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Crème Brûlée French Toast
It’s Christmas morning and we need something that’s easy to cook up for a crowd, festive enough to befit the holiday, but fast enough that you’re not going to spend the morning over a hot stove. Behold, the custardy soft center and crisp, caramelized brown sugar topping of Creme Brûlée French Toast!
The greatest part is it actually soaks overnight for best results, so all you have to do is pop it in the oven in the morning and watch your family go bananas. Actually, there are no bananas in this dish, but I bet that would be an amazing addition — just mash them up and throw in with the custard. But most importantly: never walk away from the broiler!!! Or your toast will be charcoal and you will be eating cereal for breakfast.
Anyway, make it — you’ll love it!
Crème Brûlée French Toast
Prep time: 15 minutes + refrigeration overnight
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 (15-ounce) loaf stale challah bread or whole wheat challah bread, cut into 1-inch thick slices
3 large eggs
1 cup half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Powdered sugar, optional
Instructions:
•In a small bowl combine the melted butter and brown sugar and stir to combine. Spread into the bottom of a 9x13-inch nonstick metal baking dish. It’s important the baking dish is nonstick metal here so the butter and sugar caramelize well in the oven! If you don’t have one, feel free to soak the bread overnight in any casserole dish, then bake on a baking sheet so the metal will provide the hot surface contact needed for that sugar crisping effect. Spread the sugar mixture onto the bottom of your metal baking dish or sheet, then place the bread slices on top of the sugar mixture.
•In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, vanilla extract, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread slices, cover and place in the refrigerator. Allow to soak for at least 4 hours, preferably 8 hours (perfect to assemble right before heading to bed for the next morning!).
•When ready to bake, allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Allow to cool for 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with the brown sugar side up. If you want an extra crunchy brown sugar top, preheat the broiler. Flip the French toast onto a baking sheet, brown sugar side up and broil for a minute or two until extra caramelized – but do not walk away, they burn fast!! Dust with powdered sugar to serve if desired, but I tend to think this is overkill as it is already the most lusciously sweet and heavenly breakfast as is!
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