This stuffed gingerbread french toast uses a fluffy brioche bread which is stuffed with a silky cream cheese frosting & soaked in a warm & cozy gingerbread spiced custard. With golden & crispy edges, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a dollop of whipped cream, you will have the most delicious Christmas breakfast!
This post is sponsored by Simply Organic. All opinions are my own - thank you for supporting the brands that make Sturbridge Bakery possible!
This stuffed gingerbread french toast tastes like a cinnamon roll french toast mashup - the warm gingerbread flavors in the french toast paired with the melty cream cheese icing is *mwah* chef's kiss!
This recipe can be made with store-bought brioche bread, or you can test your bread making skills with this homemade brioche recipe. Either way, brioche bread is the ideal choice for this french toast. It really absorbs all the yummy flavor from the custard mixture that the bread slices are soaked in.
This french toast was made using my favorite products from Simply Organic! Their organic vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves make it so flavorful - they are my favorite spices to grab and use in my holiday bakes!
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Why you will love this stuffed gingerbread french toast
- Cream cheese frosting. The cream cheese frosting that is stuffed in the bread makes the whole thing taste like one giant gingerbread cinnamon roll. It's delicious.
- Festive Christmas breakfast. This french toast is a festive holiday breakfast option that I love! It's so easy to make which makes it perfect for those lazy mornings in between Christmas & New Years.
- Easy preparation. When using store-bought bread, this recipe comes together so quickly and uses common pantry ingredients.
Ingredient notes
- Brioche bread: the star ingredient in the french toast! A fluffy brioche loaf is needed for the softest french toast slices. Store-bought brioche can be used, or you can try my homemade brioche bread recipe!
- Cream cheese: full fat block cream cheese should be used for the cream cheese filling.
- Powdered sugar: sweetens the filling.
- Vanilla: Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract from Simply Organic should be used for the best flavor in both the cream cheese icing and the custard mixture.
- Half & half: the main ingredient in the custard - this is what the bread slices soak in.
- Eggs: adds moisture & acts as a binding agent.
- Maple syrup: sweetens the custard mixture just slightly.
- Spices: I used Simply Organic's Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, & Cloves to create the yummy gingerbread flavor!
See recipe card for the full list of ingredients & their quantities.
Steps
- Prepare the bread slices. If you have a full loaf, trim the loaf edges then slice 1 ½ inch pieces. Use a sharp knife to create slits in the sides of the bread. This is where you will fill the frosting. Set aside.
- Make cream cheese icing. Beat the cream cheese until soft & smooth. Add the powdered sugar & vanilla and beat until smooth and combined. Set aside.
- Whisk custard ingredients. Prepare custard mixture by whisking together the half and half, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, and spices.
- Fill the bread. Using a piping bag, carefully fill the bread slices with the icing. If you are using a pre-sliced loaf of bread and the slices seem too thin to fill, you can use two pieces of bread instead. Pipe the filling on one slice of bread, then sandwich it with another. Proceed with the recipe as written.
- Soak the slices. Carefully soak the filled slices of bread in the custard for 30-45 seconds on each side. Transfer to a rack while you repeat with the other slices.
- Cook. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, then place on a rack inside the oven so it stays warm & crispy while you cook the other french toast slices.
- Enjoy! Top with maple syrup, whipped cream, berries, etc., and enjoy!
FAQ
Of course! Brioche, challah, or even cinnamon raisin bread work well. Just ensure that the slices are thick enough to hold the filling.
To avoid sogginess, make sure not to soak the bread slices in the custard mixture for too long. 30-45 seconds is all you need to ensure a crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft.
Yes, of course! If you would prefer just a regular french toast recipe, feel free to omit the cream cheese icing. You can slice the bread pieces a little thinner in this case.
If you have a store-bought bread loaf and the slices seem too thin to fill, use two slices! Pipe the frosting on one bread slice then sandwich it with another. Proceed with the recipe as written.
Baking in grams
I rely on gram measurements when testing recipes because they offer the highest level of accuracy (and less cleanup!). Unlike volume measurements, which can vary, grams provide a reliable and consistent standard. I carefully test all of my recipes using this kitchen scale, therefore I cannot guarantee the outcome when using volume measurements. However, volume measurements are available in the recipe card.
Other Christmas recipes
Have you tried this recipe? I would love to know how it turned out! Leave a star rating & review below and tag @sturbridgebakery on Instagram so I can see photos & videos of your yummy bakes! Want to save this recipe for later? Tap the heart button on the right side of your screen!
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Stuffed Gingerbread French Toast
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 brioche loaf homemade or store-bought, cut into 1 ½ inch slices*
Filling
- 8 oz (226 grams) full fat block cream cheese room temperature
- ¾ cup (90 grams) powdered sugar
- ½ tablespoon Simply Organic Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract
Custard
- 1 cup (240 grams) half & half does not need to be room temperature
- 3 large eggs does not need to be room temperature
- 2 tablespoons (40 grams) maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons Simply Organic Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoons Simply Organic Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Simply Organic Ginger
- ½ teaspoon Simply Organic Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon Simply Organic Cloves
Instructions
- If you need to, trim the edges of the brioche loaf slightly, then slice 1 ½ inch pieces. Carefully, use a sharp knife to make slits in both sides of each slice. Set aside.1 brioche loaf
- For the filling, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar & vanilla extract and beat until combined, scraping down the bottom & sides of the bowl as necessary. Transfer the filling to a piping bag and set aside.8 oz full fat block cream cheese, ¾ cup powdered sugar, ½ tablespoon Simply Organic Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract
- In a large bowl, make the custard by whisking together the half & half, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Transfer this mixture to a shallow but flat dish/bowl - this will ensure that you can lay the bread flat & get an even soakage of the french toast slices.1 cup half & half, 3 large eggs, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 teaspoons Simply Organic Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract, 2 teaspoons Simply Organic Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon Simply Organic Ginger, ½ teaspoon Simply Organic Nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon Simply Organic Cloves
- Put the end of the piping bag into the slits you made and fill the french toast with the cream cheese frosting. If you are using pre-cut bread and the slices seem too thin to fill, you can pipe the frosting on one slice of bread and sandwich it with another slice. Proceed with the recipe as written.
- Place a baking rack on top of a pan and set aside. Soak the brioche slices in the custard for 30-45 seconds on each side. Transfer the brioche to the baking rack. Repeat this with the other slices. Meanwhile, heat up your pan/griddle to medium heat.
- Cook your french toast for 2-3 minutes on one side. Once that side looks evenly golden, flip the bread slice & cook on the other side for an additional 2 minutes or so.
- Once done, place the french toast slices back on the rack and into a 350F oven and let bake for 4-5 minutes. This will crisp up the bread, maintain an even golden color, and make the cream cheese frosting nice & melty.
- Remove from the oven & serve immediately. Top with powdered sugar, maple syrup, berries, etc., and enjoy!
Notes
- If you are baking this homemade brioche recipe, I add the following spices to the dry ingredients for extra warm flavor.
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- If you are using pre-sliced store-bought bread and the slices seem too thin to fill, use two slices! Pipe the frosting on one slice of bread and sandwich it with another slice. Proceed with the recipe as written.
Tried this recipe? Make sure to rate and review and tag @sturbridgebakery on Instagram!
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