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You are here: Home / Picnic / Croquiches – a cross between Croque Monsieur & Quiche!

Croquiches – a cross between Croque Monsieur & Quiche!

Updated 24 April 2024 Published 7 June 2013 53 Comments

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Step by step guide to making Crocquiches - little picnic quiches!

Croquiches are a cross between a Croque Monsieur and a Quiche. These mini quiches have a bread crust instead of a pastry crust and are perfect for picnics!

Croquiches a cross between Croque Monsieur and Quiche! Great for picnics!

Today I’m bringing you Croquiches – aka picnic quiches!

Did you know it’s National Picnic Week between 17 – 23 June? Well nor did I until I was invited to take part in a Picnic challenge by Unilever Kitchen.

I received a lovely hamper full of products from Hellmans, Colmans, Maille, Knorr, Flora, and Bertolli and all I had to do was come up with an exciting recipe to jazz up any picnic using one, some, or all of these products!

My initial thoughts were sandwiches, mini quiches, or maybe a Coronation Chicken with the Colmans Sweet Chilli Mango Sauce.

But then I had a eureka moment when I thought more about quiches and how to make them more interesting. I’d cross them with a sandwich I thought and not just any old sandwich, a Croque Monsieur!

I remembered my Quick Apple Puddings which were topped with buttered/sugared bread so was pretty sure this could work turned on its head.

So after a couple of individual prototypes, I perfected the recipe and discovered that rolling out the bread made it easier to fit into the muffin tray.

Croquiches a cross between Croque Monsieur and Quiche Lorraine! Great for picnics!
Croquiches – perfect picnic food!

So the following day I made up a whole batch of Croquiches and just as they were going to go in the oven disaster struck.

On opening the oven door I discovered that the roof/grill element had collapsed into the oven – not exactly what I needed at that precise moment, to say the least.

After a yell to my husband, some frantic screwdriver finding and me turning off the oven and holding up the grill with some oven gloves the problem was fixed!

This was not ideal but at least it wasn’t a soufflé I thought to myself.

The oven went back on and the Croquiches had to wait about 10 minutes before being baked.

So what effect did this have? Well, it made my red onions go green!

My prototypes had lovely red onion pieces in but these had turned green – the colour must just have leached out in the long wait.

I can’t tell you how much my family loved these Croquiches and my husband suggested I knock up another batch in order to resolve the problem!

Nice try hubby! (It was raining today anyway)!

But luckily I have photographed my prototypes and can therefore show you how they should look.

Croquiches a cross between Croque Monsieur and Quiche Lorraine! Great for picnics!

I’m so pleased I was asked to take part in this challenge as these Croquiches are so delicious I’ll be making them regularly!

Whether eaten hot or cold the bread forms a wonderful crunchy crust around the outside.

The base of the Croquiches is just like a Croque Monsieur with a layer of mustard, cheddar and ham which is topped with the quiche layer.

Best of all they appeal to young and old and you can eat them on the go should you want to venture off from your picnic base!

So thank you Unilever Kitchen for challenging me to make something I would never ever have thought to make otherwise!

A Step by Step Guide to making Croquiches

Step by step guide to making Crocquiches - little picnic quiches!

More Picnic Finger Food Ideas

Here are some more picnic finger food ideas you should try:

  • Gruyere & Caramelised Shallot Nests
  • Sunny Picnic Quiches
  • Scotch Eggs
  • Easy Bacon Halloumi Bites
  • Pork & Apple Sausage Rolls
Sunny Picnic Quiches overhead view.
Sunny Picnic Quiches

NB: I received a picnic hamper full of Unilever products and was not paid for this post.

