese melts beautifully but you can substitute with Swiss or Emmental if preferred.
  • For a lighter version, use whole milk instead of half and half.
  • The bake can be prepared the night before, covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated. Increase baking time slightly if baking directly from the fridge.
  • Hollandaise sauce adds a luxurious touch but is optional depending on preference.

Keywords: ham croissant casserole, breakfast bake, brunch recipe, savory croissant bake, Gruyere ham bake

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/ham-and-cheese-croissant-bake-recipe/