Homemade Holiday French Toast Bake: A Christmas Morning Tradition
Nothing brings warmth to a winter morning like the smell of a holiday French toast bake wafting from the oven. This make-ahead easy breakfast recipe is a game-changer for busy mornings, letting you savor family time while serving a delicious holiday Christmas breakfast or holiday brunch. It’s become a cherished tradition in our home—especially now that our daughter is old enough to enjoy and remember these special moments.
Why You’ll Love This French Toast Bake
The best part of this recipe? It skips the fuss! No individual dipping and frying—just layers of Texas toast soaked in a cozy, spiced custard that’s both festive and family-approved. Perfect for Christmas breakfast or any holiday brunch, this bake saves you time in the kitchen so you can focus on what really matters: spending time together.
Ingredients for the Perfect Christmas Breakfast French Toast Bake
With just a few pantry ingredients, you can make this Christmas breakfast treat extra special.
Ingredients:
- 10 slices Texas-style bread (for a heartier texture)
- 4 whole eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups milk (regular or non-dairy; we love Ripple)
- 1 cup brown sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon caramel extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (adds natural sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- A dash of cloves, nutmeg, and allspice for holiday warmth
Tools You’ll Need:
- 9×13 baking dish
- Medium saucepan
- Mixing bowl
Step-by-Step Directions
- Prep the Sugar Mixture: Melt a stick of butter in a saucepan, then add 1 cup of brown sugar. For a less sweet option, use a little less sugar. Grease your 9×13 pan, then pour the butter-sugar mixture evenly across the bottom.
- Make the Custard: In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla extract, caramel extract, maple syrup, cinnamon, and spices. This blend of flavors creates a festive custard perfect for holiday mornings.
- Assemble the Layers: Place a layer of Texas toast in the baking dish, on top of the brown sugar mixture. Pour half of the custard mixture over the bread, letting it soak in. Sprinkle a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon on top for added sweetness.
- Repeat: Add a second layer of Texas toast, then pour the remaining custard over it to evenly coat the bread. Cover the dish with foil.
- Bake and Broil: You can bake it immediately or let it sit in the fridge overnight. Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes, covered. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. For a slight crisp, broil on low for about 2 minutes—just watch closely to prevent burning!
Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Christmas Breakfast French Toast Bake
- Adjusting Sweetness: You can easily adjust the sweetness by reducing the brown sugar or swapping it with coconut sugar for a milder sweetness.
- Choosing Your Bread: While Texas toast creates a soft, fluffy texture, you can also use French bread or brioche for a heartier texture. Sourdough adds a tangy twist that balances the sweetness.
- Customizing Dairy: Any milk works in this recipe—try almond, oat, or cashew milk to make it dairy-free or use a richer milk for extra creaminess.
- Flavor Boosts: Consider adding a dash of orange zest to the custard or a splash of rum extract for a fun holiday twist.
Creative Variations
This holiday brunch bake is versatile, while we love it for a Christmas breakfast, you can try out different seasonal twists throughout the year. My family is always looking for easy breakfast recipes. Here are a few of our family’s favorite variations:
- Berry Bliss: Mix in fresh or frozen berries between the layers of bread, and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar before serving. This gives it a fruity sweetness perfect for spring or summer brunches.
- Chocolate Lovers’ Dream: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips between the layers and add a dash of cocoa powder to the custard. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream for a dessert-inspired breakfast.
- Savory Spin: Try a savory twist by omitting the sugar and adding herbs, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese for a brunch-friendly bake that’s perfect for any time of year.
Storage & Reheating Tips
One of the best parts of this French toast bake is that it reheats wonderfully, making it ideal for leftovers or preparing in advance.
- Storing: Once it cools, cover the baking dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, pop individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or cover the baking dish with foil and warm it in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Make This French Toast Holiday Brunch Bake a Year-Round Favorite
We originally started making this bake as a holiday treat, but it’s become an easy breakfast recipe family favorite year-round! Each season, we switch up the spices and flavors to make it feel festive for the moment. In the spring, we go lighter with hints of lemon and fresh berries; in the summer, it’s all about maple and blueberries; and in the fall, a sprinkle of pumpkin spice brings a cozy touch.
Whether it’s Christmas morning or a random weekend, this easy breakfast recipe French toast bake has become a beloved tradition in our home, bringing us together and giving us delicious memories every time.
This easy French toast bake will quickly become your family’s favorite holiday breakfast tradition, and it’s simple enough to enjoy any time of year. Whip it up for a special occasion or just a cozy weekend morning—you’ll love how easy it is to make (and how much everyone loves it)!
I love french toast, and it’s my husband’s favorite–but I hate all of the work that comes with making the custard, dipping the toast, and individually cooking each piece. That’s what is so great about this recipe is no tedious dipping and flipping, less mess, and delicious!
The French toast bake can be made immediately or refrigerated overnight and made the next day. Bake at 400, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for another 15 minutes. I personally like to add roughly 2 minutes of a LOW broil at the end of the 45-minute bake time to place a little crisp onto the tops of the bread. Be sure to watch that the bread does not burn.
You may serve with syrup or peanut butter–but it tastes great the way that it is.
I hope you have a great time establishing holiday brunch traditions and love my french toast bake!
Homemade Holiday French Toast Bake
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- 9×13 Baking Pan
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 12 slices Texas-Style bread
- 4 whole eggs beaten
- 1.5 cups milk non-dairy or regular
- 1 cup brown sugar extra for topping
- 1 stick butter melted
- 1 TBSP vanilla extract pure
- 1 TBSP caramel extract pure
- 1-2 TBSP Maple Syrup natural
- 1 TSP cinnamon
- 1 dash cloves
- 1 dash nutmeg
- 1 dash allspice
Instructions
- Preheat overn to 400
- Melt butter
- Add 1 cup brown sugar to melted butter
- Grease 9×13 baking dish and pour butter brown sugar mixture evenly into the bottom
- Layer texas-style bread to completely cover the bototm of the baking dish
- In seperate bowl, combine 1.5 cups milk, 4 eggs, 1 TBSP vanilla, 1 TBSP caramel extract, 1 TBSP maple syrup, and all spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice)
- Spoon/pour half custard egg mixture over layer of bread in baking dish. Sprinkle with some brown sugar and cinnamon
- Repeat layer of bread, coat with remaining egg/custard mixture
- Cover with tinfoil
- Can be baked, or refrigerated overnight
- Bake at 400 covered for 30 minutes. Uncover, bake additional 15 minutes.
- For added crunch carefully monitor and change oven setting to LOW broil and broil for 2 minutes to crispen the bread. Watch to be sure it does not burn
Notes
Nutrition
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