Crème Brûlée French Toast (Printable)

Overnight-soaked brioche with caramelized sugar topping

# What You’ll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah (about 1 lb), sliced 3/4-inch thick

→ Custard

02 - 6 large eggs
03 - 1 1/2 cups whole milk
04 - 1 cup heavy cream
05 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 tbsp vanilla extract
07 - 1/4 tsp salt

→ Caramel Layer

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
09 - 1 cup light brown sugar
10 - 2 tbsp corn syrup

→ Brûlée Topping

11 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar

# How-to Steps:

01 - In a small saucepan, melt the butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring until smooth and bubbling. Pour into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
02 - Arrange the bread slices in a single layer over the caramel, slightly overlapping if needed to fit.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until completely smooth and combined.
04 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread. Gently press down on the bread slices to help them absorb the liquid.
05 - Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8–12 hours to allow the bread to fully absorb the custard.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the dish from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature while the oven heats.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes until the French toast is puffed, golden brown, and the custard is completely set.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before adding the sugar topping.
09 - Sprinkle the granulated sugar evenly over the top. Using a kitchen torch, brûlée the sugar until melted and caramelized. Alternatively, place under a broiler for 1–2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
10 - Serve warm, spooning any extra caramel sauce from the bottom of the dish over each portion.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The overnight prep means you wake up to something extraordinary without any morning effort
  • That shatteringly crisp sugar crust against pillowy custard-soaked bread is the kind of contrast that makes people close their eyes when they take a bite
02 -
  • The bread needs that full overnight soak—skipping it yields dry centers and soggy bottoms
  • A kitchen torch creates the authentic crackle, but watch closely under the broiler as sugar goes from perfect to burned in seconds
03 -
  • Place a baking sheet on the rack below to catch any caramel overflow
  • If using the broiler method, leave the door slightly cracked to monitor the sugar

Go back