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.

Nutriscore Rating: 54/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 8

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)

Directions

Step 1

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.

Step 2

Slice the French bread into 1-inch thick slices and arrange them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Cover the dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight (or at least 6 hours).

Step 6

In the morning, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Step 7

Remove the French toast dish from the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes while the oven preheats.

Step 8

Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the bread.

Step 9

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.

Step 10

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Step 11

Dust the top with powdered sugar and serve warm with maple syrup on the side.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2129.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5026.8

Total Fat 188.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 101.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 1915.3mg	0%
Sodium 3730.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 699.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.5g	0%
Total Sugars 460.5g
Protein 107.3g	0%

Vitamin D 542.7IU	0%
Calcium 1152.7mg	0%
Iron 20.2mg	0%
Potassium 2310.3mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 34.4%

Protein: 8.7%

Carbs: 56.8%