Vegan Eggnog French Toast Casserole

This vegan eggnog french toast casserole makes the perfect holiday brunch. It requires just 15 minutes of active kitchen time and can be prepared up to a full day in advance. Hearty cubes of french bread are soaked overnight in a rich mixture of coconut milk, applesauce, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. In the morning, the dish gets popped in the oven to bake for 45 minutes and then topped with spoonfuls of vegan crème anglaise and drizzles of maple syrup.

My mom makes a mean french toast casserole. It’s light, fluffy, and almost soufflé like.

She’s been making it for special occasions for years and years, and it’s a family favorite. The only issue is that it’s not exactly vegan, so it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed it myself.

But after making this sweet potato french toast casserole, I figured I’d try my hand at a more classic version with a spiced holiday twist.

A little nutmeg here, cinnamon there, and vegan crème anglaise to boot. After just two trials, this vegan eggnog french toast casserole came to be.

It’s glorious. And I certainly don’t toss the G word around carelessly when it comes to food. No, no. The G word is reserved for only the most special of dishes.

As luck would have it, today’s my mom’s birthday, so not only is this french toast casserole GLORIOUS, it’s also aptly timed.

So, how does one make this glorious eggnog french toast casserole? Let’s have a look…

To start, you’ll whisk together ground flaxseed and filtered water.

Let the mixture rest for 5 to 10 minutes to thicken and create a flax “egg”. This acts as the binder in the casserole and takes the place of traditional eggs.

While the flax mixture thickens, slice a large French or sourdough boule (or loaf) into 1-inch cubes.

It’s important to use a sturdy, hearty loaf for this recipe in order to yield the optimal french toast texture—crispy on top with a soft, almost soufflé like interior. Soft loaf bread (or even multigrain bread) simply won’t cut it.

Once you’ve sliced your bread, add it to a lightly greased baking dish.

Then, to the flaxseed mixture, add unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened applesauce, canned coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sea salt, and whisk together until smooth.

For the most authentic french toast taste, use kala namak instead of sea salt—it adds the most wonderful eggy flavor.

Pour the wet mixture over the bread cubes and gently stir to ensure they’re evenly coated.

Then, wrap the baking dish and refrigerate for at least eight hours or overnight. If you’d like, you can prepare the casserole up to a full day in advance.

In the morning, bake the french toast casserole for 45 minutes, or until the top is slightly crisp and the bottom is well set yet soft, tender, and fluffy.

While the casserole bakes, prepare this vegan crème anglaise.

Once the casserole is ready—and if you’re feeling extra festive—sprinkle on some vegan powdered sugar (or a bit of arrowroot starch if you’re simply looking for that overall snow-dusted vibe).

Alternatively, keep things ultra simple and skip this step.

Next, pour on the crème anglaise and drizzle on the maple syrup (either over the casserole as a whole or over each spooned-out portion)…

Then, there’s nothing left to do but serve, savor, and (maybe even) repeat.

This vegan eggnog french toast casserole is everything. It’s sweet, nutmeg-kissed, warm, cozy, comforting, and festive. Plus, it comes together with just 15 minutes of active kitchen preparation and is designed to please a crowd.

I hope this recipe offers a bit more warmth, comfort, and JOY to you this holiday season!

📖 Recipe