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Gingerbread Man French Toast

by Jessie Daye

First published: December 21, 2022 | Updated: June 10, 2026

I have been making this baked french toast for years. The traditional recipe is listed on my website as “Baked French Toast” and I typically use french bread. For this recipe I simply used a cookie cutter to create shapes before layering them in the dish. I used the scraps as well to layer on the bottom of the dish, because let’s face it… we are not wasting brioche. Scroll down for the recipe and my How To Video.

Gingerbread Man French Toast

Ingredients
2 loaves of sliced French bread (30-40 slices) or Brioche Bread
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch Kosher salt
Praline Topping (recipe below)
Maple syrup

Pecan Topping
1  1/2 sticks unsalted butter, partially melted
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Gingerbread Man French Toast

Author: Jessie Daye
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Cook 35 minutes
A baked French toast casserole made with French bread or brioche cut into gingerbread man shapes and topped with a praline pecan mixture.

Ingredients

  • 2 loaves sliced French bread or Brioche Bread 30-40 slices
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 pinch Kosher salt
  • 1.5 sticks unsalted butter partially melted
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans optional
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Maple syrup for serving

Method

  1. Butter a 9"x13" baking dish and using a cookie cutter, cut your gingerbread men out of your bread. Arrange the larger scraps on the bottom of the dish and carefully layer the cut gingerbread men on top. Place the "end" pieces on top because they were more hearty and look pretty once baked.
  2. In a large bowl, combine eggs, half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer or whisk until blended. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all pieces are covered evenly. Spoon some of the mixture in between the pieces so you don't have dry patches. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
  3. The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  4. Spread warm topping evenly over the bread very carefully and bake for 35 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Serve with maple syrup.

Notes

It's also super delicious cold and topped with vanilla ice cream! Do not throw away bread scraps - layer them on the bottom of the dish.

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Hi, I'm Jessie. 

I’m a Los Angeles mama, home renovator, and lifelong creative, sharing the things that make everyday life a little more beautiful. I believe food is one of the best ways to bring people together, which is why I love cooking: it turns an ordinary Tuesday into something worth remembering. From recipes I make on repeat to DIY projects, home design, and a little bit of real life in between — welcome to my corner of the internet. I’m so glad you’re here.

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