holidays & recipes: a christmas breakfast buffet menu crème brûlée french toast bake
We’d like to present to you our second holiday menu, which is a Breakfast Buffet. What could be better than several sinfully delicious breakfast items served buffet style? This is an easy, lovely beginning to Christmas day. And, if you are like many people your Christmas may be split between two or more households. So, if you aren’t going to be eating Christmas dinner at your home, you can at least create a festive meal for your family that will create memories in your own home.
Christmas Breakfast Buffet
1. Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake
2. Creamy Polenta with Honey and Blueberries
3. Dutch Baby
4. Savory Quiche
5. Baked Ham and Egg Cups
Our first recipe first arrived on our doorstep in the hands of Camille’s brother about 5 years ago. He brought the recipe; we bought the ingredients and added it to our Christmas breakfast buffet. “You are going to love this”, declared Camille’s brother. And, by the way his mouth was watering when he spoke of the Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake, we could hardly wait to make it and eat it.
Crème Brûlée is probably one of the most perfect desserts ever created. Make the Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake and breakfast doesn’t get any better. Gooey, syrupy goodness waits at the bottom of the Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake. Hot out of the oven, this dish could rival any comfort food out there and probably win. The Grand Marnier is luxurious, making this incredibly sophisticated and worthy of the most upscale breakfast or brunch buffets. Young and old will adore the pleasing texture, sweet yet sophisticated flavor and the warm comfort of this dish.
Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake Ingredients 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 stick butter 2 tbs light corn syrup 1 loaf brioche (Challah) or potato bread or French bread 5 large eggs 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream 1 tsp vanilla extract ¼ cup Grand Marnier ¼ tsp salt Directions: 1. In a small saucepan combine the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Simmer until sugar has melted and mixture has thickened to syrup. Pour this mixture into a 9x13 baking pan that has been buttered or lined with parchment. 2. Slice the bread into 1 inch cubes and place on top of the syrup in the baking pan. 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, vanilla extract, Grand Marnier and salt. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 4. In the morning, leave the casserole at room temperature while the oven preheats. Bake at 350°F uncovered, for 45 minutes. 5. When it is finished baking take it out of the oven and let set for 5 minutes. If serving at a buffet use a platter that is a bit larger than the baking pan, invert the baking pan over the plate and serve immediately. If serving directly from the baking pan, cut into square portions and serve immediately.
Kiri W.
December 13, 2011 at 10:08 am //
Oooh, delicious! I love to brulee bread pudding, too, it’s just the perfect crunchy finish :)
myfudo
December 13, 2011 at 1:21 pm //
Thank you Kiri!
melissa@the hungry artist
December 13, 2011 at 11:37 am //
This looks totally amazing.
myfudo
December 13, 2011 at 12:51 pm //
Thank you so much Melissa.
peachkins
December 13, 2011 at 12:28 pm //
This is an amazing breakfast!
myfudo
December 13, 2011 at 1:22 pm //
Thank you Peachkins!
Food Lover
December 13, 2011 at 6:14 pm //
yummy! I can already taste how delicious it is :)
Jen at The Three Little Piglets
December 14, 2011 at 5:39 am //
What a beautiful and decadent holiday breakfast!
Amalia
December 14, 2011 at 2:37 pm //
Creme Brulee French Toast Bake?? It looks and sounds AMAZING! The perfect Christmas breakfast!