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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
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large loaf of French bread, cut into large 2-inch cubes
- 2 ½ cups (592 ml) egg nog
- 6 large eggs
- ¼ cup (55 g) + 2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 tablespoon rum, optional
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- 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 °F (177 °C)
- 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.
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 :)
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 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!
Ooh, this sounds delish! I’m planning my own French Toast recipe for tomorrow – first attempt at actually making it. x
Enjoy, Emma!!
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 :)
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!
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 :)
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!
This is a perfect breakfast for Christmas morning!
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!