Croquiches a cross between Croque Monsieur and Quiche! Great for picnics!
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Croquiches

Part Croque Monsieur part Quiche Lorraine welcome to the Croquiche!
Course Lunch
Cuisine British, French
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 40 minutes minutes
Author Camilla Hawkins

Ingredients

  • 6 Slices Medium sliced bread I used half & half
  • Butter for spreading
  • 3 Slices Mature Cheddar
  • 2 Slices ham
  • ½ Tiny red onion finely diced
  • Dijon Mustard with Honey I used Maille
  • 3 Large eggs
  • 3 tbsp Milk
  • Freshly ground salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Cut the crusts off the bread and flatten with a rolling pin, rolling from the longest side (will make the slices slightly squarer).
  • Spread Flora Buttery on both sides.
  • Press the slices down firmly into a muffin tin you will need to make a fold on either side. (Try not to tear but if you do just patch up with a spare bit of bread).
  • Using a cutter the same size as the base of your bread “nest” cut 6 discs of cheese and ham.
  • Slather the cheese discs with the mustard and top with the ham discs, then place firmly into the base of the bread “nest”.
  • Using your finger rub more Flora Buttery into the unbuttered edges of the bread.
  • Whisk the 3 eggs, milk and seasoning together.
  • Fill the bread “nests” with the egg mixture and then tops with about a teaspoon of diced red onion.
  • Place in the centre of your oven and bake for 20 minutes until the baskets are golden and toasted on the outside and the egg mixture is set.
  • Enjoy hot or cold.

Notes

Save the trimmings of cheese and ham and use up in sandwiches or pittas!

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Previous Post: « Food News – June 2013
Next Post: Specunana Chocolate Brownies (Speculoos, Banana & Chocolate Brownies) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa Williams

    12/12/2015 at 1:22 pm

    these would be so good as a Christmas breakfast maybe swap out the ham for some smoked salmon scraps YUM!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      12/12/2015 at 6:20 pm

      Yes that sounds perfect:-)

      Reply
  2. Martina Evans

    28/10/2015 at 9:18 am

    I would just love make these on Boxing Day as a snack. They’re so simple to make – yet delicious! Can’t wait to give these a go. Thanks

    Reply
    • Camilla

      28/10/2015 at 8:01 pm

      Thanks Martina, what a lovely idea:-)

      Reply
  3. Nora Saab

    15/07/2015 at 10:21 am

    When I first saw the pictures, I thought you used pastry. I’m amazed that such a lovely looking dish is made with bread

    Reply
    • Camilla

      15/07/2015 at 2:12 pm

      Thank you Nora, they taste just as good if not better than the pastry ones:-)

      Reply
  4. Heather Haigh

    05/04/2015 at 1:41 pm

    Those look really tasty.

    Reply
  5. Kaci Soderstrom

    30/01/2015 at 12:58 pm

    Oh these look cute and like they’d taste really nice!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      30/01/2015 at 10:02 pm

      Thanks, they are super tasty:-)

      Reply
  6. Maddy

    04/01/2015 at 3:11 pm

    Ooh, looking forward to summer picnics…

    Reply
  7. Paul Wilson

    27/12/2014 at 12:15 am

    This would make an ideal Boxing Day snack.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      27/12/2014 at 12:17 am

      It would indeed:-)

      Reply
  8. Anne Dalzell

    04/11/2014 at 11:35 pm

    My kind of snack – hearty and filling. Yum

    Reply
  9. Paul Wilson

    20/10/2014 at 1:01 am

    Makes me long for summer again.

    Reply
  10. William Gould

    18/09/2014 at 1:02 pm

    These do look simple and interesting!

    Reply
  11. Felicity Kelly

    02/07/2014 at 2:55 pm

    Yum, always looking at ways to use eggs as I have chickens!

    Reply
  12. Paul Wilson

    23/06/2014 at 12:06 am

    Would be nice at a picnic.

    Reply
  13. glenn hutton

    18/06/2014 at 11:22 am

    These look amazing I will pass this recipe/site on…

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/06/2014 at 1:35 pm

      Thanks! You’ll probably like my latest post then for Gruyere and Caramelised Shallot Nests https://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/gruyere-caramelised-shallot-nests/

      Reply
  14. lindsey stuart

    02/06/2014 at 11:34 am

    These look lovely thankyou

    Reply
  15. Ursula Hunt

    26/02/2014 at 9:13 am

    Spring is in the air! looking forward to summer and lovely picnics

    Reply
  16. Ursula Hunt

    03/01/2014 at 11:54 am

    Went down a treat at new year buffet

    Reply
    • Camilla

      03/01/2014 at 12:07 pm

      Aah, thanks I’m so pleased you enjoyed them:-)

      Reply
  17. Ursula Hunt

    16/11/2013 at 2:11 pm

    These sound great for a snack anytime of year might try them at my new year buffet

    Reply
    • Camilla

      16/11/2013 at 5:32 pm

      Yes, you could even scale them right down to finger food for canapes!

