An electrical heating element is provided, including a main body, the main body including a ceramic material and an electrically conductive path on a surface of the main body. The electrically conductive path includes a reduced form of the ceramic material, and has first and second contact portions for connection to a voltage source, and at least one electrically conductive pathway between the first and second contact portions. To form the electrically conductive path, the heating element main body is placed in a reducing environment at sufficient temperature to form the conductive path on the surface of the main body.