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Crème Brûlée French Toast Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 117 reviews

This Crème Brûlée French Toast recipe transforms classic French toast into a decadent brunch treat with a rich custard-soaked brioche or challah base finished with a caramelized, crispy sugar crust reminiscent of crème brûlée.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 loaf of brioche or challah bread (12–14 slices)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk (or almond/oat milk for dairy-free)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half as lighter alternative)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (brown sugar can be used)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (nutmeg optional)
  • Pinch of salt

Optional Toppings

  • Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
  • Powdered sugar for dusting
  • Maple syrup for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Bread: Cut the brioche or challah bread into about 1-inch thick slices. Arrange these slices in a greased baking dish, overlapping them slightly to ensure even custard absorption.
  2. Make the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until fully combined to create a rich custard mixture.
  3. Soak the Bread: Pour the custard evenly over the arranged bread slices in the baking dish. Gently press down on the bread to maximize soaking. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight for enhanced flavor.
  4. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the French toast evenly and achieving a golden crust.
  5. Bake the French Toast: Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and uncover it. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and the custard is set. Optionally, broil for 2-3 minutes to crisp the top further, watching carefully to prevent burning.
  6. Brûlée the Top: After baking, sprinkle a thin layer of granulated sugar evenly over the surface. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar to form a crisp, golden crust. If you don’t have a torch, you can carefully broil it for a minute or two, monitoring closely to avoid burning.
  7. Serve: Allow the Crème Brûlée French Toast to cool slightly before serving. Add fresh berries, a dusting of powdered sugar, and drizzle with maple syrup as desired to complete this indulgent dish.

Notes

  • For a dairy-free version, substitute whole milk and heavy cream with almond or oat milk and coconut cream.
  • Refrigerate the custard-soaked bread overnight for the deepest flavor and best texture.
  • If you don’t have a kitchen torch, broiling the sugar topping works well but requires close attention to avoid burning.
  • Using brioche or challah bread ensures a buttery, soft texture that absorbs custard beautifully.
  • Brown sugar can be used in place of granulated sugar for a richer flavor in the custard.

Keywords: French Toast, Crème Brûlée, Brunch Recipe, Baked French Toast, Brioche French Toast, Caramelized Sugar, Custard Soaked Bread

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