Eggnog French Toast Bake

Eggnog French Toast Bake is a Christmas morning tradition! This quick-to-prepare overnight casserole features French bread soaked in an eggnog custard. In the morning, simply pop it in the oven for a special holiday breakfast!

Overnight Eggnog French Toast Bake with text overlay.

If you enjoy eggnog treats, you'll also love Eggnog Overnight Oats, Slow Cooker Eggnog Bread Pudding, and Eggnog Cookies!

It goes without saying that Christmas morning calls for a special, festive breakfast. However, around here, that breakfast also needs to be something that I can prep the night before, seeing as how on Christmas morning I'll be bleary-eyed thanks to kids who were raring-to-go before 6 a.m. Nor do I want to be stuck in the kitchen and risk missing any of the Santa-induced excitement. Enter my favorite overnight Christmas breakfast casserole...Eggnog French Toast!

Slice on plate with casserole in background.

How to Make Eggnog French Toast

This overnight Eggnog French Toast Bake solves both problems at once. It's quick to assemble before going to bed (you know, at 3 a.m. after all of the toys are put together). And come morning, all you have to do is pop it in the oven to bake while the kids are tearing into their presents. In addition to that, the fact that the bread has been soaked in eggnog and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg means that it tastes -- and the whole house consequently smells -- like Christmas.

To prep your Eggnog French Toast on Christmas Eve:

  1. Make the brown sugar syrup in a small pot on the stove and then pour it into the bottom of a baking dish.
  2. Add cubed French bread to the dish.
  3. Whisk together some eggs and eggnog and pour the mixture over the bread cubes in the dish.
  4. Tightly cover and refrigerate overnight.
  5. In the morning, pop the dish in the oven and bake.

Christmas breakfast is served!

Aerial view of Eggnog French Toast.

In Case You Don't Like Eggnog...

What's that? You don't like eggnog? Well, while I am firmly in the pro-eggnog camp, I do realize that there are individuals who do not actually enjoy this holiday nectar of the gods.

However, allow me to point out that even my non-eggnog drinking husband enjoyed it in this French toast. In other words, I think you might like this recipe even if you think you won't. 😉

Slice of Eggnog French Toast casserole on a plate topped with berries.

How to Serve It

This tasty Eggnog French Toast can be enjoyed straight out of the oven as is...additional syrup is not necessary.

Simply pairing it with some fresh berries or a halved grapefruit is a perfectly tart counter to the sweetness of the eggnog.

Oh, and don't forget bacon! Bacon is necessary to cut the sugar as well, am I right?

Aerial view of serving on plate.

So sometime this December -- whether it's a special school day breakfast, a lazy Saturday morning, a pre-Christmas brunch, or Christmas morning itself -- promise me that you'll treat yourself to this eggnog French toast decadence!

After all, what's better than a recipe by which you can have your eggnog...and eat it, too? 😉

Overnight Eggnog French Toast Bake, two-photo collage with text.

To Accompany Your Eggnog French Toast

Eggnog French Toast Bake

Eggnog French Toast Bake is a Christmas morning tradition. This quick, easy, overnight casserole is ready to pop in the oven when you wake up for an effortless but special holiday breakfast!
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
CHILLING TIME: 8 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 388kcal
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • 8 eggs
  • 2 cups prepared eggnog
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish (or two 8- by 8-inch baking dishes) with butter or coat with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and maple syrup; continue stirring as mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and pour into prepared baking dish. Arrange the bread cubes over the brown sugar mixture. Sprinkle bread cubes with cinnamon and nutmeg, to taste.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and mix in the eggnog and vanilla. Evenly pour this custard mixture over the bread cubes. Press down lightly on the bread to make sure it's all coated/soaked. Tightly cover baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight, at least 8 hours.
  • Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake, covered, for 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 375°F and remove foil. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until knife inserted in center of casserole is clean (and mostly dry) and top is puffy and golden brown.

Notes

  • The bread I typically use for this recipe is the in-house baked French Bread from HEB (a Texas grocery store). It weighs about 16 ounces.

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 185mg | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 222mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 578IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 2mg
Made this recipe? I'd love to see on IG!Mention @FiveHeartHome or tag #FiveHeartHome!

 

Adapted from AllRecipes
Post originally published on December 9, 2013.

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89 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I went out and got the last eggnog I could find just to make this!
    It’s AMAZING!! That caramel like glaze on the bottom is to die for.
    We only have white cane sugar and that worked just fine! I doubled the recipe as I have 5 children and a husband all with big appetites. Nothing left but smiles and full belly’s!!

    Thanks from Minnesota!!! 😍

    P. S. The rest of the eggnog is being used for your overnight oats- in the fridge right now. So excited!

  2. 5 stars
    I made this for New Year's and it was delicious! It will be on our Christmas morning brunch table from now on.

    I want to try it again using a dairy-free, coconut milk eggnog leftover from a Christmas guest who is lactose intolerant. The coconut milk eggnog tastes very similar to "real" eggnog, but it has no eggs in it. Could I use this? Would I need to add an egg or two? Thanks for any insight you might have.

    1. Hi Marie! So glad you all enjoyed this! And you can substitute coconut milk eggnog for regular eggnog without any other adjustments to the recipe. 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    I made this on Christmas morning and my family was over the moon about it. They compared it with some high end breakfasts we’ve ordered on vacations. I put it under the broiler on high for about 5 minutes after cooking to get a nice brown on the top. Over than that, yummy!!

  4. 5 stars
    I love this recipe of yours and I have used it for several years. Thank you! Have you tried it in the fridge for 2 nights before baking?

    1. Hi Lorr! That's a great question. The bread I usually use for this recipe is the French Bread from HEB (a grocery store here in Texas). I just looked it up on their site and, according to its nutrition facts, it weighs about 16 ounces. Hope that helps, and hope you're having a merry December! 🙂

        1. Sure! Just keep in mind that since white bread isn't quite as sturdy, it probably won't hold its shape/form to the same degree once soaked in the eggnog custard. 🙂

  5. 5 stars
    This was very popular on Christmas morning. I was amazed at just how much eggnog flavor it had! I'll definitely make it again.

  6. A easy and yummy recipe...My husband loves eggnog so this was a winner winner....love these kind of recipes....easy and so delicious....