Indulge in a luxurious breakfast experience with this creme brulee French toast. Combining the creamy richness of creme brulee with the comforting familiarity of French toast, this dish is perfect for a special morning treat or a delightful brunch centerpiece. The caramelized brown sugar topping adds a delightful crunch, making each bite a symphony of textures and flavors.
When preparing this recipe, you might need to pick up a few specific ingredients. Heavy cream is essential for achieving the rich, creamy texture of the custard. Brioche or challah bread is recommended for its soft, buttery texture, which absorbs the custard mixture beautifully. These items might not be staples in every household, so be sure to add them to your shopping list.

Ingredients for Creme Brulee French Toast
Heavy cream: Adds richness and creaminess to the custard mixture.
Milk: Helps to balance the richness of the heavy cream.
Eggs: Essential for setting the custard and giving it structure.
Vanilla extract: Provides a warm, aromatic flavor that enhances the overall taste.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the custard mixture.
Brioche: A soft, buttery bread that absorbs the custard well.
Brown sugar: Sprinkled on top to create a caramelized, crunchy finish.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When preparing creme brulee french toast, ensure that the bread slices are slightly stale. This helps them absorb the custard mixture more effectively, resulting in a richer and more flavorful dish. If your bread is fresh, you can lightly toast it in the oven for a few minutes before soaking.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
heavy cream - Substitute with coconut cream: Coconut cream provides a rich and creamy texture similar to heavy cream and adds a subtle coconut flavor.
milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk is a dairy-free alternative that works well in custard-based recipes, though it may slightly alter the flavor.
large eggs - Substitute with flax eggs: Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg. This is a good vegan alternative that helps bind the ingredients.
vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract can provide a different but pleasant flavor profile, though it is stronger, so use half the amount.
granulated sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index and adds a slight caramel flavor, making it a healthier alternative.
brioche or challah bread - Substitute with French bread: French bread is less rich but still absorbs the custard mixture well, making it a suitable alternative.
brown sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and a distinct flavor, though it will change the texture slightly.
Other Alternative Recipes
How to Store or Freeze This Recipe
- Allow the Creme Brulee French Toast to cool completely at room temperature before storing.
- For short-term storage, place the French toast slices in an airtight container. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you plan to freeze, wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
- Place the wrapped slices in a freezer-safe bag or container, ensuring you remove as much air as possible before sealing.
- Label the container with the date to keep track of freshness. The French toast can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- To reheat from the refrigerator, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the slices on a baking sheet and warm for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
- For reheating from frozen, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Unwrap the slices and place them on a baking sheet. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20-25 minutes, removing the foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp up the top.
- Alternatively, you can reheat individual slices in a toaster oven or microwave. For the microwave, heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking frequently to avoid overcooking.
- If you prefer a crispier texture, consider reheating in a skillet over medium heat with a small amount of butter until warmed through and golden brown.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the Creme Brulee French Toast on a baking sheet.
- Cover it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
- Heat for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
- For a crispier top, remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of reheating.
Microwave Method:
- Place a slice of Creme Brulee French Toast on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
- Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through.
- If it’s not warm enough, continue to heat in 30-second intervals until heated through.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a small amount of butter or olive oil to the skillet.
- Place the Creme Brulee French Toast in the skillet.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until heated through and slightly crispy.
Toaster Oven Method:
- Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the Creme Brulee French Toast on the toaster oven tray.
- Heat for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
- For an extra crispy top, you can broil it for the last 1-2 minutes, keeping a close eye to prevent burning.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to bake the French toast to a golden perfection.
Mixing bowl: Essential for whisking together the heavy cream, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and granulated sugar.
Whisk: Helps to thoroughly combine the ingredients in the mixing bowl.
Baking dish: Holds the bread slices and the cream mixture while baking.
Measuring cups: Ensures accurate measurement of the heavy cream, milk, and granulated sugar.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the vanilla extract.
Knife: Useful for slicing the bread if it’s not pre-sliced.
Spatula: Helps to evenly distribute the cream mixture over the bread slices.
Cooling rack: Allows the French toast to cool slightly before serving.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prepare in advance: Mix the cream mixture the night before and store it in the fridge. This way, you can quickly pour it over the bread slices in the morning.
Use a large dish: Arrange the bread slices in a single layer in a large baking dish to ensure even soaking and baking.
Preheat the oven: Start preheating your oven while you prepare the ingredients to save time.
Quick cleanup: Line your baking dish with parchment paper to make cleanup easier after baking.
Uniform slices: Use brioche or challah bread of similar thickness for even cooking.
Creme Brulee French Toast
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 5 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 8 slices bread preferably brioche or challah
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and granulated sugar.
- Arrange the bread slices in a baking dish.
- Pour the cream mixture over the bread, making sure each slice is well coated.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden and the custard is set.
- Let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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