This Eggnog French Toast Casserole is the ultimate make-ahead holiday breakfast. It’s rich, cozy, and filled with festive flavor in every bite. Prep it the night before, let it soak up all that eggnog goodness, and wake up to a warm, golden bake that tastes like Christmas morning.
Oh, you’ll love this Baked French Toast Casserole
French toast casseroles are the perfect balance of indulgent and effortless, especially when you can prep them the night before. This Eggnog French Toast Casserole is a festive twist on the classic, filled with warm spices, custardy bread, and that signature creamy eggnog flavor.
Simply assemble it the night before, let it soak, and bake it in the morning for a stress-free, crowd-pleasing holiday breakfast that your whole family will be swooning over.
Each bite is rich, golden, and lightly sweet with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Serve it warm with maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar, and you’ll have a cozy, Christmas-morning-worthy dish.
And if you’re looking for more Christmas breakfast recipes, also check out my Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls or this Churro French Toast, too.
Recipe Ingredients
- Brioche Bread – Cut into cubes. We like Sara Lee.
- Eggs – Our binding agent that will contribute to the custard-y filling.
- Country Fresh Eggnog – Makes for the most rich and creamy french toast with the perfect holiday twist.
- Cinnamon – Pairs wonderfully with the eggnog.
- Butter – To coat the bottom of the pan.
- Brown Sugar – Adding a sticky sweetness to our casserole.
- Apple – I used pink lady. Baked to a soft, sweet perfection.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- Bread: I used Brioche, but also consider challah bread or even a more sturdy bread like sourdough (try my Cinnamon Swirl Sourdough👀) or french bread.
- Mix-ins: Mix in extras like berries, chocolate chips, or diced apples depending on the season or occasion. Cranberries would be a delicious festive option, too!
How to Make This Recipe
1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg nog, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon and nutmeg until eggs are thoroughly whisked and combined.
2. Cut the butter into thin slices and scatter around the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Shake brown sugar evenly across the pan. **If your pan is not non-stick, you’ll want to line it with parchment paper to prevent burning.
3. Add the cubed bread to the prepared baking dish. I cut three columns and 2 rows to get about 12 cubes out of each slice.
4. Sprinkle diced apple on top. Pour the eggnog mixture on top of the bread cubes, ensuring each cube is well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 4 hours).
5. The next morning, preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for 32-36 minutes or until top is golden brown and the middle is set. Enjoy!
PRO TIPS
- Don’t over bake: Bake this french toast recipe until just set and golden; overbaking can make it dry instead of custardy.
- Use day-old bread: The best bread for this casserole dish is slightly stale bread as absorbs the custard better without getting soggy. Brioche, challah, or French bread work best.
Recipe FAQs
It’s best to store the french toast bake in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. WARNING! French toast is made out of bread…so over time, it will dry out. I recommend adding additional eggnog or milk prior to reheating to ensure some moisture is still there.
You don’t HAVE to, but it significantly improves the flavor and texture because when soaked overnight, the bread has time to fully absorb the eggnog custard mixture. Without this extra time the inside may turn out drier or more bread-like rather than soft and custardy. You might also notice some separation with custard pooling at the bottom instead of being evenly soaked through.
That said, it’s still totally doable! If you’re in a time crunch, let it sit for at least 30–60 minutes at room temperature before baking to give the bread a chance to absorb some of the liquid. The result will be a little less rich and creamy but still delicious.
For the perfect finishing touch, top your Eggnog French Toast Casserole with a drizzle of warm maple syrup, fresh berries or a dusting of powdered sugar. For something extra festive, try an eggnog glaze made with powdered sugar, eggnog, and a hint of nutmeg and orange zest, then finish with candied pecans or a dollop of whipped cream.
Serving suggestions
Make a full holiday brunch spread: Make your french toast alongside these Goat Cheese Scrambled Eggs for some protein, a side of Crispy Breakfast Potatoes and a festive brunch cocktail like this Rose Aperol Spritz.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and comment in the recipe card below. Thanks for visiting!
Eggnog French Toast Casserole
Equipment
- 9×13 baking dish
- knife & cutting board
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- measuring cups / spoons
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Brioche Bread
- 5 eggs
- 1 ½ cup Country Fresh Eggnog
- 1/2 cup 2% Milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp cold butter, divided
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 pink lady apple, diced
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg nog, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon and nutmeg until eggs are thoroughly whisked and combined.
- Cut the butter into thin slices and scatter around the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Shake brown sugar evenly across the pan.
- Add the cubed bread to the prepared baking dish. I cut three columns and 2 rows to get about 12 cubes out of each slice.
- Sprinkle diced apple on top. Pour the eggnog mixture on top of the bread cubes, ensuring each cube is well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 4 hours).
- The next morning, preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for 32-36 minutes or until top is golden brown and the middle is set.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you’re using MyFitnessPal, search ‘A Paige Of Positivity’ and find Eggnog French Toast Casserole calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved or just say hi!
so so so delish. made for a sunday brunch hosting friends and it was a hit!
super easy for Christmas morning!!
oh this is DREAMY. will be enjoyed christmas morning at my house for SURE