Slow Cooker Gingerbread French Toast (Overnight Recipe)

📝Shopping list

To make this delicious breakfast, you will need these simple ingredients:

• French bread - loaf of day-old bread or stale bread works best
• eggs - beaten
• milk* - dairy or non-dairy.  (I use almond milk)
• maple syrup*
• molasses*
• pure vanilla extract
• ground ginger
• ground cinnamon
• allspice
• ground cloves
• nutmeg
• powdered sugar  - optional topping

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it in a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check the manual for your slow cooker if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Get Cooking

• 🥖Start by cutting your loaf of bread into 2" cubes, placing them in a large mixing bowl, and setting aside.
• 🥖In a small bowl, whisk eggs.  Add all remaining ingredients and stir to fully combine
• 🥖Pour egg mixture over bread cubes and press down on bread to make sure it all becomes covered by the egg mixture.  
• 🥖cover mixture with plastic wrap (or other airtight wrap) and store in the refrigerator for 3-12 hours. 
• 🥖A couple of hours prior before you plan to serve, dump bread mixture into well greased crockpot.  
• 🥖Based on your timing, you can cook for 2-3 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high. 

🍽Serving suggestions

This easy overnight French toast is so much fun to "accessorize"!  It is delicious topped with powdered sugar. And, of course, a drizzle of maple syrup.  

Some other favorite toppings include:

• whipped cream
• seasonal sprinkles
• vanilla custard
• fresh fruit
• chocolate chips
• butterscotch chips
• hot fudge sauce
• caramel sauce
• blueberry sauce
• Pear sauce
• wet walnuts
• candied pecans

🔁Substitution ideas*

• 1. For a stronger flavor, substitute blackstrap molasses for light or dark molasses.  Blackstrap molasses will add a more bitter taste.
• Try different types of bread in this delicious recipe. In addition to French bread, overnight gingerbread French toast casserole is great with challah bread, white bread, wheat bread, or brioche bread. Even old bagels will work.
•  Pure vanilla extract and pure maple syrup always provide the best flavors.  However, imitation versions of both would still be delicious! 
• Whole milk will give your breakfast casserole more of a creamier custard-like texture.  However, you can use whichever type of milk you like best.  I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond milk or coconut milk.  Oat milk is also a great option.  
• Not a fan of gingerbread? Try a traditional overnight French toast casserole or strawberry cheesecake French toast.

Storing

Store leftovers of your overnight French toast recipe in an airtight container.  It can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

If you won't get to it in that time period, it can be wrapped up and frozen. Frozen French toast will last in the freezer for 2-3 months. Leftovers are great reheated in the microwave or toaster oven.

😉Hints & hacks

1. Gingerbread French toast is an incredible dish to assemble on Christmas Eve and serve the next morning.  Just toss the prepped ingredients into your slow cooker, grab a hot cup of coffee, and go open presents!
2. This perfect dish doesn't need to be limited to special occasions.  It is so easy to make that it is a great breakfast recipe or Sunday brunch dish - any time of year.
3. Although I am a big fan of slow cooker liners, I often forgo them when making this dish for aesthetic reasons. Regardless of which method you use, you should spray either your slow cooker pot or liner with a non-stick spray.
4. Not a fan of slow cooker liners?  Parchment paper works just as well with this particular recipe.
5. Stale bread works really well with this recipe! It will absorb extra egg mixture for an extra yummy dish.
6. If your slow cooker cooks unevenly (as some of mine do) rotating your slow cooker pot 180 degrees within the cooking element will help aid even things out. I try to do this about half way through the cooking time.
7. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!