This Overnight Eggnog French Toast Casserole is an easy make-ahead holiday breakfast or brunch. Prepare the night before and refrigerate overnight for a hassle-free breakfast everyone will LOVE!
This is everything you love about French toast, but with a festive eggnog twist baked in one dish. The brown sugar, cinnamon and pecan topping takes it over the top, making it basically dessert for breakfast – how can you go wrong?
This casserole can also be made the same day, but allow to soak for at least 20 minutes in the fridge to allow the bread to absorb the custard.
Ingredients Notes
- French bread – use day-old bread. Stale bread absorbs more of the egg/eggnog mixture than fresh bread (and the cubes won’t fall apart).
- Prepared eggnog – full fat is best!
- Brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon – for the delicious topping. If preparing the night before, store the topping mixture in an airtight container. Walnuts can be substituted for pecans (or the nuts can be omitted entirely, if desired).
How to Make It
- Prepare the egg mixture by whisking together eggs, eggnog, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
- Add bread cubes and gently stir to coat all the cubes with the egg mixture.
- Transfer to a prepared 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight (8 hours) or at least 20 minutes.
- When ready to bake, sprinkle topping mixture over bread cubes.
- Bake (uncovered) for 45 minutes, or until lightly browned and egg mixture is cooked.
Serving Ideas
- Fresh fruit
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar
- Top with a pat of butter
- Maple syrup – the real stuff if possible, not imitation pancake syrup
- Serve with cranberry mimosas for the ultimate festive brunch!
This is about as no-fuss as it gets for a delicious breakfast the entire family will love. ENJOY!
Overnight Eggnog French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
For the casserole:
- 7 large eggs
- 2 cups eggnog full-fat
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 16 ounces day-old loaf French bread cut into 1 inch cubes
For the topping:
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, eggnog, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and extract.
- Add bread cubes, a large handful at a time, gently stirring in-between to coat evenly with the egg mixture.
- Place in prepared baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight (8 hours) or a minimum of 20 minutes to allow bread to absorb custard.
- Prepare the topping by stirring brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans in a small bowl to combine. Place in an airtight container to store (if refrigerating overnight). You'll use this right before placing the casserole in the oven.
- When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Top casserole evenly with pecan topping.
- Bake (uncovered) for 45 minutes, or until top is lightly browned and egg mixture is cooked.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the amount(s) of cinnamon and/or nutmeg in egg mixture.
- Walnuts can be substituted for pecans (or nuts can be omitted, if desired).
Nutrition
If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.
Originally published December 2014. Updated with new text, new photographs and republished December 2020.
Adapted from Real Housemoms
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I do love overnight breakfasts like this – can’t think of a more delicious way to start off the day then with this eggnog french toast casserole. Perfect for Christmas!
Valerie | From Valerie's Kitchen says
Ha! We are on the same wave length today, girl! I LOVE overnight breakfast casseroles.
Funny, we kind of do the same thing here with our big celebration on Christmas Eve and then a more laid back, mellow day Christmas Day. I usually do beef for the big Christmas Eve dinner since I’m so over turkey by this time. This year I picked up a great big boneless prime rib. Now that the guys are older, sometimes we go to the movies or just hang out and relax on Christmas Day and then it’s something fun for dinner that night – probably Mexican food. Last year I did shredded beef burrito bowls and I may just do it again.
It was great to see Chance wagging his tail and getting French toast! Almost as cute as your accent 🙂
Have a wonderful holiday, Amy!
Amy @ The Blond Cook says
LOL! I didn’t even think about my accent, I know it’s definitely country for sure! I’m trying to get Chance not to be so camera-shy. 🙂 Mexican is a great idea for Christmas night, I’ve never done that but think I’m going to do it this year, too… so thanks for the idea (I’m thinking enchiladas!). By that time I’m definitely burned out on traditional holiday food too, although I’m thankful for it. Hope you and your family have a great holiday, too! 🙂
Judy says
Love to see that Chance approves of the breakfast casserole!!! I give it 5 stars too! lol