The Ultimate Baked Ham Cheese Croissants: Your New Favourite Brunch!

Are you on the hunt for a truly special recipe to transform a simple morning into a celebration? We know that desire for a warm, comforting, and delicious meal that gathers everyone around the table with a happy sigh. We are delighted to say the answer lies in our recipe for the most magnificent Baked Ham Cheese Croissants you will ever have the pleasure of tasting.

Just imagine flaky, all-butter croissants, filled to the brim with savoury sliced ham and luxuriously melted Gruyère cheese. Then, picture them being brushed with a tangy, flavourful Dijon butter glaze and baked to golden, crispy, gooey perfection. This is more than just a recipe; it’s a moment of pure bliss. It’s the ideal centrepiece for a leisurely weekend breakfast, a chic lunch, or one of those unforgettable christmas breakfast ideas that will become a cherished family tradition. Let’s get started!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Wonderfully Simple to Prepare: With just a few ingredients and very little prep, you can serve these bakery-quality croissants in under 30 minutes. It’s a straightforward recipe that delivers an enormous amount of flavour.
• A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: The timeless pairing of ham and cheese inside a buttery croissant is a combination that everyone adores. They are wonderful for family get-togethers, impressing guests, or simply as a special treat for yourself.
• Ideal for Making Ahead: We understand how hectic mornings can become, particularly around the holidays. You can assemble these croissants the evening before, ensuring your morning is completely relaxed and enjoyable.
• Pure Decadence and Comfort: The molten cheese, warm ham, and crisp, buttery pastry come together to create a deeply comforting and satisfying dish that feels like a warm embrace.
• Easy to Customise: While our classic recipe is a triumph, you can effortlessly swap the cheese, try a new sauce, or use up leftover ham. We’ll be sharing a few of our favourite creative twists below!

Ingredients

• 6 large all-butter croissants, preferably a day old
• 170g (6 oz) good-quality cooked ham, thinly sliced
• 170g (6 oz) Gruyère cheese, grated (or a mix of Gruyère and Emmental)
• 115g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon dried onion flakes
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of black pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Baked Ham Cheese Croissants

Making these sensational ham cheese croissants is an incredibly simple affair. We’ve outlined the process in clear, easy-to-follow steps to guarantee you achieve a flawless result every time. Let’s create some kitchen magic!

1. Prepare Your Oven and Baking Tray: To begin, preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4). Line a large baking tray with parchment paper; this will stop any sticking and make cleaning up much easier.
2. Slice and Fill the Croissants: With a serrated knife, carefully slice each croissant horizontally, but not completely through, to form a pocket. Gently open each croissant and layer a few slices of ham inside, followed by a generous helping of the grated Gruyère cheese. Close the croissants and arrange them neatly on your prepared tray.
3. Mix the Savoury Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk the melted butter with the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, and dried onion flakes until well combined. Add a small pinch of salt and black pepper to season. This glorious glaze is the secret ingredient that elevates these croissants to something truly special!
4. Brush with the Glaze: Take a pastry brush and generously coat the top of each croissant with the butter mixture. Be liberal with it, allowing some of the glaze to trickle down the sides. If you have any glaze left over, feel free to drizzle it over the top for extra flavour.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Pop the baking tray into your preheated oven and bake for 12–15 minutes. You are aiming for the croissants to be a beautiful golden-brown colour and perfectly crisp, with the cheese inside fully melted and bubbling. Watch them closely for the last few minutes, as they can turn golden very quickly.
6. Serve and Enjoy: Take the croissants out of the oven and allow them to cool for a minute or two before serving. They are at their absolute best when enjoyed straight away, while they are still warm and the cheese is deliciously gooey.

Our Top Tips for Success

To help you perfect this recipe, we’ve put together our most useful tips and tricks. From selecting the finest ingredients to preparing them in advance, we’ve got all the advice you need.

Choosing the Best Ingredients

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, which means the quality of your ingredients can truly make a difference.

• The Croissants: We suggest using high-quality, all-butter croissants. Day-old ones are even better, as they are a little drier and hold their structure more effectively during baking, giving you a crispier result. For more information on what constitutes an excellent croissant, have a look at this guide from BBC Good Food.
• The Ham: Choose a premium, thinly sliced cooked ham. A good-quality, off-the-bone ham from a local deli will provide a much better flavour and texture than standard pre-packaged options.
• The Cheese: Gruyère is our number one recommendation due to its wonderful melting quality and its nutty, subtly sweet taste. However, feel free to substitute it with other cheeses that melt well, such as Emmental, Jarlsberg, a mature Cheddar, or Provolone.

Make-Ahead Instructions for a Stress-Free Morning

These baked ham and cheese croissants are a fantastic choice for a relaxed morning, which is why they’re one of our top picks for a celebratory christmas brunch. To get them ready ahead of time:

1. Follow step 2 to assemble the croissants with the ham and cheese.
2. Arrange them on the baking tray, cover securely with cling film, and place them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
3. Prepare the glaze separately and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. You might need to warm it gently before use to make it spreadable.
4. When you are ready to bake, just preheat your oven, brush the chilled croissants with the glaze, and bake according to the instructions. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time as they will be starting from cold.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

While these croissants are truly magnificent on their own, you can easily turn them into a more complete brunch or lunch. We adore serving them with a simple green salad tossed in a vinaigrette, a platter of fresh fruit, or a side of fluffy scrambled eggs.

Fancy a change? Here are some variations that we love:

• A Touch of Sweetness: Stir a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup into the butter glaze for a delightful sweet-and-savoury flavour profile.
• Add Fresh Herbs: Mix some finely chopped fresh herbs, such as chives or parsley, into the cheese filling for a burst of freshness.
• Try a Different Meat: Swap out the ham for thinly sliced turkey, prosciutto, or some crispy bacon.

These croissants make for a wonderful special breakfast. If you are planning other meals, why not try our flavour-packed Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls for a quick and satisfying dinner? Or, for a comforting classic, our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe is always a crowd-pleaser.

FAQ

A Breakfast Worth Waking Up For

So, there we have it—a simple, elegant, and utterly delicious recipe for Baked Ham Cheese Croissants that is sure to impress anyone who tries it. Whether you are creating a special holiday breakfast, hosting a lovely brunch with friends, or just treating yourself to something wonderful, this recipe is a winner on all fronts. The combination of flaky pastry, savoury ham, melted cheese, and that zesty glaze is simply divine.

We do hope you’ll give this recipe a go and turn your next breakfast into a gourmet delight. Please feel free to leave a comment below to tell us how yours came out, or tag us in your beautiful photos on social media. We always love to see your creations!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 6 large all-butter croissants, preferably a day old
• 170g (6 oz) good-quality cooked ham, thinly sliced
• 170g (6 oz) Gruyère cheese, grated
• 115g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon dried onion flakes
• A pinch of salt & black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Slice croissants horizontally to create a pocket. Fill with layers of ham and Gruyère cheese, then place on the prepared tray.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, dried onion flakes, salt, and pepper to create the glaze.
4. Generously brush the glaze over the top and sides of each filled croissant.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden-brown, crispy, and the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
6. Let cool for a minute before serving warm.

Nutrition (per serving):
Calories: 545 kcal,
Carbs: 26 g,
Protein: 21 g,
Fat: 43 g