      Reply
  18. Maya Russell

    14/11/2013 at 1:24 pm

    Good party snacks. Very easy to do in advance.

    Reply
  19. Annie Costa

    01/11/2013 at 9:28 pm

    these look mouth watering

    Reply
  20. Lisa Williams

    11/10/2013 at 12:44 pm

    I can’t recommend these highly enough they really are delicious and so simple to make 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/10/2013 at 7:28 pm

      Thank you so much that’s really good to hear:-)

      Reply
  21. Laura Wilce

    06/10/2013 at 4:24 pm

    Brilliant! I have all the ingredients in the house, and these sound perfect for a Sunday evening!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      06/10/2013 at 11:07 pm

      Great, I hope you enjoy them as much as we do:-)

      Reply
  22. Heather Haigh

    04/10/2013 at 12:15 pm

    I do want to try these.

    Reply
  23. Maya Russell

    21/09/2013 at 7:12 am

    Like the name ‘Croquiches’. Sounds good.

    Reply
  24. Maya Russell

    16/09/2013 at 5:53 pm

    Super picnic recipe and healthier too.

    Reply
  25. Angela Walton

    14/09/2013 at 12:44 am

    These look really tasty, I have to try making them

    Reply
  26. Tracy Nixon

    15/07/2013 at 7:01 pm

    Fabulous for eating on a picnic or in the garden! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  27. Phyllis Ellett

    14/07/2013 at 5:56 am

    What a great recipe, can’t wait going to give these a go. Thanks

    Reply
  28. Jules

    18/06/2013 at 8:30 pm

    My pupils would love these!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/06/2013 at 9:06 pm

      Aah thanks Jules, my kids and OH love them:-)

      Reply
  29. Laura Huggins

    11/06/2013 at 10:27 pm

    These look absolutely fab and I love the name!

    Has made me very hungry now lol

    Thank you for linking up with The Weekend Blog Hop

    Hope to see you again this weekend

    Laura x x x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/06/2013 at 10:32 pm

      Thanks Laura, they’re so easy you can just make 2 at a time if you wish:-)

      Reply
  30. Angela

    11/06/2013 at 8:15 pm

    These are so much healthier that the butter laden quiches that are the norm and the name is genius. Love the idea.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/06/2013 at 8:34 pm

      Aah thank you so much Angela that means a lot:-)

      Reply
  31. Claire Toplis

    11/06/2013 at 8:02 pm

    Superbly English Pinnics .. I do hope you had Pimms as well

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/06/2013 at 8:35 pm

      Don’t tell anyone, but it was just a photo shoot shh!

      Reply
  32. Kim Carberry

    08/06/2013 at 3:36 pm

    They are fab!!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      08/06/2013 at 3:51 pm

      Thanks:-)

      Reply
  33. Anneli (Delicieux)

    08/06/2013 at 3:18 pm

    How deliciously dinky these look! Everyone loves a quiche and these individual ones are just lovely. I can just imagine the panic at finding your grill collapsed! Well done for your swift recovery! The quiches don’t look like they minded waiting! Great entry for Credit Crunch Munch x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      08/06/2013 at 3:25 pm

      Thanks Anneli, it’s shame there was nothing seasonal in them otherwise I could have entered your challenge too!

      Reply
  34. Jacqueline @How to be a Gourmand

    08/06/2013 at 8:50 am

    What a fantastic invention “croquiches” – love the name! Love the filling and great that you can heat them warm or cold. As you say perfect picnic food. Hope your oven is sorted now 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      08/06/2013 at 10:48 am

      Thank you Jacqueline! I did google the term hesitantly after I’d posted and the only posts that came up were French and not recipes so I think this is a first. Oven is now sorted – how a screw comes completely loose goodness knows, think our oven was made on a Friday as it was wired up wrongly when it arrived and they had to send engineer out to fix that!

      Reply
  35. DANIELLE VEDMORE

    07/06/2013 at 9:22 pm

    Thats such a fab way to use up leftover bits too – yum! xoxo

    Reply
    • Camilla

      07/06/2013 at 9:29 pm

      Yes, we ate the trimmings in pittas today LOL! x

      Reply

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