Overnight eggnog French toast bake is a breakfast crowd-pleaser! A few simple ingredients that you put together overnight and wake up the next morning to pop it in the oven. Your guests will think you slaved over this!
I’m 26 and I act like I’m 75. Jason and I went on a quick roadtrip on Saturday for an event my wedding photographer was holding for her 2013 brides (yeah, also really weird to think I just got married this year – it’s gone by so fast!). We had to wake up the same time we usually do for work and it’s weird because I’m usually ok with that but apparently, on Saturday, my body was like woah woah woah, it is SATURDAY, what are you doing?!
I slept pretty much all the way home and then I proceeded to go to bed at 8:30pm and slept for 12 hours. Twelve hours, folks. You would’ve thought I did a marathon or did something strenuous that day. Nope, just went to a spa day and had a delicious lunch. I’m so screwed when we have kids.
Ok, so who’s with me on Christmas morning when you’re waking up and getting ready to open gifts and you’re STARVING?! But you don’t really want to eat before opening gifts so you just keep drinking coffee and hope that your stomach rumblings don’t distract from gift opening. And then what do you do after you open gifts? Search the fridge for food or wait for stuff to cook.
How about we change that for you this year? How about you prep a delicious breakfast bake the night before and pop it into the oven while y’all open gifts and have a piping hot, gooey, and AMAZING breakfast waiting & ready for you immediately after gifts? Yup. Game changer, here.
Seriously – this takes NO time to prep and you just pop it in the fridge and throw it (ok, gently place it) in the oven and bake it for 45 minutes the next morning. Just enough time to get all the presents open and for you to tinker with your new gadgets or put in the batteries for the kids’ toys. :)
Overnight eggnog French toast bake is a breakfast crowd-pleaser! A few simple ingredients that you put together overnight and wake up the next morning to pop it in the oven.
- 1 large loaf of French bread, cut into large 2-inch cubes
- 2 1/2 cups egg nog
- 6 large eggs
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 4 tbsp rum, optional
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk together egg nog, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and rum (if using).
- Spray a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Add the bread cubes into the pan. It will be a tight fit but that's ok. Press them down gently, if need be.
- Gently pour the eggnog mixture all over the bread cubes. Using the back of a spatula, press down on the bread cubes to help the bread soak up the liquid a bit. The bread will continue to soak up the liquid overnight.
- Top the dish with chopped walnuts and cover tightly with foil. Place in the refrigerator to chill overnight.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Unwrap the dish (save the foil) and bake uncovered for 30 minutes. The top will be nice and golden brown.
- After 30 minutes, cover the dish with the foil you saved and bake for another 15-20 minutes, just to make sure the center is set and everything is warmed through.
- Remove from oven and serve hot with maple syrup.
It is okay if the middle of your dish is a tiny bit runny - that's how it's supposed to be and it is safe to eat. You can tell from my second to last picture above that it was a little bit runny in the center. If you're worried, you can bake it longer until the middle is completely set/dry. This might take a bit longer than my suggested 45 minutes total bake time.
If using a glass baking dish, place the glass baking dish into the oven as it is preheating so the glass baking dish doesn't crack. If you place it in the oven at 350 degrees straight from the fridge, your dish is more prone to cracking!
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Oh man, that looks incredible! And it is overnight!!!! Not sure I could sleep with that smell going around the house. That would be the perfect brunch on Christmas day! It would make me get up even earlier than children though…not sure my family would appreciate that haha!
I am so jealous of your 12 hours of sleep…..I have no idea when the last time I slept 12 hours was!
Thanks for the wonderful idea!
This sounds incredible!!!! <3
12h sleep – a dream. It’s not acting old, it means that you’re happy :) Great breakfast idea, will make it on days.
Julie, I’m 27 and act like I’m 85. It’s ok. And this is the perfect Christmas morning breakfast! Because we expend so much energy opening gifts. We need something as delectable as eggnog french toast. Duh!
I went to bed at 8:30 on the couch yesterday. I’m an old woman! I love this french toast my darling!
What a perfect idea! I’ll be the house smells amazing in the morning too!
Oooo, one of my favorite breakfast treats for the holidays! Gorgeous dish!
That a great holiday breakfast!
Girl, you are not the one who feels old–last night, Ben and I fell asleep while watching West Wing reruns. I take it to mean our bodies just need some down time :) I’m such a huge fan of make ahead breakfasts like this. You can eat like a queen for zero day-of effort, and the eggnog and nuts in this recipe make it special!
Stop it! This looks amazing Julie!! I think this will be what I make for our next family breakfast! Love the nog!!
Can’t wait to try this, Julie!
you are screwed when you have kids! haha! But this french toast would help ease the early morning- it’s beautiful!
Oh my…this is definitely coming to my house! This looks so good!!! I wish I had some right now – it’s making me hungry!
Sounds yummy! I am a big fan of eggnog, so this will make an appearance on the table for sure.
I am right there with you. I’m too embarrassed to say what time I go to bed during the week. Grandma all up in my house! Love this idea to prep the night before and have an awesome breakfast with no work the next day!
Oh. My. God. – This is definitely going on the agenda for Christmas morning!
