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Homemade Panera Bread Ham and Swiss Soufflés

Since we moved out into the ‘burbs of New Jersey, James and I have had sort of a weekend tradition going on. We go to breakfast at Panera Bread, usually on a Saturday.

Now don’t get me wrong – I love nearly every single thing on Panera Bread’s menu – but I had never really settled on a “go-to” breakfast item until a few weeks ago when I suddenly noticed the baked egg soufflés in their baked goods case.

How I missed these before, I don’t know. But they are, as far as I’m concerned, breakfast perfection. My favorite is the Ham and Swiss Baked Egg Soufflé.

The right amount of protein, plus the sweet flakiness of croissant? P-E-R-F-E-C-T.

It kind of bums me out that you can only get these little eggy baskets of win for breakfast. I’d love to be able to get them for dinner too. That’s when I decided to try and make them at home.

Last Saturday, I set out with a copycat recipe created by author Todd Wilbur for Panera’s Spinach Artichoke Baked Egg Souffle.

Not being a fan of artichokes, I knew I had to recreate the Ham & Swiss version if I could.

For the Brit’s soufflé, I added extra black cracked pepper and minced fresh red pepper. As he devoured his breakfast about half an hour after I started out, the words “perfection”, “glorious”, and “magnificent” left his lips around rather large bites of food.

I don’t think he was even talking to me, but to the soufflé in his hands. I think he might just be a fan.

We still love Panera’s version, and won’t be leaving behind our weekend breakfast traditions any time soon, but now I can have my Ham & Swiss Baked Egg Soufflé for dinner if I want too.

That makes me one happy camper.

I think you’ll love them too. You can add anything you want to the egg mixture.

Think of it as an omelet inside a croissant, if you want. The ingredient world is your oyster, my friend.

But try Ham and Swiss at least once. It’s a classic combination for a reason.

Two heart-shaped ham and swiss baked egg souffles are on a green placemat. A basket of croissants and jam sit behind them.

Panera Bread Ham and Swiss Baked Egg Soufflés

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 13 minutes
Cook Time: 27 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Panera Bread Ham and Swiss Baked Egg Soufflés are the best kind of breakfast food. This sweet little recipe makes just two breakfast souffles, but easily doubles or triples depending on how many you need to feed your crowd.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, 1 reserved
  • 1 tablespoon milk or half and half
  • 1 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup shredded KerryGold Swiss cheese
  • 1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping if desired
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • black pepper to taste (optional)
  • 2 thick slices deli ham, diced (I used Honey Roasted. You could also use quartered Canadian Bacon slices)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh minced red pepper, if desired
  • 1/4 8-ounce tube Pillsbury Crescent butter flake dough (2 crescents per ramekin)
  • 1 tablespoon Melted Butter, for lining the ramekins

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Mix 3 eggs, milk, and heavy cream in a large plastic or glass mixing jug until well combined. Egg yolks should be completely broken and mixed in. Add shredded Swiss cheese, Parmesan, and salt and mix again until thoroughly distributed throughout the egg mixture.
  3. Microwave the egg mixture in 30 second increments on high, stirring after each increment until you have a sort of solid, slightly runny scrambled egg mixture. In my 1000 watt microwave oven, this took 4 increments of 30 seconds.
  4. This tightens the eggs enough so that the dough at the bottom will cook, and the dough at the sides and top will not fall into them. Add diced ham, black pepper and red pepper (if desired), stirring through the egg mixture so evenly mixed throughout. Set aside.
  5. Sprinkle a clean surface with flour, and unroll the crescent dough. Do not separate the pairs of triangles. Instead, pinch with your fingers along the seam so that 2 triangles become 1 square of dough. You will only use 4 out of the 8 triangles included in the tube of dough. Set aside leftover dough, do not discard or pinch together.
  6. Flour the square of dough on both sides, and a rolling pin. Roll out the dough, turning dough once clockwise after each roll. Always roll in the same direction, directly out from yourself, until you have a square that is approximately 6″ x 6″.
  7. Melt about a tablespoon of butter in the microwave. Brush melted butter inside two 4″ ramekins, and then carefully line each with the 6×6 square of dough, leaving excess hanging over the edge of the ramekin.
  8. Fill each ramekin and dough with equal amounts of egg mixture. Sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese, if desired. Fold dough over the egg mixture so it is no longer hanging over the sides of the ramekin.
  9. Break and whisk the remaining egg, then brush over dough in each ramekin. This will give the dough a golden color and shine as it bakes.
  10. Place ramekins on the center of a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  11. Bake for 15 minutes. While the soufflés are baking, roll the remaining crescent dough to package specifications. After 15 minutes, remove tray from oven and place the spare rolled crescents onto the baking tray around the ramekins.
  12. Return to oven and bake for 10-12 minutes more, until the souffles are golden brown and bubbly, and egg appears to be solidly cooked.
  13. The remaining crescents may need a few extra minutes, so remove the ramekins from the tray and return the tray to the oven, if necessary.
  14. Allow the soufflés to cool for approximately 5 minutes. You may eat the soufflés directly in the ramekins, or remove them and serve on a plate. They should remove easily since the ramekin was brushed with butter.

Notes

    • Serve with extra crescents, jam, and fresh fruit for an excellent Saturday morning breakfast or weeknight Brinner!

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 986Total Fat: 65gSaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 454mgSodium: 1399mgCarbohydrates: 73gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 27g

This nutritional information is just an estimate and not to be considered perfectly factual.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag me on social (@bluebonnetbaker) so I can see how awesome you are!

Leah

Sunday 13th of October 2013

Made this recipe this morning, and it was delicious! Thank you for taking the time to share your update to the recipe and to the other postings for different ideas/add ins :)

Amber

Sunday 13th of October 2013

Leah, I'm so glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment. It always means so much to get the feedback.

Angela

Friday 11th of October 2013

Any experience with freezing these? It would be great if I could pop one of these in the microwave or toaster oven as I get ready for work, and then grab it as I run out the door in the mornings :)

Amber

Friday 11th of October 2013

Hey Angela, thanks for your question. I haven't tried freezing them, but my understanding is that Panera's are frozen before they bake them. The nice thing is, croissant dough and eggs aren't all that expensive in terms of ingredients. Why not make up a few and freeze one, and see how it works out? I'd love to know too! If I get a chance to try it myself, I will. But as I'm due with a new baby in a week, you may get a shot before I do. :)

Anna

Monday 2nd of September 2013

I went searching for a recipe after trying the sausage and Gouda soufflé at Panera and falling in love with it. We don't have a Panera in Calgary. Made it this morning. Used Gouda cheese, dried onion flakes (too lazy to chop onions) and Johnson's Italian Sausage meat. Fantastic! Thanks for sharing the recipe. It was amazing and definitely making it into my breakfast recipe book.

Amber

Monday 2nd of September 2013

Anna, I haven't tried that sausage and gouda version yet, but now I'm inspired to make my own! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, I'm really glad you enjoyed your breakfast. :)

Tori

Sunday 1st of September 2013

Made this for breakfast, a bacon and cheddar variety for him, turkey and provolone for me. Both were hits! I overcooked his egg in the microwave slightly, and he still enjoyed it tremendously! Posted a pic of mine to Twitter: https://twitter.com/Floyd_Tori/status/374201829204037633/photo/1 Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Amber

Monday 2nd of September 2013

Tori, your photo looked delicious! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe. :)

Niki

Wednesday 20th of March 2013

the results will be a lot more like panera's if you use the Pepperidge Farm puff pastry dough. yup.

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