Decadent Creme Brulee French Toast for a Luxurious Brunch Recipe
This Amazing Creme Brulee French Toast recipe offers a luxurious and decadent brunch experience. It features thick slices of brioche or challah soaked in a rich custard made from eggs, heavy cream, milk, and aromatic vanilla and cinnamon. The French toast is baked to perfection and finished with a crisp, caramelized sugar topping created with a kitchen torch, giving a delightful combination of creamy custard and crunchy brûlée layer.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf Brioche or Challah (1 loaf, sliced into 1-inch thick pieces)
Custard Mixture
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Milk
- 4 large Eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 pinch Salt
Topping
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar (for caramelizing)
Instructions
- Slice the Bread: Cut the brioche or challah loaf into 1-inch thick slices to ensure optimal absorption of the custard while maintaining structure during baking.
- Prepare the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and frothy, ensuring even flavor distribution.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture over the sliced bread pieces, making sure each slice is fully coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the custard thoroughly; overnight soaking is recommended for best results.
- Preheat Oven and Rest: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Before baking, let the soaked dish sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to even out the temperature for consistent baking.
- Bake the French Toast: Bake the custard-soaked bread uncovered in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the edges are golden and the custard is set but still custardy inside.
- Caramelize the Sugar Topping: Evenly sprinkle 1/4 cup of granulated sugar over the top of the baked French toast. Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar until it melts and forms a golden amber, crisp brûlée crust that contrasts beautifully with the creamy interior.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half.
- Use room-temperature eggs to achieve better custard consistency.
- Soaking the bread overnight intensifies flavor and texture.
- If you don’t have a kitchen torch, you can broil the sugar topping briefly, but watch closely to prevent burning.
- Brioche or challah is preferred for its absorbency and soft texture; avoid using regular sandwich bread to prevent sogginess.
Keywords: Creme Brulee French Toast, Brioche French Toast, Brunch Recipes, Decadent Breakfast, Caramelized Sugar French Toast
