# What you'll need:
→ French Toast
01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah bread (16 oz), cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 4 large eggs
03 - 1 cup eggnog
04 - 1/4 cup whole milk
05 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - Pinch of salt
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for frying)
→ Decoration & Assembly
11 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)
12 - Fresh rosemary sprigs (for tree branches)
13 - 1/2 cup fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, or cranberries)
14 - Maple syrup, for serving
15 - Star-shaped fruit or cookie (optional, for tree topper)
16 - Toothpicks or small skewers
# Method:
01 - Whisk together eggs, eggnog, whole milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl until homogeneous.
02 - Add bread cubes to the custard mixture and gently toss to coat evenly. Let soak for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure full absorption.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. In batches, add soaked bread cubes and cook, turning every 2–3 minutes until golden brown and cooked through on all sides. Add more butter as needed for subsequent batches.
04 - Transfer the cooked bites onto a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess butter.
05 - Arrange the French toast bites on a large serving platter in concentric circles, stacking to form a tapered tree shape. Secure with toothpicks or skewers if desired for stability.
06 - Insert fresh rosemary sprigs between the bites to mimic branches. Adorn with fresh berries as ornaments and place an optional star-shaped fruit or cookie atop the tree.
07 - Lightly dust the assembled tree with powdered sugar to create a snowy effect. Serve immediately with maple syrup on the side.
