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Crème Brûlée French Toast Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 72 reviews

Indulge in a luxurious Crème Brûlée French Toast that combines the rich custardy texture of classic French toast with a crispy caramelized sugar topping. Made with thick slices of brioche or challah soaked in a creamy vanilla-cinnamon custard and baked to perfection, this decadent breakfast treat is finished with a brûléed sugar crust for an irresistible crunch.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread

  • 1 loaf of brioche or challah bread (12–14 slices)

Custard

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk (or almond/oat milk for dairy-free)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (or brown sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or nutmeg)
  • Pinch of salt

Topping

  • Sugar (for caramelizing)
  • Fresh berries (optional, for serving)
  • Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
  • Maple syrup (optional, for drizzling)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Bread: Cut the brioche or challah into thick slices and arrange them evenly in a greased baking dish to create the base for soaking.
  2. Make the Custard: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
  3. Soak the Bread: Pour the custard evenly over the arranged bread slices, pressing gently to ensure the bread absorbs the custard fully. Cover the dish and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes or preferably overnight to allow deep flavor infusion.
  4. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
  5. Bake the French Toast: Remove the custard-soaked bread from the refrigerator and place it in the preheated oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and the custard is fully set. Optionally, you can broil the top for 2-3 minutes to enhance crispness and browning.
  6. Brûlée the Top: Evenly sprinkle a thin layer of sugar over the baked French toast. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar to form a crispy and glossy crust. Alternatively, place the dish under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
  7. Serve: Allow the Crème Brûlée French Toast to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh berries, a dusting of powdered sugar, and a drizzle of maple syrup if desired for extra indulgence.

Notes

  • For a dairy-free version, substitute whole milk and heavy cream with almond or oat milk and use a dairy-free creamer.
  • Soaking the bread overnight enhances flavor and texture for a richer custard infusion.
  • If you don’t have a kitchen torch, use the broiler carefully to caramelize the sugar topping.
  • Thick slices of brioche or challah are ideal because they absorb the custard well without falling apart.
  • Adjust the sweetness by using brown sugar for a deeper flavor or reducing sugar to your taste.

Keywords: Crème Brûlée French Toast, baked French toast, custard soaked bread, brioche French toast, caramelized sugar topping, brunch recipe, decadent breakfast

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