Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole

Delicious and festive Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole is the perfect dish for your Christmas or holiday brunch. It’s soft and spongy, yet crunchy on the inside. With a crisp texture on the outside. Made with gluten-free bread, eggs, eggnog, cinnamon and nutmeg, then topped with some walnuts for that extra crunch.

Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole

There aren’t many things that are more satisfying than a warm and comforting breakfast. This Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole is just that. A warm and comforting dish to complete all your breakfast dreams. It’s even better when you make that breakfast a holiday themed one.

This festive and delicious casserole is perfect to make for your Christmas or holiday brunch. It brings everything you love from a traditional French toast with a holiday twist. It’s also a lot easier to make since all the bread is soaked at once rather than soaking slice by slice. Evenly baked into a perfect soft and moist bottom and middle and crisp golden top layer. All with an added crunchy and nutty texture.

This casserole can be prepped and left overnight in the fridge to soak up all the liquid and flavors. If fact, this step actually will make this dish not just tastier but also ensures it’s evenly cooked. As it allows the bread to completely soak all of the egg mixture in. Preventing a soggy mess!

Make this delicious and festive Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole to celebrate your holiday season. Having a holiday brunch or family Christmas breakfast? This is the perfect casserole to make. It feeds a large crowd, preps overnight, and it’s easy and quick to make. Add some cranberries for a pop of color and more holiday fun. You can also add any other favorite toppings to make this recipe more to your liking!

Ingredients needed to make Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole:

• Loaf of Bread– Use Gluten-Free of you need it to be.
• Eggs– Binding agent.
• Eggnog– Any kind of eggnog you’d like to use.
• Raw Walnuts– Add a nice flavor and crunch.
• Spices– Cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Vanilla Extract– Adds more flavor.
• Coconut Oil– For greasing your casserole dish.

Equipment needed to make Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole:

• Casserole Dish– Use a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
• Large Mixing Bowl– For mixing together your eggnog mixture.
• Whisk– For whisking eggs and eggnog mixture.

How to make Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole:

• Step 1– Grease a casserole dish with coconut oil. Coarsely chop walnuts. Dice bread into 1 inch squares. 
• Step 2– Spread half of diced bread in greased casserole pan. Spread first cup of walnuts over bread. Layer the rest of the bread then spread the rest of the walnuts over it.
• Step 3– In a large mixing bowl whisk together eggs, eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Pour over the bread along the sides first then in the middle. Cover casserole with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Step 4– The next morning, preheat oven at 350 degrees F. While oven preheats, leave casserole out of the fridge so it can come to room temperature. This will allow casserole to start baking right away instead of taking time in the oven to warm up first from it being cold. Which allows casserole to bake evenly and not needing more time. This can lead to over baking. 
• Step 5– Place casserole in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
• Step 6– Remove casserole from the oven and serve immediately. Top with favorite French toast toppings like maple syrup, fruit, coconut whipped cream, and coconut flakes. 

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Add or mix in more toppings- like fresh berries, cranberries, coconut flakes, bananas, nuts, etc.
2. Soak bread overnight- This will ensure your whole bread will be completely soaked with the egg mixture.
3. Don’t use too much egg– On the contrary, using too much egg can cause a French toast casserole to end up a soggy mess.
4. Soak bread in a different dish first if you seem to have too much egg mixture- To prevent your casserole from getting soggy, soak bread overnight in a different bowl or dish. Once you transfer it to the dish you will be baking it in, the excess mixture will be left behind.
5. Gluten-Free bread works great when making French Toast Casserole- Gluten-Free bread tends to be more dense than white bread. Dense bread will soak up the egg mixture sort of like a sponge and not get too soggy. This reduces the moisture in the casserole ensuring it cooks evenly.
6. Broil casserole after it bakes- to give it an even more crisp and golden top layer.
7. Substitute for walnuts– You can use pecans or almonds.

Toppings and Add-Ins for Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole:

• Maple Syrup– Topped with warm maple syrup.
• Fresh or Frozen Cranberries– Add them to your casseroles as it bakes. It adds a nice festive touch and flavor. Gives this casserole such a pop of color.
• Coconut Flakes– Adds a nice flavor and crunch.
• Powdered Sugar– What’s French toast without some powdered sugar sprinkled on the top.
• Honey– Adds a nice touch of sweetness.
• More Walnuts– Extra walnuts are always so good.
• Raw Nuts– Top with other nuts like pecans or almonds.
• Fresh or Frozen Berries– Top with raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc.
• Bananas– Top with some banana slices.
• Whipped Cream– Top with a dollop of rich whipped cream.

Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole FAQ’s:

What is a French Toast Casserole?

A French Toast Casserole is a very easy way to make traditional French Toast. It involves making your regular mixture with milk, eggs and cinnamon. Cubing bread and adding it to a casserole dish then pouring the mixture over it. The casserole is then baked until crisp and golden. You can make it simple or get creative with different flavors and ingredients.

Can I make this Eggnog French Toast Casserole dairy-free?

Yes. To make this eggnog French toast casserole dairy-free all you have to so is make sure to use a dairy-free or vegan friendly eggnog. Use an eggnog that is made with almond milk or coconut milk.

What kind of gluten-free bread works best for French Toast Casserole?

Any kind of gluten-free bread works great for this eggnog French toast casserole. Gluten-Free bread tends to be more dense than white bread. Dense bread will soak up the egg mixture sort of like a sponge and not get too soggy. This reduces the moisture in the casserole ensuring it cooks evenly. I usually use Trader Joe’s gluten-free bread for this casserole.

Can I skip the walnuts?

Yes. If you have nut allergy or you don’t like walnuts, you can completely skip them. You can always serve them on the side for others to use them as a topping for their eggnog French toast casserole.

Storing Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole:

Place any leftover walnut eggnog French toast casserole in an airtight container. Keep it refrigerated for 2-3 days. Reheat your French toast casserole by placing it back in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheat for about 5-10 minutes.

Did you like this Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole recipe? you may also like these other eggnog recipes:

• Eggnog Overnight Oats
• Healthy Holiday Eggnog
• Vegan Eggnog

5 from 1 vote

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Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole

Delicious and festive Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole is the perfect dish for your Christmas or holiday brunch. It's soft and spongy, yet crunchy on the inside. With a crisp texture on the outside. Made with gluten-free bread, eggs, eggnog, cinnamon and nutmeg, then topped with some walnuts for that extra crunch. 

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword french toast casserole, Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 511 kcal

Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

• 16 oz gluten-free bread
• 5 eggs
• 2 cups eggnog
• 2 cups walnuts
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

1. Grease a casserole dish with coconut oil. Coarsely chop walnuts. Dice bread into 1 inch squares.

2. Spread half of diced bread in greased casserole pan. Spread first cup of walnuts over bread. Layer the rest of the bread then spread the rest of the walnuts over it.

3. In a large mixing bowl whisk together eggs, eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Pour over the bread along the sides first then in the middle. Cover casserole with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.

4. The next morning, preheat oven at 350 degrees F. While oven preheats, leave casserole out of the fridge so it can come to room temperature. This will allow casserole to start baking right away instead of taking time in the oven to warm up first from it being cold. Which allows casserole to bake evenly and not needing more time. This can lead to over baking.

5. Place casserole in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

6. Remove casserole from the oven and serve immediately. Top with favorite French toast toppings like maple syrup, fruit, coconut whipped cream, and coconut flakes. 

Recipe Notes

Tips and Substitutions:

1. 1. Add or mix in more toppings- like fresh berries, cranberries, coconut flakes, bananas, nuts, etc.
   2. Soak bread overnight- This will ensure your whole bread will be completely soaked with the egg mixture.
   3. Don’t use too much egg– On the contrary, using too much egg can cause a French toast casserole to end up a soggy mess.
   4. Soak bread in a different dish first if you seem to have too much egg mixture- To prevent your casserole from getting soggy, soak bread overnight in a different bowl or dish. Once you transfer it to the dish you will be baking it in, the excess mixture will be left behind.
   5. Gluten-Free bread works great when making French Toast Casserole- Gluten-Free bread tends to be more dense than white bread. Dense bread will soak up the egg mixture sort of like a sponge and not get too soggy. This reduces the moisture in the casserole ensuring it cooks evenly.
   6. Broil casserole after it bakes- to give it an even more crisp and golden top layer.

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1. 1. Substitute for walnuts– You can use pecans or almonds.

Nutrition Facts

Walnut Eggnog French Toast Casserole

Amount per Serving

Calories

511

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

28

g

43

%

Saturated Fat

 

6

g

38

%

Trans Fat

 

0.01

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

14

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

5

g

Cholesterol

 

140

mg

47

%

Sodium

 

74

mg

3

%

Potassium

 

274

mg

8

%

Carbohydrates

 

53

g

18

%

Fiber

 

4

g

17

%

Sugar

 

7

g

8

%

Protein

 

16

g

32

%

Vitamin A

 

286

IU

6

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

129

mg

13

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family. 

**Photos updated as of 12/9/2020

*Post updated as of 7/23/20