Description
Wake up to a gourmet breakfast with this Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast! It’s rich, custardy, and has a delicate, crispy sugar crust. This make-ahead dish requires minimal effort in the morning and is perfect for impressing your family or guests. Drizzle with maple syrup and enjoy a luxurious breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf French bread, sliced 1-inch thick
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for topping)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- Maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish and arrange the French bread slices in a single layer.
- Make the Custard Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, whole milk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth and fully combined.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread, making sure each slice is well-soaked. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat the Oven: The next morning, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap from the baking dish.
- Dot with Butter and Sugar: Dot the bread with small pieces of unsalted butter and sprinkle an extra 2 tablespoons of sugar over the top to help create a crispy, caramelized crust.
- Bake: Bake for 35-40 minutes until the French toast is golden, puffed, and slightly crispy on top.
- Caramelize the Sugar: After baking, let it cool for a few minutes, sprinkle extra sugar on top, and broil briefly for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the sugar.
- Serve: Serve immediately with a drizzle of maple syrup and fresh fruit on the side.
Notes
- Ensure that the bread is well-soaked with the custard mixture overnight for a rich and custardy texture.
- If you prefer, you can use brioche or challah bread for a richer flavor.
- You can also add a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness if desired.
- If you don’t have a broiler, you can skip the broiling step and just bake until golden.
- Serve with fresh berries, whipped cream, or other fruit for an added burst of flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 250mg