The Dreamiest Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe
Crafting an irresistible overnight creme brulee french toast requires minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
Soft bread soaks up a rich custard mixture while you sleep peacefully.
Mornings become magical with this decadent breakfast surprise.
Professional chefs and home cooks alike adore this elegant dish.
Caramelized sugar creates a stunning crisp topping that cracks beautifully when served.
Minimal prep means you can wake up to a restaurant-quality breakfast without stress.
Prepare to impress everyone at your next brunch gathering with this simple yet sophisticated recipe.
Why Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast Feels Fancy And Cozy
What Goes Into Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast
For the Base:For the Custard:For the Finishing Touches:How To Make Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast
Step 1: Slice Up The Bread
Cut French bread into chunky pieces about an inch thick. These hearty slices will become the foundation of your delicious breakfast treat.
Step 2: Create Creamy Custard
Grab a large mixing bowl and whisk together:Blend until the mixture looks smooth and silky.
Step 3: Build Flavor Profile
Mix into the custard:Whisk until sugars completely dissolve and the mixture looks perfectly uniform.
Step 4: Layer Bread In Baking Dish
Generously butter a baking dish and place bread slices closely together without overlapping.
Step 5: Soak The Bread
Gently pour custard over bread, ensuring each slice gets completely saturated. Softly press down so bread absorbs maximum liquid.
Step 6: Refrigerate Overnight
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and bread to soak up all the deliciousness.
Step 7: Warm Up The Dish
Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to reach room temperature.
Step 8: Prepare The Oven
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 9: Add Extra Richness
Dot the surface with small butter pieces and drizzle maple syrup across the bread.
Step 10: Bake To Perfection
Bake for 45-50 minutes until edges turn golden and center sets with a slight wobble.
Step 11: Create Caramelized Topping
Sprinkle additional sugar across the top. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize or carefully broil for 2-3 minutes until sugar turns crispy and glassy.
Step 12: Rest And Serve
Let the French toast rest 5-10 minutes, allowing the caramelized sugar to harden and the dish to set before serving.
Helpful Tips For Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast
Tasty Twists For Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast
Perfect Pairings With Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast
How To Store Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast
Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast FAQs
Gently press down on the bread slices. If they feel saturated and have absorbed most of the custard mixture without falling apart, they are ready for baking.
Sturdy, day-old breads like brioche, challah, or thick-cut white bread work best. Avoid thin, soft sandwich bread as it might disintegrate during soaking.
No worries! Use your oven’s broiler setting. Place the dish 4-6 inches from the broiler and watch carefully for 2-3 minutes until the sugar caramelizes and turns golden brown.
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Midnight Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe
- Total Time: 12-13 hours (including overnight refrigeration)
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Decadent overnight creme brulee french toast brings Parisian elegance to weekend breakfasts, promising a luxurious start to your morning. Silky custard-soaked bread caramelizes into a golden masterpiece you’ll crave from first bite.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf french bread
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Topping/Finish:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 cup additional granulated sugar (for caramelizing)
Instructions
- Slice the French bread into thick, hearty pieces, approximately 1-inch thick, creating a sturdy base for the luxurious overnight breakfast dish.
- Whisk eggs, whole milk, and heavy cream in a large mixing bowl until smooth and thoroughly combined, creating a rich custard foundation.
- Incorporate granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt into the egg mixture, whisking until the sugars dissolve completely and the blend becomes uniform.
- Arrange bread slices in a generously buttered baking dish, ensuring they are closely nestled but not overlapping.
- Slowly pour the custard mixture over the bread, allowing each slice to absorb the liquid thoroughly. Gently press down on the bread to ensure maximum saturation.
- Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, permitting the bread to soak up all the delectable flavors and custard.
- Remove the dish from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to allow it to reach room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing for a golden, crisp transformation.
- Dot the surface with small pieces of unsalted butter and drizzle maple syrup across the bread for additional richness.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and the center becomes set with a slight wobble.
- Sprinkle additional granulated sugar evenly across the top and use a kitchen torch to caramelize, creating a crisp, glassy topping. Alternatively, place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Let the French toast rest for 5-10 minutes before serving, allowing the caramelized sugar to harden and the dish to set.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old French bread or brioche for optimal texture and absorption, ensuring a custardy interior and crisp exterior.
- Customize Sugar Caramelization: Experiment with different sugar types like turbinado or raw sugar for a more complex caramelized top with deeper flavor profiles.
- Dietary Adaptation: Swap whole milk and heavy cream with almond or oat milk for a lighter, lactose-free version that maintains the dish’s luxurious essence.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire dish up to two days in advance, refrigerating until ready to bake, perfect for stress-free entertaining and weekend brunch preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 625
- Sugar: 41 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg
Mia Thompson
Pastry Chef & Content Creator
Expertise
Education
Portland Community College – Baking and Pastry Arts Program
Specialized in artisanal bread, seasonal desserts, and sustainable baking methods.
National University of Natural Medicine – Bachelor of Science in Nutrition (BScN)
Focused on “Food as Medicine” philosophy, with core threads in nutrition.
Mia’s love affair with baking began in her grandmother’s kitchen, where sneaking spoonfuls of batter first sparked her curiosity. She refined her skills through Portland Community College’s Baking and Pastry Arts Program and her expertise at the National University of Natural Medicine, earning a B.Sc. in Nutrition.
At The Scrumptious Pumpkin, Mia reimagines classics with effortless seasonal treats, healthier twists on old favorites, and playful confections that feel like pure joy. Beyond the oven, she nurtures her urban garden, forages local ingredients around Portland, and leads hands‑on nutrition workshops for her community.