Holiday plates with gingerbread french toast dusted in powdered sugar.

Gingerbread French Toast

Give French toast a holiday makeover! Transform plain white bread into spiced Gingerbread French Toast — cookie cutters are optional, but it makes breakfast even more magical!

Holiday plates with gingerbread french toast dusted in powdered sugar.
Gingerbread French Toast

Give French toast a holiday makeover! Transform plain white bread into spiced Gingerbread French Toast — cookie cutters are optional, but it makes breakfast even more magical!

Gingerbread French Toast shaped like snowflakes on a holiday plate.

If it were up to my daughter, we would listen to Christmas music all year round. She tries, as often as possible, to sneak in some fa la las in the heat of summer, when she somehow hijacks the music in the car.

I know some of you probably have very strict rules as to when to start listening to Christmas music, but in our house, we trend on the lax side, try as we might to wait as long as possible, or at least until Thanksgiving has passed.

Because that is The Threshold, my friends. Once the turkey has been carved, we are already planning for the next day, which is when we find our Christmas tree, lug it home, and start decking the halls. And for my daughter, she can officially play ALL the Christmas music her heart desires.

White bread gingerbread men and snowflake cut outs on a baking tray.

Milk, eggs, and spices in a glass bowl.

Once we cross that threshold, I too am so ready for all things Christmas! Somehow, breakfasts seem cozier and less rushed, and I just want to treat the kids to something that feels a little more special.

With each passing year, I’m realizing that they’re outgrowing so many little fun traditions, that I just want to create new ones to replace them. We may no longer take pictures with Santa, but we now have Gingerbread French Toast.

A whisk, tray of prepared bread for French toast, and a glass bowl with custard ingredients.

Gingerbread French Toast

You’re never too old for gingerbread boys and girls, or snowflakes, right? With the help of my trusty cookie cutters and a little extra spice, French toast is instantly a little more Christmas-y! Quickly dunked in a batter infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, plain old bread is transformed with gingerbread flavors! 

Gingerbread French Toast shaped like gingerbread men on a holiday plate.

As the slices cooked on the stove, the scent of gingerbread French toast lured my kids into the kitchen – and even managed to coax my daughter away from the new Christmas carol she was practicing on the piano. They were too excited to dig in, as was I!

All that was missing was some snow, but that’s what a sprinkling of powdered sugar is for!

Sprinkling powdered sugar on Gingerbread French Toast.

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Alaska Dungeness Crab Cake Benedict
Apple Oatmeal Blender Waffles
Maple Glazed Cranberry Bread
Mashed Potato and Stuffing Waffles

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Gingerbread French Toast

Give French toast a holiday makeover! Transform plain white bread into spiced Gingerbread French Toast -- cookie cutters are optional, but it makes breakfast even more magical!
Holiday plates with gingerbread french toast dusted in powdered sugar.
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5 from 4 votes
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 144kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 slices thick-sliced white bread
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon ginger
  • 2 tablespoons butter divided

Instructions

  • If using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes in the bread. (Reserve scraps for another use, or cook as a special treat for the cook.) I was able to cut out 4 large snowflakes and 4 gingerbread boys/girls out of 6 slices of bread.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
  • Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Coat the pan with about 1 tablespoon of butter. 
  • When the butter is heated through, quickly dunk one of your bread pieces into the batter, gently shaking off excess (you do not want it to get too soaked if you are using white bread. If you are using a thicker bread, like challah, then you'll have more wiggle room), and add to the pan. Repeat for remaining pieces of bread, working in batches, leaving at least an inch of space between pieces. 
  • When one side of the french toast is golden brown, flip and cook for another minute or so more until golden on the other side.
  • As you work in batches, add more butter as necessary to the pan. If you are making 4 snowflakes and 4 gingerbread boys/girls like I did, you should be able to do this in two even batches.
  • Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately with powdered sugar or maple syrup.

Notes

Notes on bread:
Very thin, presliced white bread is often too delicate for French toast. If using presliced, find the thickest bread you can find and air it out (make-ahead notes below). Other good choices for bread to use is challah or French bread.
Make-ahead:
Making this on Christmas morning? You can make the bread cutouts the night before! Lay them out on a baking sheet -- airing out the bread overnight will actually make it better for soaking up the custard.
If you wish, you could combine the ingredients for the custard and chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante

Comments

Recipe Rating




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  1. Maria

    You really blew my mind with the cookie cutter idea! What a fun way to make a festive breakfast for any holiday!

    Reply
  2. Lindsay Cotter

    5 stars
    Totally making this with gluten free bread! Love that you used the holiday cookie cutters to shape the slices of bread for the gingerbread french toast!

    Reply
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