This Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole Is Even Better Than the Classic Sandwich

This unique breakfast casserole makes a memorable brunch or holiday breakfast.

By
Jasmine Smith
Jasmine Smith
Jasmine Smith is a recipe developer and tester for the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in Birmingham, Alabama, and her work has been published in Southern Living, EatingWell, RealSimple, Food & Wine Magazine, MyRecipes, Health, and Simply Recipes. 
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published December 14, 2023
Monte Cristo croissant casserole in a casserole dish and in the surroundings, a serving on a small plate with a fork, a container of jelly, and cups of coffee

Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

A Monte Cristo sandwich is like the offspring of French toast and a hot ham and cheese, only with a dusting of powdered sugar and raspberry jam on the side. Yes, it’s unusual, but once you taste it, you know it’s also incredible.

This Monte Cristo breakfast casserole seizes that idea and runs with it to make something even more memorable. Split croissants layer with slices of ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese. A rich egg custard goes on top, and after baking a drizzle of jam loosened with maple syrup adds a sweet and pretty touch. It’s a perfect way to start a special holiday morning or brunch with loved ones.

The best part? It all comes together with little effort, and you can assemble and refrigerate the casserole up to 12 hours in advance. That’s a cause for celebration in itself! 

Monte Cristo croissant casserole in a casserole dish and in the surroundings, a serving on a small plate with a fork, a container of jelly, and cups of coffee

Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Fan Favorite Breakfast Casseroles
Jimmy Dean Breakfast Casserole
French Toast Casserole
Bagel Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese

Monte Cristo Croissant Casserole

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Chill Time 8 hrs
Total Time 8 hrs 50 mins
Servings 8 servings
Yield 1 (9x13-inch) casserole

Buy your croissants in advance, as stale ones will soak up the egg mixture better.

Ingredients

  • 7 large eggs

  • 1 1/3 cups half-and-half

  • 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 8 slices deli smoked ham (1/4-inch thick)

  • 8 slices deli smoked turkey (1/4-inch thick)

  • 8 slices Swiss cheese

  • 8 day-old croissants, halved horizontally

  • Cooking spray

  • 2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam

  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

  • Powdered sugar

Method

  1. Whisk the egg custard:

    Whisk the eggs, half-and-half, mustard, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth. Set aside.

    Wet ingredients whisked together for monte cristo croissant casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
  2. Assemble the casserole: 

    Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. 

    Place 1 slice of the ham, 1 slice of the turkey, and 1 slice of the Swiss cheese (folding ham, turkey, and cheese to fit, if needed) on the bottom half of each croissant. Cover with the top halves. Place the stuffed croissants in the baking dish.

    Pour the egg mixture over the croissants. Cover with aluminum foil, and chill for 8 hours or up to 12 hours.

    Monte cristo sandwiches assembled and snuggly placed in a casserole dish for Wet ingredients whisked together for monte cristo croissant casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
    Egg mixture poured into the casserole dish with monte cristo sandwiches

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
  3. Bake:

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake, covered, for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until the tops of the croissants are golden brown and the egg mixture is almost set, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.

    Monte crisoto croissant casserole in a casserole dish (all baked)

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
  4. Make the drizzle, garnish, and serve:

    Stir the jam and maple syrup in a small bowl until smooth. Lightly dust the casserole with powdered sugar and drizzle with the raspberry jam sauce.

    Love the recipe? Leave us some stars and a comment below!

    Monte cristo croissant casserole topped with powdered sugar and a jelly drizzle

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
    Serving of Monte Cristo croissant casserole on a small plate, and in the surroundings, more in a casserole dish, a container of jelly, and cups of coffee

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
586 Calories
34g Fat
46g Carbs
25g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 586
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 34g 43%
Saturated Fat 18g 91%
Cholesterol 264mg 88%
Sodium 1127mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 46g 17%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 25g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 352mg 27%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 361mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.