Eggnog French Toast Casserole
Eggnog French Toast Casserole is an easy make ahead French toast bake made with fluffy challah bread and eggnog. It’s the perfect Christmas breakfast!
I know, I know….it’s a little early for eggnog since it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but this Eggnog French Toast Casserole just couldn’t wait.
The official Christmas season does start in about a week, and trust me when I say you’ll be glad that you got this recipe early. 🙂
The funny thing about eggnog is that I don’t even like drinking it. It’s a bit rich for me as-is, but it adds such great richness and flavor to cakes, cookies, quick breads, pancakes, waffles, and obviously baked french toast. 🙂
Here are some other eggnog recipes you might enjoy:
Eggnog coffee cake by A Classic Twist
Last year I used our leftover eggnog to make baked french toast, and I really wanted to post it, but there’s no place for eggnog french toast after New Years.
Everybody knows it’s smoothie time after that. 🙂
The bottom line is that I couldn’t stop thinking about breakfast-y egg nog recipes all year long, so I got right on it this year as soon as I saw eggnog in the store.
This overnight fresh toast casserole completely blew my mind, too. It’s soft and fluffy like bread pudding, only you get to eat it for breakfast!
Overnight french toast casserole ingredients
This baked french toast only takes a few simple ingredients.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 16 ounce loaf challah bread
- Eggnog
- Milk
- Eggs
- Ground cinnamon
- Orange zest
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Optional toppings: whipped cream or cranberry maple syrup (see notes)
My bread of choice for French toast is Challah bread because it’s so light and airy in texture. I used the crust and all, and cut it into small cubes.
The milk mixture contains a lot of eggs, and a combination of eggnog and milk. The orange zest and ground cinnamon pair nicely with the eggnog and add a nice depth of flavor.
Since the eggnog is sweet already, there’s no extra sugar in the custard. We’re saving ourselves for those optional toppings.
How to make this recipe
This overnight french toast recipe is very easy. Prep it the night before and bake it in the morning for the perfect make ahead breakfast.
- Cut the bread into 1″ cubes and place in a greased 13 x 9″ baking dish.
- Whisk together the eggs, eggnog, milk, orange zest and ground cinnamon until well combined, then pour over the bread cubes.
- Press the bread down into the custard to soak, and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until golden brown and puffed in the center.
- Remove from heat and cool for 10-15 minutes or so before serving.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve with optional toppings, if desired.
Recipe notes and substitutions
- Challah bread may be substituted with a loaf of French bread. Stale or day old bread works even better than fresh.
- Lighten up this recipe by using light eggnog or use half whole eggs and half egg whites.
- Leftover eggnog french toast casserole keeps in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.
- Top your baked french toast with whipped cream or cranberry maple syrup!
More French toast recipes:
Eggnog Baked French Toast
Ingredients
For the french toast
- 16 ounce loaf challah bread cut into 1" cubes*
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups eggnog
- 1 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
Optional toppings:
Instructions
- Grease a 13×9" baking pan with cooking spray. Place the cubed bread evenly into the dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, eggnog, milk, orange zest and cinnamon until well incorporated. Pour the eggnog mixture over the bread, then press the bread down into the liquid. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the French toast from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap.
- Bake in the middle rack of your oven for 50 minutes to one hour, or until golden brown and puffed in the center. If the French toast browns to quickly, cover it with foil while it continues to bake.
- Cool on a wire rack 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Total time above includes 8 hours for the French toast to soak overnight.
- Challah bread may be substituted with a loaf of French bread. Stale or day old bread works even better than fresh.
- Lighten up this recipe by using light eggnog or use half whole eggs and half egg whites.
- Leftover eggnog french toast casserole keeps in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.
- Top your baked french toast with whipped cream or maple syrup if desired. Nutrition information does not include the optional toppings.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
59 Comments on “Eggnog French Toast Casserole”
Hi Marcie, oh this eggnog French toast sounds delicious!~ love that you added fresh cranberries.
Thank you, Cheri! The cranberry maple syrup totally made this, too. 🙂
I’ve gotta say, that’s one thing I love about being Canadian. Christmas season for me starts right after Halloween, as our Thanksgiving is in the middle of October! Sometimes the hubs makes me wait until after Remembrance Day, but that’s still a good long Christmas season for me. Lol. I’m obsessed! And I LOVE french toast!
Your Christmas season is so much longer — you are lucky, Ashley! I think the season goes by much too fast, so we gotta get on it early. haha Have a great weekend! 🙂
I’ve been saying I need to make egg nog for breakfast for a while now. I was just telling my husband that I want captain crunch egg nog french toast. Seeing your post is making me want to make it even more. Looks so yummy.
Captain Crunch egg nog French toast? WOW that sounds incredible! I hope you make it, because I have to see what that’s all about! 🙂
I like eggnog – not a lot but at least a glass or two during the season. This a great holiday recipe Marcie!
Egg nog tastes so much better in baking! My opinion only, of course. Haha. Thanks, Deb!
I cannot believe the holidays are right around the corner! I always love Thanksgiving and Christmas but I feel a little unprepared this year. I also love french toast bakes, and this one looks incredible! Funny, I’m not a fan of drinking eggnog either, so I just assumed I wouldn’t be a fan of eating it in things. I think I definitely need to give it a shot now! And that cranberry syrup looks so delicious!
I was so unprepared last year I almost wanted to boycott! I’m trying to get a jump on things a little — the holidays go too fast. I hope you try baking with egg nog — you won’t believe how special it makes things!
