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This Eggnog french toast with gingerbread syrup is my new favorite Christmas breakfast. Get a taste of Christmas in every gooey, delicious bite!
Table of Contents
- Where to Find Eggnog
- Ingredients for Eggnog French Toast
- The Best Type of Bread for Eggnog French Toast
- Stale Bread vs Fresh Bread
- Gingerbread Syrup
- How to Make Homemade Eggnog French Toast
- Tips for Making Eggnog French Toast
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storing and Making Ahead
- More Favorite Christmas Recipes
- How To Make Eggnog French Toast
- Eggnog French Toast Recipe
Eggnog has a unique taste with a sweet and savory flavor to it. The rich, thick, creamy texture makes for a perfect custard mixture for french toast. This eggnog french toast casserole is baked in the oven and perfect for feeding a crowd. Combine that with our gingerbread syrup recipe and you have Christmas morning on a plate. It is the perfect combination!
Start with your thick and crusty bread that is dunked in the rich and creamy eggnog egg mixture. Overnight eggnog french toast is loaded with holiday seasonings and flavor. It has a custard-like texture giving the bread a soft interior and crispy outside. This french toast with eggnog is warm and comforting throughout the holiday season! It is the perfect way to wake up and enjoy Christmas brunch together as a family!
Where to Find Eggnog
This post was originally sponsored by Meadow Gold® Dairy and Dairy Farmers of America. While putting this recipe together, I had the privilege of getting to know the story of the Van Es Dairy. The Van Es family moved to Texas from Holland and 1981 and started with a modest 28 cows. By 2005, they had moved to Marsing, ID with 1,400, and today, the Van Es family milks more than 5,200 cows and provides milk across the area. Meadow Gold works with family farms throughout the West.
Knowing that the milk and cream in the Meadow Gold Eggnog we used in this recipe could come from the Van Es family makes it that much more special! Meadow Gold eggnog is rich and creamy, making it perfect to use for this eggnog French toast recipe. It can be found in many grocery stores in the West, including Walmart, Target, and Smith’s.
Ingredients for Eggnog French Toast
These pantry staple ingredients are perfect for making the best eggnog french toast. We love the flavors, texture, and how quick and easy this french toast is to make. With the help of the gingerbread syrup, this eggnog french toast recipe is loaded with all the holiday feels!
- French bread – A thick slice of bread that is sturdy and can soak in the egg mixture.
- Eggnog – This is the star of the French toast! Eggnog is a specialty and is available during the holidays. It is a rich and creamy drink that is popular for kids and adults. You can make homemade eggnog or use store-bought eggnog.
- Eggs – The egg mixture is what the bread is dipped in before cooking. It holds the structure as well as gives a richness to the egg mixture. Whisk the large eggs together.
- Brown sugar – Adds a hint of sweetness! Light brown sugar is a light sweetness but you can also use dark brown sugar for a more deep flavor.
- Vanilla – Brings a warm and comforting flavor that has so much flavor when cooking and baking. Vanilla extract is a delicious option or almond extract.
- Cinnamon – A warm and slightly spicy flavor that adds a special touch to this eggnog french toast recipe. Ground cinnamon is a traditional staple when making french toast.
- Nutmeg – A classic holiday spice that has a warm and nutty flavor to it.
The Best Type of Bread for Eggnog French Toast
For French toast, the obvious choice is good French bread but it is not your only option. There are all kinds of delicious breads you can use to make French toast. Try a new type of bread each time you make it!
- French bread – Has a crusty outside and a soft inside. Perfect for absorbing all the egg mixture and flavor but still sturdy to hold together.
- Brioche – This is a rich and tender bread that is slightly sweet and has a soft and delicate texture. Sometimes you can find fun flavors like cinnamon or vanilla brioche that also work great.
- Challah – This challah bread is a type of Jewish bread that is soft and airy with a sweet flavor to it.
- Cinnamon swirl bread – Give this eggnog french toast recipe a twist with a little extra cinnamon and fun with this cinnamon swirl bread.
- Texas toast – Plain Texas toast is easy to find and make. The slices are thick and perfect for soaking in all the egg mixture and then cooking it on a griddle.
- Homemade bread – White or wheat bread works well. Slice your homemade bread thick for sturdiness when making the eggnog french bread.
- Sourdough bread – Like most sourdough bread there is a tangy flavor the the french toast and a very chewy texture.
Stale Bread vs Fresh Bread
No matter what kind of bread you use, it isn’t a bad idea to let it go a little stale before using it. You can wait a day or two old is fine. Leaving it out on the counter or waiting a day or two will give the fresh bread the stale look and texture in no time.
Stale bread will soak up the eggnog mixture better than fresh bread and will ultimately make for a better French toast. If you are looking for a way to use up that day-old bread, then use it for this eggnog French toast! Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!
Gingerbread Syrup
If you want to enhance the festive flavor of this dish even more, then you have simply got to top the eggnog french toast with our gingerbread syrup. It tastes just like gingerbread! Who doesn’t love gingerbread flavors around the holidays?!
It makes for a great homemade gift that everyone will love. Just put it in little half-pint or pint jars and then dress it up with tags and bows. It is the perfect “neighbor gift” or a great gift for teachers or anyone who appreciates a good syrup!
How to Make Homemade Eggnog French Toast
Create the best eggnog french toast recipe with just a few ingredients and bake to perfection! It is so simple to make and comes together quickly and easily. Top it off with gingerbread syrup for the ultimate Christmas breakfast!
- Prepare – Cut bread into thick slices and arrange in a lightly sprayed 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Whisk – In a large bowl beat together Meadow Gold eggnog, eggs, sugar, spices, and vanilla.
- Combine – Pour mixture over bread slices, I like to turn them a few times to ensure good coating. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for a few hours.
- Bake – In the morning bake for 45 minutes at 350 or until golden brown. Serve with gingerbread syrup and whipped topping.
- Syrup recipe – Combine all the ingredients for the syrup in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a low boil, then remove from heat.
Tips for Making Eggnog French Toast
Eggnog french toast bake is the perfect way to wake up and enjoy breakfast or brunch! It has all the favorite holiday flavors and is easy to feed a crowd. Follow these simple tips to learn the best way to make this easy eggnog french toast bake!
- Bread – Choosing the right bread is important! You need it to be thick and sturdy with a delicious flavor to it. Do not use a thin, sandwich bread for the french toast recipe. The bread will fall apart.
- Fresh ingredients – It is best to make sure your eggnog is fresh for the best flavor as well as your eggs and seasonings.
- Soggy bread – Before placing the bread on the griddle or stovetop pan, allow the drippings to fall off to avoid soggy bread when cooking.
- Preheat – Instead of baking in the oven, you can cook it like traditional french toast. For best results turn the temperature on and preheat the skillet or griddle before cooking.
- Optional – Sprinkle the tops with a little cinnamon and sugar before placing them in the refrigerator.
“I’ve always made eggnog french toast during the holiday season, this gingerbread syrup adds the perfect touch truly making it Christmas french toast! DELICIOUS!!”
-Kristen
Frequently Asked Questions
Eggs are one of the most important ingredients of eggnog french toast. This is what binds the ingredients together and gives the outside layer its structure when cooking.
Yes! This may alter or change the taste and flavor of the eggnog french toast when changing the ingredients.
Always a favorite and a classic is pure maple syrup. We have the gingerbread syrup that is also tasty. For a more sugary and sweet topping try whipped cream or powdered sugar.
We love to have bacon or sausage as a side dish with fresh fruit and fresh berries for a complete meal!
Storing and Making Ahead
This eggnog french toast casserole is a quick and simple breakfast or brunch to make ahead or store leftovers. Follow the recipe and make it ahead of time by storing overnight in the fridge. When ready to bake, place in the oven and follow the baking instructions. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for three days then discard any leftovers.
READ NEXT: 33+ Breakfast Ideas
More Favorite Christmas Recipes
I just love all the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this time of year. There are so many great recipes to try at Christmas, it feels impossible to fit them all in. But here are a few for you to try, after you’ve tried our Eggnog French Toast.
How To Make Eggnog French Toast
Eggnog French Toast
Ingredients
Eggnog French Toast:
- 1 loaf French bread
- 2 ½ cups Meadow Gold eggnog
- 6 eggs
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
Gingerbread Syrup:
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup Cookie Butter (or Biscoff Spread)
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Other:
- whipped topping optional
Instructions
Eggnog French Toast:
- Cut bread into thick slices (about 3 inches wide) and arrange in a lightly sprayed 9×13-inch pan.
- In a large bowl beat together Meadow Gold eggnog, eggs, sugar, spices, and vanilla.
- Pour mixture over bread slices, I like to turn them a few times to ensure good coating. Optional: Sprinkle the tops with a little cinnamon and sugar. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 3 hours).
- In the morning bake for 45 minutes at 350 or until golden brown. Serve with gingerbread syrup and whipped topping (optional).
- Combine all the ingredients for the syrup in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a low boil, then remove from heat. Serve over French toast.
This sounds amazing, I think I found our Christmas morning breakfast. Thank you for such a fun play on French toast!
What a great idea for a Christmas breakfast!
This is exactly what I was looking for to make on Christmas morning! Of course I can’t wait until then so I’ll be trying it out every weekend until, haha! Thank you!
What is Biscoff spread and what does it taste like, don’t think I have seen it in Canada. I might be able to find something comparable!
The only other spread I’ve seen is the cookie butter from Trader Joe’s, but I don’t know if they have those in Canada. It’s kind of a sweeter peanut butter.
What kind of containers do you use to put syrup in for neighbor gifts?
I like to use small glass jars with lids. You can also use small Rubbermaid containers with lids or Ziplock also makes small disposable plastic containers with lids. Thanks for asking!
I’ve always made eggnog french toast during the holiday season, this gingerbread syrup adds the perfect touch truly making it Christmas french toast! DELICIOUS!! A
So glad you liked it! Oh man, totally agree that the Gingerbread syrup kicks it up a notch 😉 So yummy!
I’d really love to try this recipe, but it’s not showing up for me. Is there somewhere else I can find it on your site?
Thank you for letting us know! We’ve had this problem a few times. We will have it back up as soon as possible. Please check back!
The recipe is now up again on the site. Thank you for your patience!
My husband loves Eggnog (me not so much) but I think I might like it in a recipe. So I am going to give this one a try.
My question is what is Biscoff spread and where would I find it in the grocery store (or do I need to make it myself)?
Thanks for any help you can give me on this!
You can usually find the Biscoff spread near the peanut butter aisle. Thanks for asking!
Interesting flavors.. It must be delicious!