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Cozy Gingerbread French Toast Bake – Easy Holiday Breakfast

gingerbread french toast bake - featured image
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A warm, spicy, and deeply comforting baked French toast with gingerbread flavors, perfect for holiday mornings or cozy weekends. Made with simple pantry ingredients and easily made ahead.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk (or oat milk)
  • ¼ cup molasses (not blackstrap)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (packed, light or dark)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated if possible)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 loaf (12-14 ounces) day-old brioche or challah
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (for topping)
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon (for topping)
  • Maple syrup (for serving, optional)
  • Powdered sugar (for serving, optional)
  • Fresh berries or sliced bananas (for serving, optional)
  • Whipped cream or Greek yogurt (for serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut day-old brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes and spread evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until frothy. Add milk, molasses, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Whisk until sugar is mostly dissolved and spices are evenly distributed.
  3. Pour custard evenly over bread cubes. Gently press bread down to ensure all pieces are soaked. Let rest for 10-15 minutes at room temperature (or cover and refrigerate overnight).
  4. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon brown sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Brush top of soaked bread with melted butter, then sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the top.
  5. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes, until top is golden brown and center is set (slightly jiggly). For extra crispiness, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end.
  6. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with warm maple syrup, and add desired toppings.

Notes

Use stale bread for best absorption. If bread is fresh, toast cubes at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. For a dairy-free version, use oat milk and plant-based butter. For a gluten-free version, use sturdy gluten-free bread. The bake is done when internal temperature reaches 165°F or a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Nutrition

Keywords: gingerbread french toast bake, holiday breakfast, baked french toast, make ahead breakfast, christmas breakfast, gingerbread, brioche french toast

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/cozy-gingerbread-french-toast-bake-easy-holiday-breakfast/