Make-Ahead Eggnog French Toast Casserole

This easy Eggnog French Toast Casserole recipe is what breakfast dreams are made of! Crisp on the outside, fluffy in the center, and made with a “caramel” sauce on the bottom, it’s absolutely decadent. All that paired with the rich flavor of eggnog and warm spices make this one festive breakfast that’s impossible to resist. 

Overhead photo of a piece of egg nog french toast bake on a plate.

Do you have a holiday breakfast tradition? Many people enjoy cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. However, we always make this egg nog French toast recipe! 

It takes your traditional french toast casserole up a notch with sweet, rich, spiced, holiday flavors that are seriously to die for. In fact, we’ve yet to come across a single person who didn’t love this recipe – kids and adults included. 

Plus, it’s great to prepare the night in advance. So, you can just pop it all together while you’re preparing chocolate crinkle cookies for Santa, and store it in the fridge. Then, bake it in the morning, and enjoy! It doesn’t get easier than that. 

A pan of make ahead eggnog french toast casserole.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details! 

  • Butter – If needed, feel free to use dairy-free butter. 
  • Coconut Sugar – Brown sugar will also work. 
  • French Bread – For the best results use thick, crusty bread that is stale. If you only have a fresh loaf, leave it out on the counter. Or, make stale bread by toasting it in the oven. Feel free to use any bread you like best such as sandwich bread or sourdough bread.
  • Eggs – These form the base of the custard, adding rich flavor and helping to hold all the ingredients together. 
  • Eggnog – We use dairy-free eggnog, but any kind you like best will work. 
  • Vanilla Extract – This adds delicious vanilla flavor throughout the casserole. For the best results, use pure vanilla extract, not imitation varieties! 
  • Spices – Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt add delicious warmth to balance out the sweetness of the sauce. 

Helpful Tools 

A slice of eggnog french toast casserole topped with whipped cream on a grey plate.

How to Make This Overnight Eggnog French Toast Recipe

Before you begin, grease a baking dish with cooking spray, and set it aside. 

  1. Create the sauce. In a small pot, melt the butter over medium heat on the stove. Whisk in the coconut sugar, but do not bring it to a boil! Otherwise, you’ll end up with caramel, which is tasty, but not what we’re going for here. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. 
  2. Layer. Arrange the bread cubes in an even layer over the melted butter mixture. 
  3. Mix the custard. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, eggnog, vanilla, and spices until smooth. Then, pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Use your hands to gently press down on the bread so it soaks up the mixture. 
Caramel layer on the bottom of a pan topped with custard mixture and bread.
  1. Chill. Cover the pan with aluminum foil, and transfer it to the fridge for at least two hours or ideally overnight. 
  2. Bake. When you’re ready, bake the casserole covered with foil at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. Then, remove the foil, and continue to bake until the entire casserole is puffed and golden brown. A knife inserted into the center should come out relatively clean. 
  3. Serve. Enjoy warm with your toppings of choice! 
A spoon dripping glaze on top of a slice of french toast casserole.

Common Questions 

Can I cut the recipe in half? 

Yes! Just reduce all the ingredients by half, and use an 8×8 baking dish. Then, be sure to keep a close eye on the oven, and adjust the baking time as needed. 

How long do leftovers last? 

Covered with foil or transferred to an airtight container leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days. 

Can I freeze this recipe? 

Yes! If you want to prepare in advance, you can assemble the casserole, and freeze it unbaked for three to six months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, and bake as normal, adding a few extra minutes as needed when you’re ready to serve. 

How should I serve egg nog french toast? 

We love to top our breakfast casserole with eggnog glaze (egg nog and powdered sugar whisked together), maple syrup, plain powdered sugar, or whipped cream on top! You can never go wrong with a sprinkle of fresh berries, too.

Overhead photo of sweet overnight holiday casserole on a plate and in the pan.

Make-Ahead Eggnog French Toast Casserole Recipe

Sammi Ricke
Make this eggnog french toast casserole recipe with a “caramel” sauce, eggnog, and warm spices for a sweet, spiced, decadent holiday breakfast!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Refrigerate 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine All American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 600 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Spray a 9×13 glass pan generously with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a small soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk the coconut sugar into the melted butter. DO NOT BOIL or you will end up with caramel. Remove the pan from the heat. Pour into the prepared glass pan.
    8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter, 1 cup coconut sugar
  • Arrange the bread cubes on top of the butter/sugar sauce.
    1 loaf (14 oz) French bread, cut into 1" pieces
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, eggnog, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, to make the custard. Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Press down gently on the bread to soak up the custard mixture.
    8 eggs, 2 cups So Delicious eggnog, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Tightly cover the pan with aluminum foil or a lid. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours (overnight).
  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Remove the pan from the fridge and bake covered with aluminum foil for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until the entire casserole is puffed and golden brown on top. A knife inserted into the middle should come out relatively clean.
  • When serving, drizzle with maple syrup, homemade eggnog glaze (powdered sugar and eggnog combined into a smooth consistency), or whipped cream!

Notes

Ingredient Tips – Any bread works in this recipe. If choosing a different type of bread, just make sure you have at least 14 ounces of it. We love making homemade eggnog from Lauren’s recipe at Oatmeal with A Fork. However, the So Delicious brand has an excellent one that has very clean ingredients.
Prep Tips – This recipe can be reduced by half and baked it in an 8×8 pan.
 
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 600kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Did you enjoy this Eggnog French Toast Casserole recipe? We’d love it if you left a rating and review to let us know, and don’t forget to tag us in your recreations on Instagram!

Similar Posts

5 from 1 vote

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This holiday eggnog bake is sooo yummy and a favorite of ours at Christmas. We like it for breakfast or dinner with eggs.

  2. I’d like to make this with regular egg nog tonight instead of a dairy free version. I wouldn’t think that would change the recipe, preparation, or cooking instructions at all, but I wondered your thoughts.