Eggnog French Toast Recipe

Years ago, I’ve tested my original French toast recipe extensively, testing different breads and custard mixtures! Brioche is soft and fluffy, and it does the best job soaking the sweet egg mixture. Brioche also has a sweet and buttery flavor, which contributes to the overall and texture. 

There is a good amount of eggnog that goes into this recipe but the eggnog itself has a mild flavor. I found that the best way to enhance eggnog flavor in cooking and baking is by adding nutmeg and rum extract.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Of course, the most important ingredients here are:

• Bread – I’ve tested pretty much all breads in my French toast recipes and we all come up with the same conclusion, Brioche is hands down the best bread. If you need a substitution, I recommend Challah or deli fresh country white bread in this recipe.
• Eggnog – use your favorite eggnog, one you love the flavor of because the flavor in this recipe is prominent. If you need a substitute, some stores carry a dairy free eggnog option.
• Flavors – to enhance the flavor of eggnog, add some nutmeg and cinnamon spices and rum extract. If rum extract is not available, you can omit it but yes, there is a flavor difference.

How to Make Eggnog French Toast

Lyuba’s Tried and Tested Tips: Brioche and eggnog already have sugar added so both ingredients are sweetened. It can be a personal preference to add more sugar to the egg mixture or not. Remember, if you will be using maple syrup, that will add more sweetness to the dish as well. 

Make the egg mixture. In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, eggnog, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, rum extract, and a pinch of salt. Keep whisking until the mixture looks completely smooth, no streaks of egg white. A shallow bowl makes it much easier to dip the brioche slices evenly. (Take a deep sniff, it will smell so good!)

Dip the bread. Slice your brioche loaf into thick slices, about ¾–1 inch each. Thicker slices give you that custardy center without turning soggy. Dip each slice of brioche into the egg mixture on both sides, flipping and tapping. It will take just a few seconds on each side because Brioche is very good at soaking up the mixture.

Heat the pan. Make sure to preheat a large pan over medium to medium-low heat and add some oil to grease it. If the pan is too hot, the outside of the bread will burn and not cook all the way through.

Cook the French toast. Cook each piece of toast for about 3-4 minutes per side, without moving it around, until the bottom is a deep golden color. Peek under one slice with a spatula, if it’s still very pale, give it another minute. The edges will start to look set and slightly crisp when it’s ready to flip.

After you flip, let it cook until the center is no longer squishy, and feels set. (2-4 minutes) You will also notice that centers of the bread will raise and fall as it cooks though.

Lyuba’s Expert Tip: Preheat the oven to 200°F and keep cooked eggnog French toast in there while you continue cooking the rest of it. It’ll stay nice and warm that way!

Tips for the Best Eggnog French Toast

• Preheat the pan completely before you start to batter the bread.
• Don’t turn the heat up higher than medium.
• Don’t batter the bread slices ahead of time, batter right before adding to the pan.
• Use a large pan so you can fit several slices at a time.
• If using the griddle, preheat it well and make sure the heat is spread evenly. The downfall of a griddle is often uneven heat.

What to Serve With Eggnog French Toast?

Eggnog is a strong flavor, you can either go simple of something that enhances the eggnog but does not overwhelm it:

• Cinnamon whipped cream
• Eggnog whipped cream
• Maple syrup
• Cinnamon butter
• Crushed nuts

Storage & Reheating Recommendation

• Store: Let leftovers cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in the oven: Place slices on a baking sheet and warm at 325°F for 8-10 minutes, until heated through.
• Reheat in toaster oven: Toast on a low setting until warmed and lightly crisp on the outside.
• Reheat in a pan: Preheat a cooking pan over medium-low heat and add a little oil. Reheat the French toast until just warmed through, flipping half way through.
• Freezing: Freeze slices in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven or toaster. (Note, there will be a texture difference after freezing.)

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

If you’ve make this Eggnog French Toast using my recipe and found a lot of good information here, PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below as well.

More Eggnog Recipes To Try

• Eggnog Cookies
• Eggnog Pancakes
• Eggnog Cookie Balls
• Vanilla Bean Eggnog Bread
• Eggnog Cheesecake
• Eggnog Poke Cake

Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in December, 2019.