Panera’s New ‘Croissant Toast’ Is the Bakery Mashup You Didn’t Know You Needed

What do we love about Panera? For starters, the menu is full of delicious items that have us running back for another You Pick Two. I mean, how in the world could anything compete with Panera’s legendary broccoli cheese soup? I daydream about that soup in a bread bowl every afternoon at 12:30 p.m.

Now, as other spring menus begin to pop up, Panera has a brand-new item of its own: sandwich bread made with croissant dough. I need to know more about this flaky goodness!

What is ‘Croissant Toast?’

Courtesy Panera

In a press release, Panera says the croissant toast is “an all-butter, flaky croissant sliced bread.” The loaf is made entirely from croissant dough! Look at the beautiful flaky swirls on every slice! I expect every bite to be like eating a croissant but better because this variation is toasted.

If you wish you could eat croissants for brunch and lunch, Panera has you covered. The croissant toast will be part of two brand-new sandwiches:

• Croque Monsieur Croissant Toast: This one has Black Forest ham, melted provolone and Asiago, plus a Gruyere and caramelized onion spread. It looks like a tidier version of a French croque monsieur.
• Fromage Croissant Toast: Basically a French grilled cheese with melted provolone and American cheeses, caramelized onions, arugula and garlic aioli.

Knowing Panera prides itself on daily fresh-baked bread, we have a lot of faith in the chain’s new croissant toast. Only time will tell if it will officially knock the bread bowls off the top of my list.

How long will it be at Panera?

Croissant toast is available now at participating Panera locations nationwide as a part of the spring menu. Oh, and the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad and Mexican Street Corn Chowder are both back on the menu, too!