Description
Heavenly ham and cheese croissants bring French bakery magic straight to home kitchens. Flaky pastry, melted cheese, and savory ham create a simple yet irresistible breakfast or brunch companion you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 mini croissants
- ¾ pound (340 grams) deli-cut ham
- 4 slices smoked cheddar cheese (or regular cheddar), halved
Sauce and Binding Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey
- ½ to 1 teaspoon (2.5 to 5 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 large egg white
- Poppy seeds, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Carefully slice each croissant horizontally, creating a top and bottom half for building sandwiches.
- Layer the bottom croissant half with a delicate slice of cheddar cheese, followed by a slice of ham, and then another slice of cheese to create a rich, savory filling.
- Gently place the top croissant half over the layered ingredients, forming a complete sandwich.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together softened butter, yellow mustard, honey, and Worcestershire sauce until the mixture becomes smooth and well-incorporated.
- Generously spread the flavored butter mixture across the interior surfaces of each croissant sandwich, ensuring even coverage.
- Arrange the prepared sandwiches neatly in the greased baking dish, positioning them to allow even heating.
- Whisk an egg white with a small amount of water to create a light egg wash.
- Brush the tops of the croissants with the egg wash, then sprinkle poppy seeds over the surface for added texture and visual appeal.
- Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, watching for golden-brown tops and fully melted cheese.
- Remove from the oven and let the sandwiches rest for a moment before serving warm, allowing the flavors to settle and the cheese to set slightly.
Notes
- Use high-quality, fresh croissants for the best texture and flavor in this baked sandwich.
- Swap ham for turkey or roast beef to create variety and accommodate different protein preferences.
- Consider using different cheese types like Swiss, Gruyère, or provolone for unique flavor combinations.
- Prepare the butter mixture ahead of time and refrigerate to intensify the seasoning blend before assembling sandwiches.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg