Creme brulee french toast is an easy overnight breakfast recipe that’s rich, creamy, and decadent. A delicious caramel layer and creamy egg batter transform regular french toast into the perfect Sunday meal.
Serve creme brulee french toast bake for Easter or Christmas breakfast with some warm hot chocolate or Irish coffee, or enjoy it next to some blueberry overnight oats for an easy make ahead weekend brunch!
The Best Bread To Use
When making overnight french toast, use thick cut, day old crusty bread. This will ensure all of the egg batter is absorbed by the toast before baking.
The best french toast bread is either baguette slices, or french bread. Slice the bread about 1″ thick. If it’s fresh, place it in the oven at 200°F to dry out before using it. You can also leave it on the counter overnight.
We like to use baguettes when making this creme brulee french toast recipe because they are slightly smaller portions, which works with the sweetness of this recipe.
How To Make It
To make creme brulee french toast:
- Caramel – begin with making a quick caramel sauce. Combine brown sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. The sugar should melt fully and create a quick caramel sauce. Make sure to stir constantly so the mixture doesn’t burn to the pan. Once done, pour the caramel into a 9×13″ baking dish. Place the baguette slices into the caramel while it’s still warm, pressing lightly so they adhere to the caramel.
- Egg mixture – combine eggs, milk, cream, orange juice, orange zest, and cinnamon. Pour the mixture over the bread slices in the prepared baking dish.
- Soak – Soak the french toast at least 8 hours, or overnight. This will allow all of the egg mixture to soak into the french toast.
- Bake – bake at 375°F for 25-27 minutes or until the bread is cooked through and the outside is golden brown and toasted.
- Flip – when serving, use a metal spatula to help get all of the gooey caramel. Flip the french toast so the caramel side is facing up, and top with your favorite french toast toppings!
Creme Brulee French Toast Toppings
Creme brulee french toast is already fairly sweet, so opt for some nice accenting flavors when choosing toppings. Some favorites include:
- Butter
- Candied bacon
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Chocolate chips
- Cinnamon sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Maple syrup
Creme Brulee French Toast Tips and Substitutions
- Pressing the bread into the caramel mixture before it cools will help it stick to the slices, even after baking.
- The batter will pool around the bread right when you pour it. Once it soaks overnight, it will be absorbed!
- Flipping the french toast as you serve it will allow for prettier presentation, as you will be able to see the beautiful caramel on top.
- If serving with kids, setting up a french toast topping area is always fun. Everyone will enjoy decorating their french toast!
- The orange juice and orange zest add a touch of fresh citrus flavor to creme brulee french toast. If preferred, omit the orange zest.
- Try adding ½ teaspoon of espresso powder to the egg batter. It’s delicious!
How To Store The Leftovers
Leftover creme brulee french toast will last up to 4 days in the fridge before losing texture. To store it:
- Flip the french toast while warm, and allow it to cool to room temperature. This will help ensure the caramel doesn’t stick.
- Once cooled, transfer it to an air tight container and place it in the fridge.
Creme brulee french toast won’t freeze too well. Caramel can become grainy when frozen, so it’s best to enjoy this recipe once you’ve made it.
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes
- Raspberry Oatmeal Bars – great for breakfast and dessert
- Blueberry Overnight Oats – make ahead
- Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar) – fun to make with kids
- Candied Bacon – delicious on creme brulee french toast!
Creme Brulee French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 1 baguette day old, sliced 1" thick
- ⅓ cup orange juice about 1 orange
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- 4 eggs beaten
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine brown sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved and mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes.
- Pour caramel mixture into the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish (caramel layer should be about ¼" thick) Add baguette slices, pressing them into caramel.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, orange juice, cream, milk, cinnamon, and orange zest. Pour mixture over baguette slices. Cover, and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove french toast from fridge, and allow to sit at room temperature while oven preheats. Bake for 25-27 minutes or until french toast is golden brown.
- When serving, flip so caramel layer is on top. Serve with favorite french toast toppings.
Notes
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1 thought on “Creme Brulee French Toast”
I had trouble making the “knots” (practice makes perfect), but EVERYONE enjoyed the rolls. Next time, I’ll have to double the receipt.☘️