Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast Recipe
This indulgent Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast features creamy, custard-soaked French bread with a caramelized sugar topping that gives it a delightful crème brûlée twist. Perfect for a decadent breakfast or brunch, this make-ahead recipe ensures a stress-free yet flavorful morning.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 40 minutes (includes overnight refrigeration)
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 9 hours (including overnight refrigeration)
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
1 loaf French bread, sliced 1-inch thick
5 large eggs
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for topping)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange the slices of French bread in a single layer, slightly overlapping them if needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, whole milk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices, pressing gently to ensure the bread absorbs the mixture.
- Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator, discard the plastic wrap, and dot the top with butter. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
- Once baked, sprinkle a layer of granulated sugar on top of the French toast. Use a kitchen torch or broiler to caramelize the sugar for 2-3 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Allow the French toast to cool slightly before serving. Drizzle with maple syrup and enjoy!
Notes
Overnight refrigeration allows the bread to fully absorb the custard for a softer, custardy texture.
You can substitute French bread with challah or brioche for a richer taste.
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free.
If you don’t have a kitchen torch, you can use the broiler setting to caramelize the sugar.
Feel free to add fruit or whipped cream to make the dish even more indulgent.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
