Description
The Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast is a decadent, make-ahead breakfast recipe combining rich crème brûlée custard with tender baked French toast. With a creamy interior soaked overnight and a crisp caramelized sugar topping, this dish balances indulgent creaminess and crunchy sweetness for a luxurious yet simple start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 6–8 slices thick-cut brioche or challah bread (about 1 to 1.5 inches thick)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for brûlée topping)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Prepare the custard mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon if using, and salt until the mixture is smooth and completely combined. This forms the rich custard base that will soak into the bread overnight.
- Assemble the French toast: Arrange the thick-cut bread slices in a greased baking dish, overlapping if needed. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread. Press down gently to ensure each slice soaks up the custard fully. Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate overnight (about 6 to 12 hours).
- Bake until golden and set: The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the soaked bread for 40-45 minutes or until the custard is set and the top is lightly golden, creating a tender yet structured French toast bake.
- Brûlée the topping: Once baked, let cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle an even, thin layer of granulated sugar on top. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar until it forms a crispy, golden crust. If you don’t have a torch, you may use a broiler carefully for 1-2 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy: Slice the French toast, garnish as desired (fresh berries, powdered sugar, mint), and serve warm with your favorite sides or toppings.
Notes
- Use brioche or challah bread for the best custard absorption and texture.
- Allow the bread to soak overnight for a perfectly creamy and flavorful French toast.
- Brûlée the sugar topping just before serving to maintain a fresh, crunchy texture.
- Use room temperature eggs and cream to ensure a smooth custard mixture.
- Customize with fruits, nuts, or spices to suit your taste preferences.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat with a torch or toaster oven to refresh the topping.
- Freeze baked French toast wrapped tightly for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 185 mg
Keywords: Overnight French Toast, Crème Brûlée French Toast, Baked French Toast, Make-Ahead Breakfast, Custard French Toast