Description
This Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast recipe transforms classic French toast into a decadent custard-soaked breakfast treat. Slices of French bread are soaked overnight in a creamy mixture of eggs, half-and-half, whole milk, vanilla, and warm spices before being baked to golden perfection. A finishing touch of caramelized sugar on top mimics the classic crème brûlée texture, providing a delightful contrast of crispy and creamy. Serve warm with maple syrup for an indulgent morning meal.
Ingredients
Scale
French Toast Base
- 1 loaf French bread, sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
Custard Mixture
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, scattered on top before baking
- Additional granulated sugar for topping and caramelizing
- Maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish and arrange the sliced French bread pieces in a single layer inside the dish.
- Make the Custard Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, whole milk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until smooth and well combined.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices in the prepared baking dish, ensuring all pieces are well soaked.
- Refrigerate Overnight: Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight to allow the bread to absorb the custard and flavors thoroughly.
- Preheat the Oven: The next morning, remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Add Butter and Sugar: Scatter pieces of unsalted butter over the soaked bread, then sprinkle a little extra granulated sugar evenly on top to prepare for caramelization.
- Bake the French Toast: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the bread is puffed up, set, and golden brown on the edges.
- Caramelize the Sugar: For a classic crème brûlée finish, sprinkle additional granulated sugar on top of the baked French toast and place the dish under the broiler for a few minutes, watching carefully until the sugar melts and caramelizes to a crisp, golden crust.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm with maple syrup on the side for drizzling.
Notes
- Use a sturdy French bread or baguette for best results; day-old bread works well to absorb custard without becoming too soggy.
- To avoid over-browning, keep a close eye on the dish while broiling the sugar topping.
- For a richer flavor, substitute half-and-half with heavy cream.
- Can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead by soaking overnight; just broil and serve fresh on the day of serving.
- Ensure the bread slices fit snugly in the baking dish to prevent the custard from pooling too much.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Keywords: Crème brûlée French toast, overnight French toast, baked custard French toast, breakfast casserole, sweet breakfast recipes
