Decadent Crème Brûlée French Toast Casserole
A rich and indulgent French toast casserole with a crispy caramelized sugar crust and custardy soft bread, perfect for Mother’s Day brunch or any special occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch
- Cuisine: French-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf brioche or challah bread (about 12 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup turbinado or demerara sugar (for brûlée topping)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Cut the brioche loaf into 1-inch cubes and place evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, vanilla bean paste, and salt until smooth and pale, about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press down to ensure all pieces are soaked. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove casserole from fridge and let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Drizzle melted butter over the soaked bread and sprinkle turbinado sugar evenly on top.
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until edges puff slightly and custard is set but creamy inside.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar topping until golden and crisp. Alternatively, broil for 2-3 minutes watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Let rest for 5 minutes after torching. Cut into squares and serve warm.
Notes
Use day-old brioche or challah for best custard absorption without sogginess. If no kitchen torch is available, use the oven broiler but watch carefully to avoid burning. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream and milk with full-fat coconut milk and use dairy-free butter. Letting the casserole soak overnight improves texture. Avoid overbaking to keep custard creamy. Hold torch 2-3 inches away and move continuously for even caramelization.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous square (1
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 34
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 8
Keywords: crème brûlée, French toast casserole, Mother's Day brunch, brioche, custard, caramelized sugar, brunch recipe, easy breakfast