Orange marmalade. Cream cheese. Croissants. I probably don’t have to say anything else, but I will. Combine those three ingredients in a custardy base and bake until soft, topped with crisp croissant crags, and full of creamy, sweet citrus flavor. Sounds like a dream breakfast. I agree. Imagine a cross between bread pudding and baked French toast, and you’ve got our Orange Croissant Breakfast Bake. Simple to prepare, delicious to eat, and the ideal way to use up any leftover croissants. (As if “extra croissants” were ever an issue.)

Stale croissants are ideal here, but if you’re anything like me, you don’t keep croissants long enough to become stale. (That is, they are eaten quickly and freshly.) But it doesn’t matter; fresh croissants work just as well. Simply chop or tear four of them and arrange them in your baking dish.Spread orange marmalade between croissants, then combine cream cheese, sugar, eggs, milk, orange zest, and almond extract…

Pour it over the marmalade and torn croissants.Even that looks good, and it hasn’t even baked yet.But you bake it. Until it’s soft and has the custardy bite of a bread pudding, with a hint of flaky croissant on the surface.Is this a daily breakfast? Probably not. However, it feels like a special treat, with an indulgent combination of sweet creamy citrus and buttery pastry, which is exactly how I want to start my mornings.