Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch
Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants are the perfect handheld breakfast or brunch. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to the flakiest, most melty croissants. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Banana Bread Brownies and One-Pot Honey BBQ Sausage Pasta.
Why This Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, melty on the inside
- Perfect for busy mornings
- Better than store-bought
What You'll Need for Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Puff pastry
- Ham
- Cheddar cheese
- Egg
- Milk
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Poppy seeds
- Optional: Sesame seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Puff pastry: Thawed according to package instructions
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Pizza cutter — Makes cutting puff pastry easy → See on Amazon
- Baking sheet — Ensures even baking → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch
- Prepare the croissant dough: Unroll thawed puff pastry and cut into 6 equal rectangles.
- Add the filling: Place a slice of ham and a generous amount of shredded cheese on one half of each rectangle. Season with salt and pepper.
- Fold and seal: Fold the other half of the rectangle over the filling and press the edges to seal. Brush with egg wash.
- Score and bake: Score the top of each croissant with a sharp knife, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch
- Common mistake and fix: Be careful not to overfill the croissants. Too much filling can cause them to leak and become soggy. If this happens, simply place them on a wire rack to cool and let any excess fat drip off.
- Tip: For a crispier crust, brush the croissants with melted butter after baking.
- Tip: To make these ahead, assemble the croissants, but don't bake. Freeze them until ready to bake, then add a few minutes to the baking time.
Storing & Reheating Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can assemble these croissants ahead of time and freeze them until ready to bake.
Freezing Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch
Freeze unbaked croissants for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, but be careful not to make them soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add some diced jalapeños to the filling.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ham for cooked bacon or cooked breakfast sausage.
- Make-ahead: These are great for meal prepping. Just make sure to reheat them in the oven to maintain their crispiness.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your croissants are browning too quickly, tent them with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
Want to level up this recipe?
Food processor — Makes quick work of shredding cheese → Check price on Amazon
Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Puff pastry
- Ham
- Cheddar cheese
- Egg
- Milk
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Poppy seeds
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the croissant dough: Unroll thawed puff pastry and cut into 6 equal rectangles.
- Add the filling: Place a slice of ham and a generous amount of shredded cheese on one half of each rectangle. Season with salt and pepper.
- Fold and seal: Fold the other half of the rectangle over the filling and press the edges to seal. Brush with egg wash.
- Score and bake: Score the top of each croissant with a sharp knife, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add some diced jalapeños to the filling.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ham for cooked bacon or cooked breakfast sausage.
- Make-ahead: These are great for meal prepping. Just make sure to reheat them in the oven to maintain their crispiness.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your croissants are browning too quickly, tent them with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze unbaked croissants for up to 2 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, but be careful not to make them soggy.
- Make ahead: You can assemble these croissants ahead of time and freeze them until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 15g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sat. Fat: 10g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch FAQs
Yes, you can assemble these croissants ahead of time and freeze them until ready to bake. Just add a few minutes to the baking time.
Be careful not to overfill the croissants. Too much filling can cause them to leak and become soggy. If this happens, simply place them on a wire rack to cool and let any excess fat drip off.
Yes, you can use refrigerated crescent roll dough instead of puff pastry. The texture will be slightly different, but they will still be delicious.
For a crispier crust, brush the croissants with melted butter after baking.
Yes, you can make these Ham and Cheese Croissants in the air fryer. Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants for Breakfast or Brunch and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
