Night Before Christmas French Toast
Wake up to the cozy magic of the holiday season with Night Before Christmas French Toast—a decadent, make-ahead breakfast casserole that’s perfect for Christmas morning or any special occasion. This recipe combines thick slices of day-old French bread with a rich custard blend of eggs, whole milk, and heavy cream, enhanced by warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and a touch of vanilla sweetness. Prepared the night before and baked to golden perfection in the morning, it’s a stress-free way to indulge your family with soft, custardy interiors and irresistibly crisp edges. Finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and served with warm maple syrup, this overnight French toast is a festive and flavorful centerpiece for holiday brunches. Keywords: overnight French toast, holiday breakfast casserole, make-ahead Christmas breakfast.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread (day-old or slightly stale)
- 8 large Eggs
- 2 cups Whole milk
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 cup Brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 cup Butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons Powdered sugar (for garnish)
- 0.5 cup Maple syrup (for serving)
Instructions
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
Slice the French bread into 1-inch thick slices and arrange them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread slices, ensuring each piece is well soaked. Gently press the bread down with the back of a spatula to help it absorb the liquid.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight (or at least 6 hours).
In the morning, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Remove the French toast dish from the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes while the oven preheats.
Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the bread.
Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Dust the top with powdered sugar and serve warm with maple syrup on the side.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
5027 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 188.5 g | 242% | |
| Saturated Fat | 101.2 g | 506% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1915 mg | 638% | |
| Sodium | 3731 mg | 162% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 699.8 g | 254% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 10.5 g | 38% | |
| Total Sugars | 460.5 g | ||
| Protein | 107.3 g | 215% | |
| Vitamin D | 13.6 mcg | 68% | |
| Calcium | 1153 mg | 89% | |
| Iron | 20.2 mg | 112% | |
| Potassium | 2310 mg | 49% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
