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A stack of caramelized crème brûlée French toast slices with melted cream filling, drizzled with syrup and garnished with thyme and fresh berries. The golden crust glistens under a dusting of powdered sugar.

Crème Brûlée French Toast

A rich, custardy overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast with a crackly caramelized sugar top. Easy to prep the night before and torch in the morning for that crème brûlée snap. Feels fancy, but it’s weekend-brunch easy.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American, French-inspired
Keyword: Best crème brûlée french toast, Creme brulee French toast casserole, Crème brûlée French toast Epicurious, Crème brûlée french toast ingredients, Creme brulee French toast overnight, Crème brûlée french toast recipe, Quick creme brûlée French toast
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Overnight Chill Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 420kcal
Cost: $15

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 baking dish (Glass or ceramic)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (For making the custard)
  • 1 Whisk (To mix custard evenly)
  • 1 Kitchen torch (For caramelizing the sugar topping)
  • 1 Plastic wrap (To cover overnight)
  • 1set Measuring Cups (For accurate ingredient portions)

Ingredients

The Bread Base:

  • 1 loaf Thick bread - Challah brioche, or French bread
  • 1 ½ cups Heavy cream - Sub half & half for lighter
  • 1 ½ cups Whole milk - Or 2% for lighter version
  • 5 Large eggs
  • ½ cup Brown sugar - Packed
  • 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon Butter - For greasing baking dish

The Sugar Top:

  • ¼ cup Granulated sugar - For caramelized topping
  • 2 tablespoon Brown sugar - Optional adds richness
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon - Optional adds warm spiced flavor

Optional Toppings:

  • — Fresh berries - For serving
  • — Maple syrup - For drizzling
  • — Powdered sugar - For dusting
  • — Whipped cream - Optional but fun

Instructions

  • Butter a 9x13 baking dish. Slice and layer the bread. Whisk together eggs, cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Pour custard over the bread, press down gently, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
    A wooden board with the main ingredients for crème brûlée French toast: sliced brioche and rustic bread, butter, eggs, flour, and cream in small bowls — all ready for preparation.
  • Let the dish sit at room temperature for 20 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F. Uncover and bake for 45–50 minutes until puffed and golden. Let cool 10 minutes.
    Slices of baked French toast arranged in a casserole dish, with creamy custard and caramel sauce drizzled between layers. The bread is golden brown with a soft, custardy interior and a caramelized crust.
  • Mix granulated sugar (and cinnamon, if using). Sprinkle evenly over the baked casserole.
    A golden, fluffy crème brûlée French toast bake fresh out of the oven in a dark rectangular dish. The top is caramelized and lightly browned, sprinkled with chopped herbs for a touch of color and crisp texture.
  • Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until melted and crisp. Let sit for 1 minute before serving.
    A tall stack of crème brûlée French toast being drizzled with honey or maple syrup. The layers reveal creamy custard filling, golden caramelized crusts, and a garnish of thyme and fresh strawberries.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 200g | Calories: 420kcal (21%) | Carbohydrates: 39g (13%) | Protein: 9g (18%) | Fat: 26g (40%) | Saturated Fat: 15g (94%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 195mg (65%) | Sodium: 270mg (12%) | Potassium: 180mg (5%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 19g (21%) | Vitamin A: 850IU (17%) | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 150mg (15%) | Iron: 2.2mg (12%)
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