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Creamy Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake

creamy crème brûlée French toast bake - featured image
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A creamy, custardy French toast bake with a caramelized sugar crust, perfect for make-ahead breakfasts and special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf (about 12 ounces / 340 grams) brioche or challah, sliced thick (day-old bread works best)
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups (480 ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar plus extra for topping
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Grease your 9×13-inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons melted butter.
  2. Slice the brioche or challah into 1-inch thick slices and arrange in a single layer in the baking dish, overlapping slightly.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, vanilla bean paste, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
  4. Pour the custard evenly over the bread slices, pressing gently to soak. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons granulated sugar evenly over the top.
  6. Bake for 45-55 minutes until custard is set but slightly jiggly in the center and edges are golden brown.
  7. Let cool 5-10 minutes, then caramelize the sugar topping using a kitchen torch until golden and crispy. Alternatively, broil for 2-4 minutes watching closely.
  8. Let rest 5 minutes to harden the sugar crust. Slice and serve warm with maple syrup or fresh fruit.

Notes

Use day-old bread to prevent sogginess. Refrigerate soaked bread for at least 4 hours or overnight for best custard texture. If no kitchen torch, use broiler carefully to caramelize sugar. For dairy-free or gluten-free versions, substitute milk and bread accordingly.

Nutrition

Keywords: French toast bake, crème brûlée, make-ahead breakfast, custard, caramelized sugar, brioche, brunch

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/creamy-cr-e-me-br-u-l-e-e-french-toast-bake-recipe-easy-make-ahead-delight/