Give yourself and your friends and family an extravagant morning with this Overnight Crème Brûlée French Toast. This recipe elevates ordinary French bread to rich, custardy glory with layers of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, crowned with a signature brûléed sugar layer. This make-ahead dish, which gives you a quick-and-easy, no-fuss morning (you prep just the night before), is ideal for special occasions or a lazy weekend brunch, or for entertaining family for the holidays. It’s a breakfast masterpiece that’s as fun to serve as it is to eat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Easy, Make-Ahead Prep: If you prepped the night before, this recipe is a total no-brainer in the morning—simply pop it in the oven then serve!
Soaky Custardy Texture: Soaking the bread overnight gives it time to absorb the custard mixture, so that by the time it’s baked, whole swaths of it have settled into a creamy, pudding-like consistency.
Vanilla Bean, Caramelized Sugar Top: Like a crème brûlée, this French toast is finished with a crust of broiled sugar, which makes it toothsome.
Ideal for a Brunch Gathering: This dish serves a crowd, and is easy to double, which is great for family gatherings or weekend brunch.
Key Ingredients:
Each ingredient serves a crucial purpose making the perfect texture and flavor. Here’s what to keep in mind:
French Bread: Its dense, chewy texture can stand up to the custard soak. Pick a loaf that is a day old for best results.
Eggs: The eggs are essential for creating the rich and smooth custard. They also provide structure, so the bread maintains its shape.
Half-and-Half and Whole Milk: A combination of half-and-half and whole milk helps to keep the custard creamy without being too heavy. Use all half-and-half instead for a very rich texture, or all milk for a lighter version.
Vanilla Extract: The vanilla adds warmth and matches the sweet notes of the custard.
Granulated Sugar: The sugar that sweetens the custard base and forms the caramelized layer on the top; sugar generates a lovely brûlée crust.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These warm spices add depth and a hint of cozy flavor to the custard.
Unsalted Butter: Dots of butter on the top before baking provide for a golden-brown finish and add rich, buttery notes.
Maple Syrup (Optional): A drizzle of maple syrup is the finishing touch.
