Crème Brûlée French Toast: A Decadent Breakfast Delight
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Recipe
- Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Dish
- How to Make Crème Brûlée French Toast
- Tips and Tricks for Best Results
- Serving Suggestions
- Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to what will surely become your new favorite brunch dish! Imagine the rich, creamy custard of classic French toast combined with the shatteringly crisp, caramelized sugar shell of a perfect crème brûlée. That, my friends, is the magic of this Crème Brûlée French Toast recipe. It’s an incredibly indulgent, yet surprisingly simple, way to elevate your morning meal into a five-star experience.
This dish transforms humble bread into a culinary masterpiece. Each bite offers a delightful contrast of textures and flavors—soft, custardy bread, a warm hint of vanilla and orange, and that signature crackle of burnt sugar. It’s the ultimate treat for a special occasion, a lazy weekend, or any day you feel you deserve something truly special.
Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Crème Brûlée French Toast Recipe
There are countless reasons this recipe will win you over, but here are just a few of my favorites:
- Unforgettable Flavor: The combination of a rich, vanilla-scented egg custard and the slightly bitter, sweet crunch of torched sugar is simply divine. It’s a true dessert-for-breakfast situation.
- Surprising Simplicity: While it sounds incredibly fancy, making this dish is straightforward. If you can make regular French toast, you can absolutely master this version.
- The “Wow” Factor: Bringing this to the table is guaranteed to impress your family and friends. The crackling sound of the sugar crust as you break into it is pure food theater!
- Perfectly Textured: We use thick-cut brioche bread, which soaks up the custard beautifully without becoming soggy, creating a pillowy soft interior and a perfectly golden-brown exterior. This is a key part of an amazing Crème Brûlée French Toast experience.
Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Crème Brûlée French Toast
The quality of your ingredients makes all the difference here. You likely have most of these in your kitchen already. For the best bread, check out King Arthur Baking’s fantastic brioche recipe if you feel like baking from scratch!
For the French Toast:
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier) or 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 slices of thick-cut brioche or challah bread (about 1-inch thick)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for cooking
For the Topping:
- 1/2 cup granulated or turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
How to Make Crème Brûlée French Toast: 5 Simple Steps
Follow these steps closely to create the most decadent breakfast recipe you’ve ever had. Grab your apron and let’s get started!
Step 1: Prepare the Custard Mixture
In a shallow baking dish or a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, milk, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, orange liqueur (or zest), vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and fully combined, with no streaks of egg remaining. The dish should be wide enough to lay the bread slices flat.
Step 2: Soak the Bread
Place the slices of brioche bread into the custard mixture in a single layer. Let them soak for about 20-30 seconds per side. You want the bread to be saturated but not falling apart. If your dish is small, you may need to do this in batches.
Step 3: Cook the French Toast to Golden Perfection
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Once the butter is sizzling, carefully place the soaked bread slices onto the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until they are a deep golden brown and puffed up. Transfer the cooked French toast to a baking sheet or wire rack. Repeat with the remaining butter and bread slices.
Step 4: Sprinkle with Sugar
Arrange the cooked French toast slices on a heat-proof surface, like a baking sheet. Sprinkle a thin, even layer of the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar over the top surface of each slice. Be generous! This layer is what creates the signature caramelized sugar crust.
Step 5: Torch the Sugar for that Crème Brûlée Crunch
Using a kitchen torch, carefully move the flame back and forth over the sugar until it melts, bubbles, and turns a beautiful amber-brown color. Be careful not to burn it! If you don’t have a torch, you can use your oven’s broiler. Place the baking sheet on the top rack and broil for 1-2 minutes, watching it constantly as it can burn in seconds. Let it cool for a minute to allow the sugar to harden before serving.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Crème Brûlée French Toast
Want to guarantee perfection? Keep these pro tips in mind.
- Use Stale Bread: Slightly dry, day-old bread is ideal because it soaks up more custard without becoming mushy.
- Don’t Over-Soak: A quick dip is all you need. If the bread soaks for too long, it can become fragile and difficult to flip.
- Torch is Best: While a broiler works, a kitchen torch gives you much more control and a more even, professional-looking caramelized crust.
- Serve Immediately: The magic of this dish is the contrast between the warm, soft toast and the hard sugar shell. It’s best enjoyed right after torching. See others recipes here that are also best served fresh!
Serving Suggestions: Elevate Your Crème Brûlée French Toast Experience
This Crème Brûlée French Toast is a showstopper all on its own, but a few simple additions can take it to another level. Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or crème fraîche to cut through the sweetness.
A side of fresh berries, like raspberries or sliced strawberries, adds a bright, tart contrast that complements the rich custard perfectly. For a final touch, a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of high-quality maple syrup makes it even more irresistible. This is truly a fantastic brunch recipe for any occasion.
Foire Aux Questions
What is the best type of bread to use for this recipe?
The best breads are rich, sturdy, and able to soak up the custard without falling apart. Thick-cut brioche is the top choice due to its high egg and butter content, which complements the custard beautifully. Challah is another excellent option. If you can’t find either, a thick-cut Texas toast or a good quality, dense white bread will also work well. Avoid thin sandwich bread.
Can I make Crème Brûlée French Toast ahead of time?
This recipe is best served immediately after torching to preserve the crispy sugar crust. However, you can do some prep work in advance. You can make the custard mixture and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. You can also cook the French toast (steps 1-3), let it cool completely, and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, just sprinkle with sugar and torch or broil.
I don’t have a kitchen torch. What’s the best way to use the broiler?
Using a broiler is a great alternative! First, move your oven rack to the highest position, about 4-6 inches from the broiler element. Turn the broiler on high. Place the sugar-coated French toast on a baking sheet and put it in the oven. The most important rule is to not walk away. The sugar can go from melted to burnt in a matter of seconds. Watch it constantly and pull it out as soon as it’s golden brown and bubbly, which usually takes 1-2 minutes.