Dreamy Silky Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe With Salted Caramel

Lazy weekend mornings call for something extraordinary, and this silky creme brulee French toast with salted caramel hits every comfort food craving.

Rich custard-soaked bread becomes a decadent breakfast masterpiece that melts in your mouth.

The caramelized sugar creates a delicate crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy interior.

Each slice promises a luxurious experience that transforms an ordinary morning into a gourmet celebration.

Homemade salted caramel drizzled over the top adds a sophisticated twist to this classic breakfast treat.

Prepare to indulge in a breakfast that feels like a sweet, elegant escape from the ordinary.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 610 kcal

Servings: 6

What’s in Creme Brulee French Toast with Salted Caramel

• Eggs: Bind ingredients and create silky custard-like texture with rich protein.
• Heavy Cream: Delivers luxurious, velvety richness and smooth mouthfeel.
• Milk: Adds lightness and helps balance cream's intensity.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps caramelize during cooking.
• Vanilla Extract: Infuses warm, aromatic depth with classic baking flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon: Introduces warm, subtle spice that complements sweet notes.

• Brioche or Challah: Thick, sturdy bread that absorbs custard perfectly with soft, pillowy interior.
• Day-Old Bread: Slightly stale bread works best for maximum custard absorption without falling apart.

• Salted Caramel: Enhances dessert with contrasting sweet-salty complexity.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates elegant, light dusting for visual appeal.
• Fresh Berries: Adds bright, fresh counterpoint to rich, creamy base.

Tools for Creme Brulee French Toast Perfection

• Large Bowl: Essential for mixing eggs, cream, and other ingredients smoothly.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending ingredients without lumps and creating a silky custard base.
• Baking Dish: Provides the right vessel for soaking and baking the toast.
• Measuring Cups: Helps accurately measure cream, milk, and sugar for consistent results.
• Sharp Knife: Useful for slicing bread into perfect pieces.
• Griddle or Skillet: Great for initial toasting of bread before baking.
• Wooden Spoon: Helpful for stirring and mixing ingredients if needed.
• Spatula: Good for transferring and handling toast during preparation.

Instructions to Make This Caramel-Topped French Toast

• Whip Up the Creamy Mixture Grab a spacious mixing bowl and energetically blend eggs, cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon until everything is beautifully combined and silky smooth.
• Soak the Bread Arrange thick slices of rich, sturdy bread in a large baking dish and gently pour the luscious egg mixture over them, ensuring each slice gets completely drenched and absorbs all those decadent flavors.
• Let the Happen Cover the bread and pop the dish into the refrigerator, allowing the bread to luxuriously soak up all the creamy goodness for at least an hour or overnight for maximum flavor infusion.
• Preheat and Prepare Fire up your oven to a toasty 350°F and generously butter a baking pan to prevent any sticky situations.
• Bake to Golden Perfection Transfer the soaked bread to the prepared pan and slide it into the preheated oven, baking for about 35-40 minutes until the edges turn a gorgeous golden brown and the center becomes wonderfully puffy.
• Create the Salted Caramel Drizzle In a small saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar, stirring constantly until it transforms into a rich, bubbling caramel. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt for that irresistible sweet-salty kick.
• Serve and Enjoy Plate the golden french toast and cascade the warm salted caramel over the top, creating a mouthwatering dessert that'll make everyone's taste buds dance with joy.

Tips for Getting That Perfect Brulee Finish

• Select slightly stale challah or brioche bread for the most luxurious texture, as day-old bread absorbs the custard more effectively without falling apart.
• Assemble the French toast casserole the night before and refrigerate, allowing flavors to meld and creating an effortless morning breakfast experience.
• Use a kitchen torch for precise, even caramelization of the sugar topping, ensuring a perfectly crisp and golden-brown surface without burning.
• For a gluten-free version, swap traditional bread with gluten-free brioche or dense gluten-free bread; for a lighter option, use almond milk instead of heavy cream.
• Experiment with different extracts like almond or orange to create unique flavor profiles, or sprinkle chopped nuts like pecans or almonds between bread layers for added crunch and complexity.

