Description
Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast Bake brings weekend breakfast dreams straight to your table with zero morning stress. Soaking challah bread in a silky custard mixture and chilling overnight means simple morning baking delivers restaurant-quality deliciousness without complicated prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf brioche or challah, cubed
- 5 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups half-and-half (or equal parts milk & heavy cream)
- ½ cup whole milk
Sweeteners and Syrups:
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup or maple syrup
- Powdered sugar
- Maple syrup
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Garnishes:
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Melt ½ cup (1 stick) butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Blend in 1 cup packed brown sugar and 2 tbsp light corn syrup until smooth and caramelized.
- Pour warm caramel mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly across the bottom.
- Cut 1 entire loaf of brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes. Distribute bread pieces uniformly over the caramel layer.
- Crack 5 large eggs into a mixing bowl. Whisk in 1 ½ cups half-and-half, ½ cup whole milk, 1 tbsp vanilla extract, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp ground cinnamon.
- Slowly pour custard mixture over bread cubes, gently pressing down so bread absorbs liquid completely.
- Cover baking dish with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight for 8-12 hours to allow bread to soak thoroughly.
- Remove casserole from refrigerator 20 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until top turns golden brown and edges become slightly crispy.
- Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
- Garnish with fresh berries, drizzle maple syrup, or add a dollop of whipped cream.
Notes
- Select day-old brioche for the best texture and absorption of the custard mixture.
- Ensure the caramel base covers the entire bottom of the dish for even flavor distribution.
- Press the bread gently into the custard to help it soak up all the delicious liquid without breaking the cubes.
- For a gluten-free version, swap brioche with gluten-free bread and check that corn syrup is certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 393 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 183 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 168 mg