Cranberry Breakfast Bread Pudding

An easy overnight breakfast bread pudding (French toast casserole) with cream cheese, fresh tart cranberry flavor, and an eggnog infused custard.

Christmas breakfast traditions start here! Who wouldn’t want to wake up on Christmas morning to a fragrant and delicious hot breakfast casserole made with eggnog, fresh cranberries, and cinnamon?

Easy Breakfast Casserole

A breakfast bread pudding is similar to a breakfast strata or a French toast casserole.

This breakfast bread pudding is the perfect make-ahead meal for cooks that like to sleep in too.
Swap out the fresh cranberries and use up your leftover cranberry sauce!
This is a favorite breakfast all year long and an especially great Christmas breakfast idea.
This is great for holidays, weekends, and guests since it should be made ahead of time and refrigerated overnight.

Got extra cranberries? Here’s some more cranberry recipe inspo!

Cranberry Orange Bread
Creamy Cranberry Salad
Cranberry Orange Scones
Cranberry Brie Bites
No-Bake Cranberry Pie

Ingredients in Breakfast Bread Pudding

CRANBERRY MIXTURE Choose whole cranberries without bruises. Frozen cranberries will work fine. Add a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries for an extra pop of color and flavor! Short on time? Use leftover cranberry sauce.

EGGNOG (or Milk) BATTER Eggnog is mixed with eggs to bring it all together (much like the custard in a breakfast strata)! If you don’t have eggnog, milk and/or light cream work just as well. Add a pinch of nutmeg or even pumpkin pie spice.

BREAD Make bread cubes the easy way by stacking 4 slices at a time and cutting them into strips and then cubes. Try brioche or challah for a different flavor & texture.

CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE Cloves, cinnamon, orange zest, sugar, and cream cheese add a rich yummy flavor!

How to Make Cranberry Bread Pudding

This is a zest cranberry-studded eggnog-spiced French toast cassrole. All of our favorite Christmas flavors are in this dish!

Simmer cranberries with juice and sugar per the recipe below. Combine the cream cheese mixture in a separate bowl.
Place half the bread cubes in a dish and cover with dollops of the cream cheese & cranberry mixtures.
Whisk eggnogs and egg & pour over casserole. Cover & refrigerate overnight.
Bake as directed & serve hot.

PRO TIP: For an especially decadent looking French Toast Bake, garnish each serving with these tasty Sugared Cranberries.

Tips for the Best Bread Pudding

For the fluffiest casseroles, always use large eggs.
Let the cream cheese come to room temperature before using and it will blend easier and faster in any recipe.
Avoid using heavier breads like whole wheat as they will absorb too much batter and make the casserole too dense.
Keep leftover casserole in the fridge for up to 3 days, reheat in the oven until heated through.

More Christmas Breakfast Ideas

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole – a reader fave
Easter Breakfast Bake
Blueberry French Toast Bake – perfect for brunch
Overnight Apple Pie French Toast Casserole
Eggs Benedict Casserole – a twist on a classic dish
French Toast Casserole – so light & fluffy
Sausage Cheddar Breakfast Strata – cheesy & savory

Did your family love this Cranberry Breakfast Casserole? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!