Sunday Brunch: Creme Brulee French Toast

What better way to start this out, than with tomorrow's Sunday Brunch?

I got this recipe from my great gal pal, Melinda....

I am headed out the door, right down the road to HEB to pick up a few things that I will need for this...

Creme Brulee' French Toast

adapted from Organizing with a Side of Fabulous

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• challah bread
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon triple sec 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• cinnamon, nutmeg, clove to suit your taste (optional)

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and maple syrup, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Make sure to not burn the sugar in the process.

Pour into a 9×13 inch baking dish.  Pour as evenly as you can and act quickly.

Remove crusts from bread, and arrange in the baking dish in a single layer. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla extract, orange liqueur, and salt. Pour over the bread. Cover, and chill at least 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dish from the refrigerator, and bring to room temperature.

Bake uncovered until puffed and lightly browned.   Know your oven on this one.  The original recipe calls for 35 to 40 minutes (Melinda said she only had to bake it for 27). 

 Let it sit for a few minutes otherwise that hot, bubbly caramel goodness will burn your mouth off!  The recipe said it would be really rich and it definitely sounds that way.  Of course, if you’re a sugar fiend then you can always top this with some maple syrup.

I know....you're right....you will not see any tags attached to this recipe involving "high fiber" or "gluten free"...

I just had to make this!!!

Of course, I will update on how it turned out...Happy Sunday!!
much love,

UPDATE!!! 8.08.10
It was such a hit!!!  The melting of the brown sugar and butter took a while...but...wow!!
Challah bread...I got two fresh baked loaves from HEB...well...I only needed one, it turns out...and taking the crust off turned out to be some work...I sliced it up thick and still had 2 big slices left...I added a bit of Cinnamon and a pinch of Nutmeg and Clove to the milk and egg mixture...YUM!  There was none left...they ate it all...I had only a taste...as I am not a fan of Maple...it was really good....had a big bowl of chunked fresh pineapple, strawberries and grapes...
It's definitely worth trying and super easy...and perfect if you have a large family or a get together...make it all up the night before...refrigerate overnight...and bake in the morning...FABULOUS!
much love,