This gingerbread French toast is packed with warm spices, creamy yoghurt, and extra protein. It's a festive twist on a classic French toast bake that can be cooked in the air fryer as a single serve, or multiplied and cooked in the oven for a big family Christmas breakfast.
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Why you'll love this recipe
Festive Flavors. Packed with gingerbread spices like a Gingerbread Baked Oats or Gingerbread Pancakes, it’s a twist on the typical bringing Christmas vibes to your breakfast table.
Versatile. Make it as a single serve air fryer French toast or multiply the recipe and create a family-sized French toast bake like my Hot Cross Buns French Toast Bake.
Protein-Packed. Because I have a lot of the recipes I create as a meal prep, I like to add in extra protein where I can so I have substituted the heavy cream with yoghurt and added extra protein.
Ingredients
Bread roll. The base for this gingerbread French toast. I used a standard wholemeal burger bun, but any soft bread will absorb the flavours.
Brown sugar. Adds a rich sweetness to the dish and gives a caramel-like flavour typical in Gingerbread Cookies.
Protein. I recommend using a vegan-based protein powder as whey protein can change texture under heat and sometimes makes the final dish taste funky. Use a vanilla, neutral or cinnamon flavour - or omit if you're not a fan.
Egg. French toast is sometimes called "eggy toast" because typically it's grilled on a frypan with a mixture of egg, cream and cinnamon.
Yoghurt. Instead of a cream base for the French toast, I opt for Greek yoghurt. You can substitute with cream or different types of yoghurt if you prefer.
Milk. Provides moisture and richness and helps with the overall texture. If using a runny yoghurt or cream, you may have to adjust the amount of milk so the batter is relatively runny.
Gingerbread spices. The spices in this gingerbread French toast are made up of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and allspice. You can mix-and-match to suit your preferences (e.g. if you're a big ginger fan, add more ginger!)
Please check the recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantity. See below for substitutions and variations.
How to make gingerbread French toast
- Prepare the batter
In a bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, brown sugar, protein, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves until smooth.
- Coat
Tear the bread roll into bite-sized pieces and place them into the batter mixture. Stir to coat.
Optional: for an overnight French toast bake, you can leave the bread pieces to soak up the batter overnight (or even a few hours). This will provide a more in-depth gingerbread flavour. - Prepare
Grease a ramekin and pour the soaked pieces in. Press gently so they won't fall out.
- Bake
Air Fryer. Preheat your air fryer to . Place the ramekin in the air fryer and bake for 15 minutes at 180°C (350°F), or until the top is golden and the centre is set (you can test this with a skewer and it should come out mostly dry).
Oven. If making a single serve, bake for 20 minutes at 180°C (350°F). If making a larger batch, you may need to increase the cooking time slightly to ensure the whole bake is set. - Serve and enjoy
Let the French toast bake cool slightly, then serve warm with toppings like maple syrup, yoghurt, some Raspberry Chia Pudding or a dusting of powdered sugar. Perfect for a cozy Christmas breakfast alongside some Gingerbread Pancakes and Gingerbread Granola.
Top Tip
Choose the Right Bread. While most breads will work, having one that is slightly stale will help it soak up the batter without becoming too soggy.
Substitutions and variations
Oven baked French toast
If you don’t have an air fryer, this gingerbread French toast bake can be cooked in the oven. Preheat to 180°C (350°F) and bake in a greased ramekin or small dish for 20–25 minutes, or until golden and set in the centre. See my Hot Cross Buns Baked French Toast as this is done in the oven (and a larger batch)
Stove top
For a more traditional approach, use whole slices of bread or halve the bun and dip into the gingerbread batter. Cook on a greased skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and fragrant, similar to classic French toast.
Meal prep and leftovers
Meal prepping gingerbread French toast bake is a convenient way to enjoy a festive breakfast with minimal effort. You can assemble it as a make-ahead dish by letting the bread soak overnight in the batter or baking it completely and serving it the next day.
Storing
If baked ahead, store the French toast bake in the fridge in an airtight container or covered ramekin for up to 3 days.
If unbaked, cover the assembled dish tightly and refrigerate overnight.
Reheating
Reheat the baked French toast in the air fryer or oven at 180°C (350°F) for 5–8 minutes, or in the microwave for about 1 minute for a quicker option.
Freezing
Freeze the fully baked French toast by cooling it completely, wrapping it tightly, and storing it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.
Note - the texture may deteriorate slightly and the bread could become soggy, so I wouldn't recommend freezing.
If you want more meal prep information, check out my Meal Prep for Beginners post and my Meal Prep Basics E-Book.
FAQs
French toast pairs beautifully with toppings like fresh fruit, maple syrup, whipped cream, or powdered sugar. I also recommend a Raspberry Chia Jam which can also be made ahead and gives a fresh touch to the warmth of the gingerbread spices.
For a more filling meal, serve it with crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, or even a side of yoghurt for a well-rounded breakfast. With gingerbread French toast, consider festive additions like candied nuts or a drizzle of caramel.
Yes, French toast casserole can be frozen. Bake it first, let it cool completely, and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven or air fryer before serving.
However, the texture will deteriorate upon freezing and thawing so I wouldn't recommend if you're a stickler for texture.
Absolutely! French toast can be baked as a casserole or as a single serve. Simply assemble the ingredients in a greased dish, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), and bake for 20–30 minutes until golden and set.
Brioche, challah, or slightly stale bread rolls are ideal for making gingerbread French toast. These bread types soak up the batter without becoming overly soggy, ensuring a soft and fluffy texture with a perfectly crisp edge.
Other Christmas breakfasts
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do - Love & Pasta, Lauren x
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Recipe
Gingerbread French Toast Bake
Ingredients
- 50 g (1 small roll) bread roll see note 1
- 15 g (1 tbsp) brown sugar
- 30 g (~2 tbsp) protein optional (see note 2)
- 20 g (1 tbsp) Greek yoghurt
- 50 g (1 large) egg
- 60 ml (¼ cup) milk see note 3
- 8 g (1 tbsp) cinnamon see note 4
- 3 g (1 tsp) ginger see note 4
- 3 g (1 tsp) allspice see note 4
- 3 g (1 tsp) cloves see note 4
Instructions
Prepare the Batter
- Whisk the egg, milk, brown sugar, protein, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves in a bowl until smooth.
Coat the Bread
- Tear the bread roll into bite-sized pieces and toss them in the batter until evenly coated. For deeper flavour, let the bread soak in the batter for a few hours or overnight.
Prepare the Ramekin
- Grease a ramekin and transfer the soaked bread pieces, pressing them gently to keep them compact.
Bake
- Air Fryer: Preheat to 180°C (350°F) and bake for 15 minutes, or until golden on top and set in the centre (a skewer should come out mostly clean).
- Oven: For single serves, bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 minutes. Larger batches may require additional time to ensure the bake is fully set.
Serve and Enjoy
- Let cool slightly before serving warm with toppings like maple syrup, yoghurt, or powdered sugar.
Sally
Just made this for breakfast to use up the stale ends of my sourdough loaf that I'd usually throw away and it's so good! I did use less spices than written and the gingerbread flavour is still very prominent. French toast always seems like a lot of effort for a single serve but this was super easy - will definitely make again!
athletelunchbox
Thank you for your lovely comment, Sally! I really appreciate it 🙂 Yes, the gingerbread flavours are very prominent in this one (which is why I recommend adjusting to taste). So glad you enjoyed it!