Description
Weekend brunch gets a delightful upgrade with Overnight Creme Brulee French Toast Bake, where rich custard meets crispy bread edges. Prep this dreamy casserole the night before, and wake up to a golden, caramelized breakfast that’ll make your family cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf French bread or brioche
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Slice the French bread or brioche into 1-inch thick pieces and arrange them in a single, neat layer across a generously greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Crack 6 large eggs into a spacious mixing bowl and whisk them together with 2 cups whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tbsp vanilla extract, and ¼ tsp salt until the mixture becomes completely smooth and well-incorporated.
- Gently pour the custard mixture over your bread slices, ensuring each piece gets evenly saturated with the liquid.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, allowing the bread to absorb all those delicious flavors.
- Remove the dish from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) while preparing the topping.
- Combine ½ cup brown sugar with ¼ cup melted unsalted butter in a small bowl, mixing until thoroughly blended.
- Spread the brown sugar mixture uniformly across the top of your soaked bread, creating a delectable caramelized layer.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350°F, watching for a golden-brown top and a set custard texture.
- Remove from the oven and allow the French toast bake to cool slightly before serving with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup.
Notes
- Select thick-cut, day-old bread like brioche or challah for maximum custard absorption and rich flavor.
- Room temperature ingredients help create a smoother, more evenly blended custard mixture.
- Refrigerating overnight allows bread to soak up custard completely, creating a decadent texture that’s creamy inside and crisp outside.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular bread with sturdy gluten-free bread and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg