Description
Sweet French culinary magic meets breakfast bliss in this overnight crème brûlée French toast, promising luxurious comfort with minimal morning prep. Rich custard-soaked bread bakes into golden perfection, delivering restaurant-worthy indulgence you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread:
- 1 loaf challah or brioche bread, sliced thick
Custard Base:
- 6 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Sweet Coating:
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (220 grams) brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) light corn syrup
Optional Toppings:
- Powdered sugar
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Create a rich caramel foundation by gently melting butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a saucepan until a silky, uniform mixture forms.
- Generously coat the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish with the luscious caramel mixture.
- Meticulously arrange bread slices across the caramel base, allowing slight overlapping to maximize coverage.
- Craft a luxurious custard by whisking eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until perfectly smooth and integrated.
- Lavishly pour the custard over bread slices, ensuring complete and even saturation of each piece.
- Tightly seal the dish with plastic wrap and allow the preparation to rest and absorb flavors in the refrigerator for a minimum of 8 hours.
- Remove the dish from refrigeration and let it gradually warm to room temperature for approximately 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) while the dish acclimates.
- Bake the French toast uncovered, watching for a golden-brown surface and a set custard texture, typically 40-45 minutes.
- After removing from the oven, allow the dish to cool briefly for 5 minutes.
- Carefully invert individual slices to showcase the caramelized bottom layer.
- Embellish with optional garnishes and serve immediately for maximum enjoyment.
Notes
- Transform bread texture by using slightly stale challah or brioche for better absorption and richer flavor profile.
- Prevent soggy results by choosing day-old bread with sturdy structure that can handle overnight custard soaking.
- Customize sweetness levels by adjusting brown sugar quantity or replacing with maple syrup for deeper caramel notes.
- Accommodate dietary restrictions by substituting dairy milk with almond or oat milk and using gluten-free bread alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg