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Crème Brûlée French Toast Recipe

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4.5 from 104 reviews

This Crème Brûlée French Toast recipe combines the rich, creamy custard of classic crème brûlée with the comforting, fluffy texture of French toast. Made with thick slices of brioche or challah bread soaked in a vanilla-cinnamon custard, baked to perfection, and topped with a crispy, caramelized sugar crust, this indulgent breakfast treat is perfect for special occasions or weekend brunches.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread

  • 1 loaf of brioche or challah bread (12–14 slices)

Custard

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk (or almond/oat milk for dairy-free)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (or brown sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or nutmeg)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Bread: Cut the brioche or challah into thick slices and arrange them evenly in a greased baking dish to ensure they don’t stick during soaking and baking.
  2. Make the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until the mixture is smooth and fully combined, forming a rich custard base.
  3. Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices, pressing down gently to help the bread absorb the custard fully. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or preferably overnight to develop deep flavor and custardiness.
  4. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the soaked bread.
  5. Bake the French Toast: Remove the soaked bread from the refrigerator and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the custard is set and the top turns golden brown. For an extra crispy top, broil for 2-3 minutes while keeping a close watch to avoid burning.
  6. Brûlée the Top: Evenly sprinkle a thin layer of sugar over the baked French toast. Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar until it forms a crispy, golden crust. If you don’t have a torch, place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes watching closely to avoid burning.
  7. Serve: Allow the French toast to cool slightly before serving to let the custard set further. Serve topped with fresh berries, a dusting of powdered sugar, and a drizzle of maple syrup for an indulgent finish.

Notes

  • For a dairy-free version, substitute whole milk and heavy cream with unsweetened almond or oat milk and use a dairy-free cream alternative.
  • The longer you soak the bread (up to overnight), the more custardy and flavorful the French toast will be.
  • Use a kitchen torch for the best caramelized sugar crust, but a broiler can work if monitored carefully.
  • Brioche or challah bread works best due to their rich, tender crumb, but you can experiment with other thick-cut, sturdy breads.

Keywords: Crème brûlée French toast, baked French toast, brioche French toast, custard baked breakfast, caramelized sugar toast

Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/creme-brulee-french-toast-recipe/