Oh my gosh Marcie! I MUST make this!! I love the egg nog and cinnamon going on here. This just LOOKS like a Christmas morning treat!! Pinned. 🙂
This was one fun breakfast that I think I will be making at least one more time this year! Thanks for he pin, Renee!
Maybe we should make eggnog smoothies after New Years…just saying. Love this french toast, Marci!
Fabulous idea, Liz! I love the way you think.
This eggnog french toast bake looks amazing, Marcie! I’ve never used eggnog in baking, so I’m loving this recipe! And the cranberry maple syrup is the perfect touch of sweetness. Love it!
I was doubtful I would like egg nog in baking but I was so wrong! I hope you give it a try, Gayle, I think you’ll really love it!
Oh my gosh! This french toast bake looks absolutely mouthwatering, Marcie! I would love to wake up to this for breakfast! The egg nog and cranberries make this so festive and perfect for the holidays!
This was such a nice, indulgent change from my normal breakfast, and it really put me in the holiday spirit!
I’ve been in the mood for egg nog lately and this french toast looks like the perfect way to start the weekend!
This was a great way to break out the egg nog, and it really put me in the Christmas spirit…early!
Oh, man. I’ve already eaten breakfast this morning, but all of a sudden I’m craving all things eggnog and french toast. I MUST try this! Love that cranberry syrup!
I’d eat this for dinner, too, Sarah, so if you’ve already had breakfast…! 🙂 Thanks, and have a great Sunday!
Now this would be a perfect breakfast for Christmas morning! And I love the cranberry maple syrup! Yum. Have a great weekend!
It would be great for Christmas, so it just might be showing up again then! 🙂 Hope you’re having a nice weekend, Natalie! 🙂
I heart eggnog. Big time. This baked french toast looks delicious!
Thank you, Trish! This french toast will be happening again soon for sure! 🙂
Yessss! I love this french toast! I’ve been waiting to see what you were posting 🙂
I’m the same way – I won’t drink eggnog but I love cooking and baking with it! This would be a perfect weekend special breakfast!
I never thought I’d be having egg nog for breakfast, but it was a delicious way to start the day. Any time baked french toast is on the breakfast menu, you know it’s going to be special! Hope you’re having a great weekend! 🙂
I’m so obsessed with egg nog!!!! I usually buy it as soon as I see it in the store, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet this year. I’m also obsessed with french toast and this recipes sounds totally amazing!
My kids are crazy about egg nog, so I happily buy it so I can bake with it, too! I hope you get your egg nog fix soon, Izzy! 🙂
you had me at egg nog:) haha
Egg nog has that affect on people! haha 🙂
Eggnog is my favorite thing this time of year. This looks perfect!
Egg nog is so much fun, isn’t it? Thank you, Jocelyn! 🙂
Love French toast so much! This egg nog version sounds amazing too!
I don’t have French toast enough — this was so tasty, and the egg nog really made it even more special!
Challah french toast sounds divine!
It is, Medha! I don’t think I’ll ever use another bread in french toast again. 🙂
This would perfect on Christmas, so I think I’ll definitely be making it again day! Hope the hinting goes well, Dannii! 🙂
Thank you, Consuelo! You can never go wrong with baked french toast, egg nog or no egg nog. 🙂 Nice hearing from you and hope you’re having a great weekend! 🙂
Thank you, Juliana! The egg nog cranberry combination is so delicious! 🙂
I would gladly deliver one to you! I hope you get some soon, and happy Sunday! 🙂
Thank you, Arpita! This will be making another breakfast appearance in my house before the holidays are over! 🙂
I’ll happily take eggnog before Thanksgiving! This breakfast represents everything that I love about the holidays. 🙂 Fab job!!
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend.
If Starbuck’s can unveil their egg nog lattes before Thanksgiving, we can too! haha Thank you, Tina, and have a great Thanksgiving! 🙂
While reading this I was thinking ‘this sounds just like bread pudding’. Well, I think that’s what I’m thinking of. In England we call it bread and butter pudding and it’s sooo delicious! Anyway, this looks just great … particularly love the sound of the orange zest and almonds.
This really is like bread pudding, but bread pudding is even richer. No skim anything in there! haha Thank you, Helen, and have a great week! 🙂
Such a great use for eggnog!! This sounds SOOOO amazing!! I’m now dreaming of a white christmas AND eggnog french toast! 😉
Thank you, Jess, and I think this will definitely be showing up again for Christmas — we loved it! 🙂
Haha — Christmas decorations, etc. leaked out early again didn’t they? It’s amazing how Thanksgiving is just a side note to Christmas — it’s my favorite holiday! Thank you, Sherri, and have a great Thanksgiving! 🙂
I have never tried Egg nog but this looks awesome Marcie…love the cranberry maple syrup!
Thank you, Manali! Egg nog with cranberries is such a delicious combination! 🙂
This is such a creative recipe!! And the pictures are amazing!!! Pinned 🙂
Thank you, Chelsea! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🙂
My gosh Marcie. I am just going to move to your town, right across the street so that you can feed me. you have some of the most amazing recipes. Pinned!
The house across the street is for sale! Come on down! 🙂 And thank you for the pin!
You are so creative 🙂 Love this idea, especially the part where almost no work is involved the next day, not such a morning person here! I also loooove your cranberry maple syrup, I bet it tastes amazing!
I’m not a morning person either. It’s straight for the coffee maker when I get up and don’t ask me to make breakfast aside from throwing something like this in the oven! haha Thank you, Denise, and hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
This would work any time, except sadly, egg nog isn’t on the shelves all year. 🙁 You can make homemade egg nog, however, so that’s a thought! 🙂