Overnight Creme Brûlée French Toast Bake

Overnight Creme Brûlée French Toast Bake puts butter, packed light or dark brown sugar and pure maple syrup at the center of a make-ahead recipe and finishes in about 535 minutes, enough for 8 Servings.

• Yield 8 Servings
• Ready in 535 minutes
• Prep 15 minutes
• Cook 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, corn syrup or pancake syrup
• 6 to 8 1-inch thick slices French bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (see picture in the post - also,)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Sweetened whipped cream + fresh strawberries/raspberries, for serving

Instructions

1. Add butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 1-2 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Stir to combine. (This step can be done in a pan on the stove.)
2. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch pan with cooking spray.
3. Spread the brown sugar mixture in the bottom of the pan and arrange the bread cubes in a single layer over the top.
4. In a bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, and salt.
5. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread.
6. Cover the pan and refrigerate overnight (8 to 10 hours).
7. Remove the pan from the refrigerator, uncover, and place in the cold oven.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Once the oven reaches temperature, bake for 30-35 minutes, until the bread is golden and the caramelly syrup is bubbling (alternately, if you want the golden syrupy goodness on top, the french toast can be baked for 20 minutes, then using a large, flat spatula, flip the bread pieces and bake for another 10-15 minutes).
9. Serve warm with sweetened whipped cream and fresh raspberries or strawberries.

Give it a minute off the heat, then serve it while it is still hot.