Description
Luxurious weekend brunch dreams come alive with this overnight creme brulee french toast, elevating classic breakfast fare into a caramelized masterpiece. Weekend mornings welcome sweet indulgence when golden, custardy slices meet rich maple notes, inviting you to savor each heavenly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf french bread, sliced 1-inch thick
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
Sweeteners and Spices:
- 2/3 cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Extra granulated sugar for topping
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (57 g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by thoroughly coating the bottom and sides with butter, creating a non-stick surface for the French toast.
- Arrange French bread slices in a uniform, single layer across the buttered dish, ensuring complete coverage of the bottom.
- Create a rich custard mixture by whisking eggs, half-and-half, milk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg until the ingredients are completely integrated and smooth.
- Gently pour the custard over the bread slices, making certain each piece is evenly saturated and absorbing the liquid thoroughly.
- Cover the dish securely with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate overnight, allowing the bread to soak up all the flavors.
- On the following morning, remove the dish from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature while preheating the oven to 350°F.
- Unwrap the dish and strategically dot the bread surface with small butter fragments, then lightly dust with additional sugar for extra caramelization.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes until the toast achieves a beautiful golden color and becomes delightfully puffy.
- After removing from the oven, allow the French toast to rest for a few minutes to set.
- Sprinkle a final layer of sugar across the top and briefly broil to create a crisp, caramelized crust with a glimmering finish.
Notes
- Prevent Soggy Bread by choosing day-old, slightly stale French bread which absorbs the custard mixture better without falling apart during baking.
- Customize Flavor Profiles by experimenting with different spices like cardamom, orange zest, or adding a splash of bourbon to the egg mixture for depth and complexity.
- Make Gluten-Free by substituting regular French bread with gluten-free brioche or challah bread, ensuring everyone can enjoy this decadent breakfast treat.
- Control Sweetness Level by adjusting sugar quantities in the custard base and final caramelization, allowing individuals with dietary restrictions or preferences to modify the recipe accordingly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg