7 Days of Sourdough Christmas: Gingerbread French Toast Bake
Welcome to 7 days of sourdough Christmas! Every day this week we’ll be posting a new Christmas-inspired sourdough recipe to bring some extra magic and flavor to your holiday season.
Looking for a festive, crowd-pleasing dish to serve during the holidays? This sourdough gingerbread French toast bake is your new go-to. It’s made with wholesome, high-quality ingredients and features the warm spices of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and ginger, balanced by the natural sweetness of molasses and maple syrup. It’s a great option for holiday morning breakfasts (with a make-ahead option!), and bonus: it’s an excellent way to repurpose stale sourdough bread into something magical!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Festive and comforting: The tangy sourdough combined with sweet, spiced gingerbread flavors is perfect for the holiday season and pairs perfectly together.
Wholesome ingredients: Pastured eggs, grass-fed butter, and real maple syrup make this dish nourishing and indulgent.
Easy to prepare: It goes together quickly, or you can assemble it the night before for an easy breakfast treat.
Crowd-pleaser: Great for feeding a group during holiday brunches or family gatherings.
Less waste: A delicious way to use up leftover sourdough bread.
Ingredients
1/2 sourdough loaf, cubed
2 pastured eggs
25g grass-fed brown butter (plus more for greasing the dish)
110g whole milk
50g cream
20g unsulphured molasses
50g maple syrup (plus extra for drizzling)
5g salt
3g cinnamon
Pinch of cardamom, nutmeg, and ginger
Optional: powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
Prepare the bread: Cube your sourdough loaf into 1-inch chunks and set aside in a mixing bowl.
Make the custard: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown butter, milk, cream, molasses, maple syrup, salt, and spices until smooth.
Combine: Pour the custard mixture over the cubed sourdough. Gently toss until the bread is fully soaked and coated.
Bake: Transfer the mixture into a baking dish and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and set.
Finish: Let cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar and drizzling with extra maple syrup. Serve warm and enjoy!
Pro Tip: Mix everything together the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, pop it in the oven for a easy breakfast.
Tips for Making
Use stale bread: Slightly stale sourdough works best because it absorbs the custard without becoming mushy.
Customize the spices: Feel free to adjust the spice levels to suit your taste. Add more cinnamon for extra warmth or increase the ginger for a spicier kick.
Don’t skip the brown butter: It adds a rich, nutty flavor that elevates the dish.
Baking dish size: Use an 8x8-inch or similar-sized dish for even baking.
Add-ins: For extra texture and flavor, mix in chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Let the French toast bake cool completely, then cover tightly or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm individual portions in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
Freeze: Wrap portions in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Pairings
This French toast bake pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee, a chai latte, or even a dollop of whipped cream for an indulgent dessert. For an extra seasonal twist, try adding toasted pecans or dried cranberries to the mixture.
Why This Recipe Works
The tanginess of sourdough bread perfectly complements the rich, spiced gingerbread custard base. High-quality ingredients like pastured eggs and grass-fed butter not only enhance the flavor but also make this dish clean and more nourishing that most french toasts. Whether you’re serving it for a holiday brunch or as a comforting dessert, this French toast bake is sure to impress!
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Take Your Sourdough Skills to the Next Level
Love this recipe and want to explore more ways to use your sourdough starter? Check out our comprehensive Sourdough Guide for tips, tricks, and recipes to help you master the art of sourdough baking. It’s the perfect resource for beginners and seasoned bakers alike!