Give yourself and your friends and family an extravagant morning with this Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast. This recipe elevates ordinary French bread to rich, custardy glory with layers of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, crowned with a signature brûléed sugar layer. This make-ahead dish, which gives you a quick-and-easy, no-fuss morning (you prep just the night before), is ideal for special occasions or a lazy weekend brunch, or for entertaining family for the holidays. It’s a breakfast masterpiece that’s as fun to serve as it is to eat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Easy, Make-Ahead Prep: If you prepped the night before, this recipe is a total no-brainer in the morning—simply pop it in the oven then serve!
Soaky Custardy Texture: Soaking the bread overnight gives it time to absorb the custard mixture, so that by the time it’s baked, whole swaths of it have settled into a creamy, pudding-like consistency.
Vanilla Bean, Caramelized Sugar Top: Like a crème brûlée, this French toast is finished with a crust of broiled sugar, which makes it toothsome.
Ideal for a Brunch Gathering: This dish serves a crowd, and is easy to double, which is great for family gatherings or weekend brunch.
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Key Ingredients:
Every individual ingredient is essential to achieve the perfect texture and flavor. Here’s what to keep in mind:
French Bread: Its relatively dense, chewy texture is able to stand up to the custard soak. For best results, choose a day-old loaf.
Eggs: This rich, smooth custard requires eggs. They also provide an outline, so the bread will keep its shape.
Half-and-Half and Whole Milk: A half-and-half and whole milk split keeps the custard full and rich but not overwhelmingly so. Use all half-and-half instead for a very rich texture, or all milk for a lighter version.
Vanilla Extract: The vanilla adds warmth and matches the sweet notes of the custard.
Granulated Sugar: The sugar that sweetens the custard base and forms the caramelized layer on the top; sugar generates a lovely brûlée crust.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These warm spices add depth and a hint of cozy flavor to the custard.
Unsalted Butter: Dots of butter on the top before baking provide for a golden-brown finish and add rich, buttery notes.
Maple Syrup (Optional): A drizzle of maple syrup is the finishing touch.
For full list of ingredients with quantities and instructions, head to the recipe card at the bottom
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Slick a 9×13-inch baking dish with heaps of butter so it won’t stick, and to infuse another layer of buttery goodness.
Arrange the bread slices in a single layer in the dish. If necessary, cut them so they overlap just a little so they all fit well.
Step 2: In a separate saucepan, mix the custard
In a large bowl, crack in and beat the 5 eggs.
Add half-and-half, whole milk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar and cinnamon and nutmeg; stir to combine.
Whisk until smooth, ensuring the sugar dissolves. It should clump to make a thick, custardy mix.
Step 3: Soak the Bread
Slowly pour custard mixture evenly over the bread slices so each is coated.
The bread will soak up the liquid for a soft, custardy texture.
Step 4: Refrigerate Overnight
Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. This prolonged soaking gives the bread time to absorb all that flavor.
Step 5: Preheat the Oven
In the morning, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Take the baking dish out of the refrigerator and remove the cover.
Step 6: Add Butter and Sugar
Dot the soaked bread with pieces of butter.
Add a few more sprinkles of granulated sugar on the top. (That will caramelize a little as it bakes, forming a lovely crust.)
Step 7: Bake the French Toast
Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the bread is puffed and golden.
Step 8: Caramelize the Sugar
After baked, allow the French toast to cool a little.
For an added indulgence, dust on a little extra granulated sugar on top.
Then turn on the broiler and put the baking dish under it for just a few minutes to caramelize the sugar. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
Step 9: Serve
Serve warm, with maple syrup on the side. The custardy texture and caramelized top, along with the sweetness from the maple syrup, make this French toast unforgettable.
Tips for Making the Best Crème Brûlée French Toast:
Use Bread That’s Sturdy: A stale loaf of French bread or brioche stands up best in the overnight soak, developing as creamy an interior as possible without disintegrating.
Press Down on Bread to Soak: When you pour the custard over the bread, press down gently to ensure absorption.
For Caramelized Sugar, Exercise Caution: If broiling, help yourself avoid burning sugar by keeping a watchful eye. You can brûlée the top with a kitchen torch for even more control, too.
Serve Fresh: This dish is really best made freshly out of the oven for the best amount of texture and flavor.
Variations:
So this French toast has lots of versatility, making you feel free to get creative. Here are some delicious ways to shake things up:
Add Fruit: Experiment adding in a few slices of banana, fresh berries or thin apple slices between the bread for more flavor as well as some texture.
Spiced Up: Want a Little Twist? Stir in a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom for a warm, spiced flavor in the custard.
Go Nutty: Before baking, sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on top for a crunchy contrast.
A Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Squish a few generous handfuls of chocolate chips between your slices for a decadent, syrupy treat.
Serving Suggestions:
Team this decadent French toast with some well-suited sides for an entire brunch spread:
Fresh Fruit: Serve with a handful of berries, sliced bananas or a fruit salad.
Crispy Bacon or Sausage: The saltiness of either bacon or sausage is a good foil to the sweet French toast.
Whipped Cream: A dollop of freshly whipped cream is light and creamy and plays so nicely with the custardy French toast.
Conclusion:
Enter: this Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast to bring dessert-fancy to your breakfast table. It’s a decadent way to begin the day, with its custardy texture, burnt sugar top and warming spices. It’s a perfect stress-free, eye-popping addition to brunch that you can prepare the night before and bake fresh the next morning.
Enjoy every robust, creamy, caramelized morsel!
Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar plus extra for the topping
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter scattered on top before baking
- Maple syrup for serving
Instructions
- Generously butter a 9x13-inch baking dish and arrange the bread slices in a single layer within the dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, whole milk, vanilla extract, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices to soak them thoroughly.
- Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to let the bread absorb the flavors fully.
- In the morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and remove the baking dish from the refrigerator.
- Scatter pieces of butter over the soaked bread and sprinkle a little extra granulated sugar on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until the bread is puffed and golden.
- For an extra treat, sprinkle additional granulated sugar on top and broil for a few minutes until caramelized.
- Serve warm with maple syrup on the side.