This overnight Creme Brulee French Toast casserole is perfect for brunch, Christmas morning, or anytime you need a breakfast casserole to serve a crowd.
Creme Brulee French Toast
What’s better than waking up with a house full of guests and having a no-fuss breakfast ready to pop in the oven? This Creme Brulee French Toast Casserole was a recipe makeover that one of my readers requested years ago. I was excited to tackle it, and in the years since, it has become a family favorite for the holidays. This Banana Fosters-Topped Overnight French Toast is another go-to.
What is creme brulee French toast?
Creme brulee French toast combines traditional French toast with the sweet, creamy custard and crisp top of creme brulee in casserole form. This decadent crowd-pleaser is ideal for the holidays or any Sunday morning gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe
The original recipe called for a stick of butter and more half-and-half cream. I lightened it up by removing the butter, replacing the cream with milk, and using a sugar-free sweetener (but feel free to use whatever sugar you prefer). Despite these substitutions, the French toast remains just as rich, flavorful, and delicious.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: This overnight creme brulee French toast actually tastes better the longer it sits, so it’s excellent for making the night before and popping in the oven the next morning.
- Crowd Worthy: You can easily double this recipe and make two casseroles if you have more guests.
- Dietary Restrictions: It’s vegetarian, gluten-free (if using GF bread), Weight Watchers-friendly, and high-protein.
If you make this creme brulee French toast recipe, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos or videos on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook!
Creme Brulee French Toast Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this French toast creme brulee. Scroll to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Brown Sugar: I substitute brown monk fruit sweetener to reduce calories and added sugar.
- Water: Melt the brown sugar in water to create a simple syrup.
- Challah Bread is a soft, braided bread perfect for French toast and bread pudding.
- Eggs help create a custard-like base.
- Dairy: Half-and-half and 1% milk achieve the perfect balance between creaminess and keeping the calories low.
- Myers’s Rum gives it an extra special touch but is totally optional.
- Flavor: Vanilla extract and cinnamon give the casserole a warm flavor.
- Kosher Salt balances the sweetness.
- Powdered Sugar: Top with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
How to Make Creme Brulee French Toast
This easy creme brulee French toast is a great make-ahead casserole for the holidays. The complete instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Simple Syrup: Melt the brown sugar in water in a small skillet over low heat. Pour half of it into a 9” x 13” baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Bread: Put the bread cubes in a single layer in the dish.
- Custard: Whisk the eggs, remaining sugar mixture, milk, half-and-half, vanilla, rum, cinnamon, and salt, and pour over the bread.
- Overnight French Toast Casserole: Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Bake: Bring the casserole to room temperature as the oven preheats to 350°F. Bake uncovered until puffed and the edges are a pale golden color.
- How to Serve: Top with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
Variations
- Bread: Swap challah for a round country loaf, French bread, or brioche.
- Gluten-Free French Toast: Use a gluten-free version of one of the breads mentioned above.
- Milk: Use skim or 2% milk or unsweetened almond milk.
- Toppings: The casserole is sweet, so feel free to omit the powdered sugar. You could also top it with fresh berries or sliced bananas and whipped cream.
What to Serve with Creme Brulee French Toast
When I host brunch, I usually serve savory and sweet dishes to provide many different options. This French toast casserole would be good with Sheet Pan Pancakes, Sausage Breakfast Casserole, or this Healthy Breakfast Casserole with Spinach and Feta. I also like to set out a platter of fresh fruit.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers for 4 days and reheat in the microwave.
You freeze creme brulee French toast casserole after you bake it and let it cool.
- Slice it into 6 pieces and wrap them tightly with foil or plastic wrap.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the fridge and microwave until warm.
FAQ
If you’re in a rush, you could skip the overnight step, but you’ll have better results by letting the bread sit in the milk for at least 8 hours. Without enough time to fully absorb the liquid, the bread may end up less moist and flavorful.
More Breakfast Casserole Recipes You’ll Love
- Healthy Breakfast Casserole with Spinach and Feta
- Sausage, Cheese, and Veggie Breakfast Casserole
- Breakfast Strata with Sausage and Mushroom
- Veggie, Ham, and Cheese Breakfast Egg Casserole
- Spinach, Feta, and Artichoke Breakfast Bake
Creme Brulee French Toast
Equipment
- 13 x 9-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 cup unpacked brown sugar, (I use brown Monk fruit sugar)
- 1/4 cup water
- cooking spray
- 10 oz Challah bread, cubed
- 7 large eggs
- 1 cup 1% milk
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon Meyers rum, optional
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon powdered sugar, for topping
Instructions
- In a small heavy skillet melt brown sugar and water over low heat, stirring, until smooth and melted, about 1 minute, then pour half into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Arrange the bread cubes in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit.
- In a large bowl whisk together eggs, remaining sugar mixture, milk, half and half, vanilla, rum if using, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350F and bring the bread to room temperature.
- Bake uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 45 to 55 minutes. Let it rest 5 to 10 minutes.
- Top with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
