House full of guests?! This make ahead Baked Eggnog French Toast is the perfect addition to your annual holiday traditions!
Christmas morning deserves a very special and festive breakfast. However around my house, it also needs to be simple to make or (better yet) make-ahead! I don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen missing all all the excitement and fun! Who’s with me?!
What Bread to use for French Toast
The bread is truly the star here! I like using a thicker bread: bonus points if it’s from a local bakery. A dense bread like challah, a dense sandwich loaf, sourdough, brioche or a rustic artisan loaf works great here.
For the best baked French toast, use day-old bread. This ensures that the bread absorbs all the liquid and flavours while not getting too soggy.
How to Make Baked French Toast
The steps here stay pretty true to original French toast, yet even simpler. Dredge your bread in the liquid mixture, and pop into a greased baking dish. If you are making it ahead of time, this is when you can store it unbaked in the fridge, covered, for the next morning. We also tried baking it without letting it rest and it works as well!
Can I Make Baked French Toast in Advance?
Yes! You can prepare and assemble it all in advance and store it covered in the fridge and then mix together and bake later or the following day, or even just mix all of the liquid ingredients together in advance and refrigerate until ready to use. This Eggnog Baked French Toast stores well once baked in the fridge and you can reheat in the microwave or oven. If you want to make this into traditional fried French toast simply dredge the bread and fry in a bit of butter on both sides until golden brown.
Holiday Brunch Ideas
Looking for more breakfast ideas? Here are some of my favourites that can be made ahead and feed a hungry crowd:
- Breakfast Crêpe Casserole
- Strawberry Breakfast Crisp
- Spinach Quiche Lorraine
- Cinnamon Buns
- Eggnog Waffles
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #fraicheliving and leave a comment/rating below. I would love to know how you liked it!
xo Tori
Baked Eggnog French Toast
House full of holiday guests?! This make ahead Baked Eggnog French Toast is the perfect addition to your annual traditions!
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups eggnog
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 12 thick slices bread
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 F and spray a 9×13" baking dish with nonstick spray.
-
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, eggnog, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg. Soak each piece of bread in the mixture on both sides for 30 seconds and layer in the baking dish.
-
Scatter the top with the butter cubes and place in the oven. Bake for 1 hour.
-
Serve warm topped with a drizzle of maple syrup!
Can the bread be soaked the night before or the day of?
Yes Loretta! It sure can! Enjoy xx Tori
how does this hold up with gluten free bread?
Hi Alison I haven’t tried so am not sure but would love to hear if you do!
That looks incredible…I look forward to trying this breakfast dish. I love the fact that you can create it the night before and then pop it in the oven the next morning!
Hi Dawn thanks! I hope you love it!
Thanks Tori…can’t wait to give it a go!
Enjoy!!
Hi Tori
Can I freeze this ahead of time.
Hi! I honestly have not tried it….I have made it the night before and let sit in the fridge overnight!
Hey Tori,
Do I bake covered or uncovered?
Can’t wait to have this Christmas morning!
Cheers,
Erin
Hi Erin! This is PERFECT for Christmas morning! Bake uncovered xoxo
Thanks so much for responding! I am going to make that and your apple cinnamon French toast🤤
Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄
The instructions in the beginning say to soak in milk and egg mixture, but the ingredients only list eggnog. Is there supposed to be milk as well?
Hi! Nope just eggnog and eggs! 🙂
Is there a vegan equivalent for this recipe?
Hi Andrea we didn’t develop a vegan version unfortunately sorry! I am sure there is a way to sub the eggs but I just don’t know for sure!
Can you use regular milk instead of eggnog?
Hi Sheree, you can but you would just want to add a bit of sugar or maple syrup to the milk mixture to make up for the sweetness of the eggnog!
How do you keep the very top two slices from crisping and caramelizing?
Hi Gail if they get too toasty or start to, just cover the dish with aluminum foil as it bakes.