I hope it does, Jamie!
I love that you can prepare this the night before!
This looks like my Christmas breakfast!!
I love that we both have eggnog on the brain! Love this recipe!
Yay for eggnog! This french toast bake looks excellent, Julie :)
Overnight eggnog is the best! I made it for last year’s Christmas but you just reminded me that I need to make it again. And that drizzle shot – perfection!
This obviously sounds like a bread pudding, which I have made before, but ended up TOO runny ( I didn’t realize I should’ve let it cook longer). I have always read to use “day old bread” or lightly toast the bread first, but you never mentioned this.
So……should I lightly “dry out” the bread cubes first?? Thank you. I may make this on Christmas morning :)
Hi Karen! I didn’t use day old bread and I didn’t lightly toast mine beforehand. I think what’s great about this recipe is the simplicity of it all so I hope you make this and enjoy!
lol you’re so screwed. No really… you’ll just become a walking zombie. It’s a new way of life. I’m sure you’ll adjust. But really, I’m jealous of your sleeping abilities. And this French toast casserole omg. In my belly now.
Make ahead breakfasts are the best! Especially for mornings like Christmas morning!
Hello, gorgeous!! I’m thinking this needs to be actioned ASAP!
I had one of those “OMG-I’m-so-tired” days last week and slept for 12 straight hours, too! It was glorious (also kind of ridiculous :)). I am totally putting this bake on my to-make list!
This would be perfect for Christmas morning!
I love having a special breakfast on Christmas morning! I usually do make-ahead cinnamon rolls, but this french toast sounds amazing. New tradition this year maybe :)
Love french toast bake and the eggnog makes it so great for Christmas morning!
Looks incredible! Pinned! love the rum :) A perfect way to start the day!
I am newly 20 and act like I am 80! I am not your typical 20 year old, but I have decided to just be ok with it since I am not changing. LOL!
This breakfast is killer! I would so love this after gift!
This is a perfect breakfast for Christmas morning!
So jealous of your 12 hours of sleep! That sounds amazing. I feel you on feeling older than your age. I had to go to a college graduation on Saturday and was passed out by 9. Ha! And this french toast looks amazing! I even happen to have some eggnog needing to be used up. Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous photos! I showed my hubby this and he is begging me to make it! Looks like I need to run to the grocery store :)
Thanks Chelsea! Hope you and your husband enjoy this :)
That exhaustion you felt just after traveling for the day is what you feel like 24-7 when your pregnant. look out! I have many nights where I go to bed at 8;00! lol. I have those rumblings every morning, and have yet to make a french toast bake. I think I know what I’ll be making within the next week!
Thanks for this recipe for such an easy and good treat! I’m a senior citizen so been cooking/ baking a long time. One suggestion: if using a glass baking dish, place it in oven when you turn it on. The glass can warm w/ oven and prevents possibility of it breaking from the temp extreme from fridge to hot oven. Other than that, I’d add nothing and will be trying this soon. Happy Holidays all!
Great tip, Pat! Thanks!! Happy Holidays :)
Ooh, this sounds delish! I’m planning my own French Toast recipe for tomorrow – first attempt at actually making it. x
Enjoy, Emma!!
Hi Julie,
I was just wondering if you recalled how many cups of bread cubes you used. I order my groceries online and I am trying to figure out if I should buy one or two loaves of bread.
Thank you.
Hi Irene! It should be about 5-6 cups of bread. Enjoy!
I learned many years ago from Marion Cunningham to put the cold dish in the oven, so it doesn’t crack. Adjust the time accordingly. It’s great on Xmas morning, because you can start your breakfast while opening the presents and the house will smell deliciously for the rest of the day.
Hi Julie,
I want to make this for Christmas brunch but unfortunately I came across this recipe to late in the day. The grocery stores close by are already closed. Does this recipe absolutely require that you leave it overnight?
-Jessica
Hi Jessica, no, you don’t have to leave it overnight. 4-6 hours is a good alternative to overnight. Just enough time to let the bread soak in all the liquid. The reason why it’s overnight is mainly for ease of prep for the dish during busy holiday time. Enjoy and Merry Christmas :)
Stumbled upon your website on Christmas Eve and decided to give this a try. Made this for my family for Christmas brunch and it was a big hit! Used brown sugar cinnamon bread, spiced egg nog and bourbon as this is what we had on hand. Will definitely make again! Thanks!
So glad you found this to try, EJ! I’m thrilled everyone enjoyed it :)
Oh how delectable :) I am dying to get a taste of this!
Omg, I am SO down to have this for breakfast. Sure, the presents are opened, but I`m still in the holiday mode.
Julie, I made this Christmas Eve while visiting our son and daughter-in-law. I think I had a larger loaf of bread than necessary, so I added a little extra eggnog for moisture. The kids loved it and so did we. It will be a traditional fix from now on! Thanks for posting it.
Cherié
I’m so happy this will be a new tradition for you and the family! That’s so wonderful! Happy New Year, Cherié!
Looks amazing, could I substitute something for eggnog? Not sure I’d find it anywhere now.
Hi Jen, sure just substitute milk.