Description
Experience a luxurious breakfast with this Crème Brûlée French Toast, featuring fluffy brioche soaked in a rich custard and topped with a crispy caramelized sugar crust. Perfect for impressing guests at brunch, this dish combines creamy textures and delightful flavors for a memorable meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf of brioche bread (about 1 pound), sliced into 1-inch thick slices
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for caramelizing)
- Fresh berries (optional, for serving)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
- Gather all your ingredients on the counter for a smooth preparation process.
- In a large mixing bowl, crack the 4 large eggs and whisk until well beaten.
- Add 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 cup of whole milk to the eggs, whisking until fully incorporated.
- Stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
- Arrange the sliced brioche bread in a large baking dish (9×13 inch recommended).
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread slices, ensuring each slice is well coated. Use a spatula to gently push the slices down to soak up the custard.
- Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for best results.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes if soaked overnight.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set. Check around the 25-minute mark and cover loosely with aluminum foil if browning too quickly.
- After baking, let the French toast cool for about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup of granulated sugar evenly over the top of the French toast.
- Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar until it melts and turns a deep golden brown. Alternatively, place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Allow the caramelized sugar to harden for a minute or two.
- Cut the French toast into squares or rectangles for serving.
- Optionally, dust with powdered sugar and add fresh berries for garnish.
- Serve and enjoy the creamy custard and crunchy top!
Notes
- For a richer flavor, consider adding a splash of orange or almond extract to the custard mixture.
- If you don’t have a kitchen torch, broiling is a great alternative, but keep a close eye to avoid burning the sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes