Looking for a holiday breakfast recipe? We’ve got one that you and your family are sure to love!
Gourmet Gingerbread French Toast…what is there not to love? This is one of our favorites around the holidays for few reasons:
- It’s quick and easy to throw together! French toast is one of the simpler breakfast items to make. If you dress this up with extra toppings, it’s a simple way to impress!
- You probably have everything you need in your kitchen right now. No need to head to the store! If you have bread, eggs, milk, and some holiday spices, you can put this together in no time.
- It’s a showstopper! It might be easy to put together, but it also looks (and tastes) gourmet. Perfect for family and guests, alike.
So, how do we make our gourmet gingerbread french toast here at Colonial Gardens Bed and Breakfast?
Like anything good, we start with a pot of strong coffee…once we’ve woken up a bit, we use what’s left over to make our Mocha Chocolate Sauce!
We like to use espresso for an extra kick that pairs well with the spicy gingerbread flavor, but any good quality coffee will work just fine! Be sure to use it while it’s hot. The heat serves to bloom the cocoa powder. This enhances the rich, chocolatey finish!
Next, we start on the custard for the gingerbread french toast.
Molasses, spices, eggs, vanilla, and half & half come together to make this custard rich and decadent! However, one of the things I like about french toast is how versatile it is. If you have a dietary restriction or preference and would like to make this with plant-based milks, it won’t really change the finish.
Ready for a french toast secret? Make sure your custard is REALLY well combined.
See all that egg white separated from the custard? This means it’s not mixed enough yet!
Much better! This means you won’t have any chunks of egg white on the outside of your french toast when it cooks!
Next it’s time to slice the bread.
Ready for another secret? Slice your bread on the bias, like this!
Slices like this means there will be more surface area available for custard absorption and caramelization in the pan during cooking. That means more yum!
Next, soak your bread in the custard. There is a lot of debate as to how long you want to soak the bread. However, I find that it really depends on what type of bread you use and how stale it is when you use it. You want your bread to be soaked through, but not soggy. If the bread is falling apart, it’s too wet. If you poke the break with your finger and it’s stiff in the center, it needs a little more time. Use your best judgement!
Next it’s time to get them cooking. We like to use a cast iron pan or griddle, as it seems to create a more consistent temperature for even cooking, but you can use whatever pan you have!
Ready for our last secret? We finish our french toast in the oven. We don’t believe in soggy, underdone french toast here and finishing in the oven ensures that it is done all the way through. It also keeps everything warm for whenever or guests are ready to eat!
We like to finish our gingerbread french toast with some gourmet toppings. We use our candied pecans, Signature Homemade Orange Syrup, and mocha chocolate sauce. This creates a nice, balanced flavor that is simply divine.
Check out the recipe below!
Ingredients:
Gingerbread French Toast*
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup Half & Half (or any plant-based milk)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp cloves
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 Loaf of french bread, sliced into 1 in slices
*Amounts will vary depending on how many people you have coming for breakfast! Feel free to adjust amounts at your discretion.
Mocha Chocolate Sauce
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup espresso (or left over coffee)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
Start by making your mocha chocolate sauce. In a bowl, add sugar and cocoa powder. Brew coffee or reheat left over coffee. Add to bowl and whisk until no lumps remain. Add vanilla. Pour into your serving container and set aside.
Preheat your skillet or griddle to medium heat and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
For the gingerbread, start by making your custard. Grab a large shallow dish and add your eggs, Half & Half, sugar, molasses, spices, and vanilla and whisk thoroughly to combine.
Dip your bread slices in the custard. Once saturated, place your gingerbread french toasts onto your greased and heated skillet. Allow to cook for 3-5 minute per side, or until the outside is golden brown.
Place the browned french toast into the oven and put into your pre-heated oven while you finish the rest of your French Toast slices.
Plate your french toast!
We love to serve with the mocha chocolate sauce, our Signature Orange Syrup, Candied Pecans, a dollop of whipped cream, but feel free to add whatever toppings you like!
Want to taste our delicious gourmet breakfasts? Come visit our bed and breakfast! We serve a full gourmet breakfast every morning of your stay with us!