Creme Brulee Overnight French Toast

I wanted to have a breakfast recipe in my pocket that could be prepared in advance for big events and holidays. This Creme Brulee Overnight French Toast is just that. You can easily prepare it the night before and in the morning pull it out to bake. It also releases amazing aromas that will fill the air with scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and beyond.

Prepare the Ingredients

Instead of a classic French toast, which would use slices of bread, I cube the bread using a technique which is often used for bread pudding. The cubed bread really absorbs the custard as it sits overnight.

Using a 9-3/4″ Slicer, cut one pound of a baguette or a loaf of rustic bread into three-quarter-inch cubes.

Next, using a 7-5/8″ Petite Chef, chop one cup of pecans.

Then, make the chai sugar mixture. Add the butter, sugar, maple syrup and one tablespoon of P.S. Flavor!™ Mai Chai (or cinnamon) to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for one to two minutes, until the sugar dissolves and stir to combine. Mai Chai is a seasoning that is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, ginger and Sugar In The Raw®, making it a ready-made seasoning full of aroma and flavor.

Prepare the Bake

Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with cooking spray. Spread the prepared chai sugar mixture in the bottom of the pan.

In a large bowl, spritz the bread cubes and the pecans with oil and toss in the remaining Mai Chai seasoning. In a separate bowl, using a Mix-Stir, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla and salt.

Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and toss well, making sure each cube is coated.

Top the chai sugar mixture with the coated bread and pecans. Cover the pan and refrigerate overnight. I like to let it sit roughly eight to 10 hours.

Remove the pan from the refrigerator, uncover and place in a cold oven and then heat the oven to 350 F. Once the oven reaches temperature, bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the bread is golden and the caramel syrup is bubbling.

I have served this inverted before, which you can try. Let it come out of the oven for about five minutes, just to give it a little time, and then flip it. Inverting it will allow you to get more of the creme brulee topping you may be looking for.

This Creme Brulee Overnight French Toast is a fun twist on classic French toast and will be a hit at your next gathering. I usually serve it with fresh berries and whipped cream or you can drizzle it with Greek yogurt. When I serve it with Greek yogurt, I like to sweeten the yogurt with a little bit of maple syrup and orange zest, which helps really bring out bright flavors.