Serving Suggestions for French Toast Like a Pro

• Brunch Bliss Plate: Arrange golden-brown French toast slices on a warm plate, drizzling extra salted caramel sauce over the top for an indulgent breakfast experience.
• Elegant Morning Garnish: Sprinkle fresh berries like raspberries or strawberries around the French toast, adding a pop of color and tart contrast to the rich, creamy dish.
• Sweet Sidekick Companion: Serve alongside crispy bacon or breakfast sausage links to balance the sweetness with a savory protein element that complements the caramelized toast.
• Whipped Cream Dream: Top each slice with a delicate dollop of fresh whipped cream and a light dusting of powdered sugar for an extra touch of decadence that elevates the entire presentation.

Storage and Reheating Tips for Creme Brulee French Toast

• Prepare the entire French toast mixture up to 24 hours in advance and store covered in the refrigerator. This technique helps develop deeper flavor profiles and saves precious morning preparation time.
• Cooked French toast stays fresh for 3-4 days when sealed in an airtight container. Simply reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes to restore crispy edges and warm center.
• Wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Frozen French toast keeps perfectly for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and warm gently before serving.
• Create individual servings in muffin tins or small baking dishes for easy single-serving meals. These compact portions make breakfast preparation incredibly convenient and reduce potential food waste.

FAQs

• Is this a traditional French toast recipe?

No, this is a luxurious twist on classic French toast, featuring a rich custard base and gourmet preparation that elevates the traditional breakfast dish.

• Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the custard mixture and soak the bread the night before, then bake it fresh in the morning for a convenient and delicious breakfast.

• What type of bread works best for this recipe?

Thick, slightly stale brioche or challah bread are ideal because they absorb the custard well without falling apart and provide a rich, tender texture.

• Do I need any special equipment to make this dish?

A kitchen torch is helpful for creating the caramelized sugar topping, but you can also use the broiler in your oven to achieve a similar caramelized effect.

Silky Creme Brulee French Toast With Salted Caramel Recipe

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4.6 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Creme brulee French toast melds classic French dessert techniques with breakfast comfort. Caramelized sugar and rich custard create a luxurious morning treat that elevates weekend brunch for passionate home cooks.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, sliced 1-inch thick
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
• ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
• ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• 2 tbsps (30 g) unsalted butter (for cooking)
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar (for caramel sauce)
• 6 tbsps (90 g) unsalted butter, cubed (for caramel sauce)
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (for caramel sauce)
• 1 tsp sea salt (for caramel sauce)

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Instructions

1. Custard Preparation: Whisk eggs, cream, milk, and sugar into a velvety smooth mixture, ensuring no lumps remain and creating a rich, homogeneous base.
2. Flavor Infusion: Incorporate vanilla extract and optional cinnamon, stirring thoroughly to distribute aromatic notes throughout the liquid, allowing ingredients to harmonize.
3. Bread Selection and Soaking: Choose thick-cut brioche or challah, then methodically immerse each slice into the custard mixture, gently pressing to promote optimal absorption without compromising bread integrity.
4. Surface Heating: Warm a skillet or griddle with a light butter or oil coating, establishing a moderate temperature conducive to achieving a perfectly caramelized exterior.
5. Cooking Process: Carefully transfer custard-saturated bread to the heated surface, cooking each side until a golden-brown crust forms while maintaining a luscious, tender interior.
6. Salted Caramel Creation: Expertly melt sugar, introduce cream, and finish with a delicate sea salt sprinkle, crafting a luxurious sauce that elevates the French toast’s complexity.
7. Plating and Presentation: Arrange the golden-brown toast on serving plates, lavishly drizzling the warm salted caramel sauce to create an indulgent, visually stunning final touch.

Notes

• Select Ideal Bread: Choose day-old brioche or challah for maximum custard absorption and structural integrity, preventing soggy disintegration during cooking.
• Control Soaking Time: Brief, gentle soaking prevents bread from becoming waterlogged; 15-30 seconds per side ensures optimal custard penetration without compromising texture.
• Manage Heat Carefully: Maintain moderate skillet temperature around 350°F to achieve golden-brown exterior while keeping interior soft and custardy, avoiding burning or uneven cooking.
• Balance Caramel Precision: When preparing salted caramel, watch sugar closely to prevent burning; remove from heat immediately when achieving deep amber color for perfect sauce consistency.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Dessert
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 563
• Sugar: 51 g
• Sodium: 357 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 187 mg