Print

Easy Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake

easy overnight crème brûlée french toast bake - featured image
Print Recipe

A decadent overnight french toast bake with a crackly caramelized sugar crust, perfect for holidays, brunch, or when you need an impressive breakfast with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (pure)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 loaf (about 16 ounces) brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (day-old preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for greasing)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (for topping)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (for topping)
  • Pinch of salt (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Cut brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes. If bread is fresh, spread on a baking sheet and let dry for 1 hour. Spread cubes evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs until frothy, about 30 seconds. Add heavy cream, whole milk, ¾ cup granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until sugar is mostly dissolved and mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes.
  3. Pour half the custard evenly over bread cubes. Gently press down with a spatula. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  4. Pour remaining custard over bread. Gently turn cubes with spatula to coat evenly.
  5. Cover dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight (8-12 hours).
  6. Remove dish from fridge 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove plastic wrap.
  7. Bake on middle rack for 40-45 minutes. Check at 30 minutes; edges should be golden and puffed, center slightly jiggly. A knife inserted in center should come out clean. Tent with foil if browning too fast.
  8. Let rest on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.
  9. Mix ¼ cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and pinch of salt. Sprinkle evenly over warm french toast. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize (move in slow circles 2 inches above surface until amber) or broil 4 inches from heat for 1-2 minutes, watching constantly. Let sit 2 minutes to harden before serving.

Notes

Day-old bread works best for absorbing custard. For dairy-free, use full-fat coconut milk and almond milk. For gluten-free, use gluten-free brioche or challah. The dish can be frozen unbaked for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in fridge before baking, adding 10-15 minutes to bake time.

Nutrition

Keywords: overnight french toast, crème brûlée french toast, breakfast casserole, brunch recipe, easy french toast bake, holiday breakfast

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/easy-overnight-cr-e-me-br-u-l-e-e-french-toast-bake/