This recipe is in honour of July 14th being Bastille Day, or the National Day of France! Whether you’ve enjoyed a decadent cup of hot chocolate at Angelina’s in Paris or spent hours walking around the picturesque Aix-En-Provence in the south of France, or even if you’ve never been to France at all, this recipe is a wonderfully delicious way to celebrate! 
The quintessential French pastry, renowned around the world, has got to be the croissant. Here we take a croissant and see how creative we can get!  We’re making a croissant french toast bake, with tons and tons of raspberries! Trust us, it tastes as beautiful as it looks and sounds!

Here is how to make it:

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds fresh croissants (about 12 medium), cut in half

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cubed

2 1/2 cups fresh raspberries

12 large eggs, beaten

2 cups whole milk

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

Preparation:

1. Lightly coat a baking dish with nonstick spray. Place half of the croissants evenly into the baking dish. Top with half of cream cheese and 3/4 cup raspberries in an even layer. Top with remaining croissants, cream cheese and 3/4 cup raspberries.
2. In a large glass measuring cup , whisk your eggs, milk, honey, vanilla and salt. Pour the mixture evenly over the croissants. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator; let stand for 30 minutes.
4. Place into the oven and bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover; continue to bake for an additional 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and center is firm.
5. Serve immediately, and top off with more raspberries and a sprinkle of confectioners sugar to finish.

This recipe is definitely a celebratory one, the flavours are immaculate and the raspberries stand out like rubies in this beautiful and delicious dessert! We think this is the perfect way to celebrate Bastille Day – or just a great way to bring something special to Brunch. If you make this recipe and want to share with us, tag us on Instagram @stokesstores and use the hashtag #StokesMoments.