Description
Gingerbread French Toast Bake with warm spices, gingerbread flavors, and easy baking for crowd-pleasing holiday mornings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf (16 oz/454g) brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups (473ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (118ml) heavy cream
- ⅓ cup (113g) molasses (not blackstrap)
- ⅓ cup (67g) brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons (16g) ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons (5g) ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon (1g) ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5g) salt
- 2 tablespoons (28g) butter, melted
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish Start by generously buttering a 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring all corners and sides are well-coated. This prevents sticking and helps create those desirable crispy edges on your Gingerbread French Toast Bake. Arrange your cubed brioche or challah bread in an even layer in the prepared dish.
- Step 2: Create the Gingerbread Custard In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs until lightly beaten. Add the milk, heavy cream, molasses, brown sugar, and vanilla extract, whisking until well combined. In a separate small bowl, mix the ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Add this spice mixture to the wet ingredients and whisk vigorously until completely incorporated, making sure no molasses remains stuck to the bottom of the bowl.
- Step 3: Combine and Soak Pour the gingerbread custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, making sure to cover all pieces. Using the back of a spoon or spatula, gently press the bread down to help it absorb the liquid. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours if you’re in a hurry. During this time, the bread will soak up the spiced custard, creating the foundation for your flavorful French toast bake.
- Step 4: Bake to Perfection When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the soaked bread. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden brown and slightly crisp. You’ll know it’s done when a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, with no liquid custard remaining.
- Step 5: Serve and Enjoy Allow your Gingerbread French Toast Bake to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. This resting time helps the custard set completely for easier serving. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup, whipped cream, or a dollop of cinnamon-spiced yogurt for the perfect finishing touch.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 215mg