Description
This Crème Brûlée French Toast recipe offers an elegant and indulgent breakfast treat featuring thick slices of brioche or challah soaked in a rich custard, cooked to golden perfection, and topped with a crisp, caramelized sugar crust. Combining creamy, crispy, and sweet textures, it creates a luxurious yet simple-to-make brunch classic that impresses with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Custard Mixture
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Bread and Topping
- 6 thick slices of brioche or challah bread
- Butter for frying (about 2 tablespoons)
- Turbinado or demerara sugar for caramelizing (about 1/4 cup)
Instructions
- Prepare the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until the mixture is smooth and well combined. This custard base is key to achieving the creamy texture and rich flavor.
- Soak the Bread: Dip each thick bread slice into the custard, allowing it to absorb plenty of liquid but ensuring it doesn’t become too soggy. Let the slices rest in the custard for at least one minute per side to fully soak in the flavors.
- Cook Until Golden: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a generous knob of butter. Place the soaked bread slices in the skillet and cook until the bottoms turn golden brown and firm, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until equally golden and cooked through.
- Caramelize the Sugar Topping: Sprinkle turbinado or demerara sugar evenly over the cooked slices. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar until it forms a crisp, golden crust. Allow the sugar to cool and harden before serving.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut brioche or challah bread for optimal custard absorption and texture.
- Do not soak the bread for too long to avoid a mushy texture.
- Use a quality kitchen torch for even caramelization of the sugar topping.
- Cook over medium heat to ensure the custard cooks without burning the exterior.
- For extra richness, consider dipping the bread twice in the custard before cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Pan-frying and torching
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 190mg
Keywords: crème brûlée French toast, decadent breakfast, custard French toast, caramelized sugar topping, brunch recipe, brioche French toast