Caramel Cream Cheese French Toast (Printable)

Layers of soft brioche, sweetened cream cheese, and rich caramel create this indulgent overnight bake that's perfect for feeding a crowd.

# What You Need:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (approximately 18 oz)
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1 cup whole milk
04 - 1 cup heavy cream
05 - 5 large eggs
06 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Sugar & Flavorings

07 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
08 - ½ cup packed light brown sugar
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
10 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Caramel Sauce

12 - 1 cup caramel sauce, store-bought or homemade

# How-To Steps:

01 - Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
02 - Spread half of the bread cubes evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
04 - Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the bread layer.
05 - Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over the cream cheese and bread layer.
06 - Distribute the remaining bread cubes over the caramel layer.
07 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, melted butter, remaining granulated sugar, brown sugar, remaining vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until thoroughly combined.
08 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over all bread layers, pressing down gently to ensure even absorption.
09 - Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
10 - When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator during preheating.
11 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set. Loosely cover with aluminum foil if the top browns too quickly.
12 - Warm the remaining caramel sauce and drizzle generously over the baked casserole before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's a complete make-ahead solution that lets you sleep in while the oven does the heavy lifting.
  • One dish feeds a crowd with zero last-minute stress or scrambling at the stove.
  • The flavor combination of cream cheese and caramel feels fancy enough for company but tastes like pure comfort.
02 -
  • Never skip the overnight resting period, as it's what transforms bread and custard into something cohesive and delicious rather than soggy and separated.
  • If your casserole is browning too quickly, tent it loosely with foil for the remaining baking time to protect the top while the center finishes cooking.
03 -
  • Room temperature eggs and cream cheese blend into the custard more evenly than cold ones, preventing lumps and ensuring silky texture.
  • If you're feeding a crowd, this recipe doubles beautifully in a larger baking dish, though you may need to add five to ten minutes to the baking time.
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