Description

This Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast is a decadent breakfast treat combining the rich, creamy custard of crème brûlée with the comforting texture of thick-cut brioche or challah bread. Prepared the night before, it soaks up a luscious mixture of eggs, cream, and vanilla, topped with a buttery caramel sauce, then baked until golden and irresistible.

Ingredients

Scale

Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup

French Toast

1 loaf thick-cut brioche or challah bread
5 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Make the Caramel Sauce: Melt the unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the brown sugar and light corn syrup until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. Immediately pour this caramel sauce into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly across the bottom.
Prepare the Bread Layer: Slice the thick-cut brioche or challah bread into thick slices, about 1 to 1.5 inches thick. Arrange the bread slices over the caramel layer in the baking dish, slightly overlapping them to create a complete layer that will soak up the custard.
Mix the Custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and uniform in texture.
Combine Bread and Custard: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the arranged bread slices, pressing down gently to ensure the bread soaks up as much liquid as possible for a rich and creamy texture.
Refrigerate Overnight: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight to allow the custard to fully infuse into the bread.
Bake the French Toast: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the dish from the refrigerator and bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set in the center.
Serve: Let the French toast cool slightly after baking. Spoon the luscious caramel sauce from the bottom of the dish over each portion before serving for extra indulgence.

Notes

Use day-old brioche or challah bread if possible, as it soaks up the custard better without falling apart.
You can prepare this dish up to 24 hours in advance for convenient mornings.
For a crispier top, you can broil for 1-2 minutes after baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Feel free to add fresh berries or whipped cream when serving for added flavor and texture.
Light corn syrup helps prevent crystallization in the caramel but can be substituted with golden syrup if unavailable.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: French-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of recipe)
Calories: 420
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 210mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 13g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0.3g
Carbohydrates: 44g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 8g
Cholesterol: 180mg

Keywords: overnight French toast, crème brûlée French toast, caramel French toast, baked French toast, brioche French toast, breakfast casserole