Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe

Rating 5.0
| 1
| Last Updated on May 22, 2024
Creme brulee French toast is a collision of creamy creme brulee and custardy French toast. With a crisp outer shell and a pillowy interior, this dish may become your favorite breakfast dish.
Utensils Breakfast
Globe French
18
ingredients
17
steps
65
minutes
Giselle is a recipe developer and content creator that loves all things sweet and savory. She runs her own food blog, The Busy Spatula, and her work has been featured on Yahoo!, Marvel Studios and the Kitchn.

Ingredients

Servings:
4
For the Pastry Cream
1 1/2 cup(s)
whole milk
6 tbsp
granulated sugar, divided
3 tbsp
cornstarch
1
pinch salt
1
large egg yolk
1
large egg
1 1/2 tbsp
butter
2 tsp
pure vanilla extract or paste
For the Creme Brulee French Toast
1
batch of pastry cream, see above
1
unsliced loaf of challah or brioche bread
1 1/2 cup(s)
whole milk
2
large eggs
2 tsp
vanilla extract
4 tbsp
butter, divided
granulated sugar, for topping
fresh berries, to serve
fresh mint, for garnish
confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
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Directions 17 steps | 65 Minutes

Step 1

Prepare the pastry cream. In a small saucepan, combine the whole milk and three tablespoons of granulated sugar. Mix until combined. Turn the heat to medium and bring to a simmer.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Prepare the pastry cream.
Step 2

While the milk mixture is coming up to a simmer, whisk the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, cornstarch and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the egg yolk and egg. Whisk until well combined. 

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: While the milk mixture is coming up to a simmer, whisk the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, cornstarch and salt together in a medium bowl.
Step 3

Once the milk comes to a simmer, use a ladle to pour a thin stream of the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly. Continue until all of the milk is added to the egg mixture. 

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Once the milk comes to a simmer, use a ladle to pour a thin stream of the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly.
Step 4

Return the entire mixture to the saucepan and constantly whisk until the pastry cream is thickened. 

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Return the entire mixture to the saucepan and constantly whisk until the pastry cream is thickened.
Step 5

Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the butter and one teaspoon of vanilla extract or paste until well blended. 

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Step 6

Pour the pastry cream through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof container. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate the pastry cream until completely chilled.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Pour the pastry cream through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof container.
Step 7

Slice the loaf of bread into 3-4 inch thick slices. Lay the slices out on a wire rack and let dry out overnight. (See notes 1.)

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Slice the loaf of bread into 3-4 inch thick slices.
Step 8

Make the French toast custard. In a large bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs and vanilla extract. Set aside.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Make the French toast custard.
Step 9

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Place the stale bread slices on one sheet pan. Using a sharp paring or boning knife, create a small pocket in the side of the stale slice of bread, making sure not to cut through the entire slice. Repeat with the remaining slices.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 10

Transfer the chilled pastry cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large piping tip. Fill the pocket with the pastry cream. Repeat with the remaining slices. Reserve the remaining pastry cream.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Transfer the chilled pastry cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large piping tip.
Step 11

Soak each slice in the custard for about 30 seconds on each side. Place the soaked slices back on the sheet pan.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Soak each slice in the custard for about 30 seconds on each side.
Step 12

In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt two tablespoons of butter. Once the butter melts, reduce the heat to low. Add two slices of the French toast into the skillet and fry on each side until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. 

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt two tablespoons of butter.
Step 13

Place on the second sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and repeat with the remaining slices of French toast.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Place on the second sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
Step 14

Bake the pan-fried French toast in the preheated oven for about 5-7 minutes for the custard to set.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Bake the pan-fried French toast in the preheated oven for about 5-7 minutes for the custard to set.
Step 15

Remove the French toast from the oven and generously sprinkle the granulated sugar on top of each French toast. Use a culinary torch to brûlée the tops of each toast. Let the sugar crust set for 1 minute before serving.

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Remove the French toast from the oven and generously sprinkle the granulated sugar on top of each French toast.
Step 16

Slice the creme brulee French toast diagonally, if desired or leave whole. Transfer the creme brulee French toast to the serving plate. Squeeze a couple of dollops of the reserved pastry cream and some fresh berries. 

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Slice the creme brulee French toast diagonally, if desired or leave whole.
Step 17

Dust with confectioner’s sugar. Garnish with fresh mint and serve. Enjoy!

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe: Dust with confectioner’s sugar.

Notes:

  1. If you do not have time to dry out the slices overnight, dry the bread slices in the oven. Set the oven to 275°F and let the bread dry out, about 15-20 minutes.

Nutrition Per Serving
View All
CALORIES
825
FAT
34.8 g
PROTEIN
23 g
CARBS
102.2 g
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Carmela G.

Carmela

Cozymeal Team Member

16 Feb 2024

This recipe can easily become your favorite dish.

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