This Gluten Free Gingerbread French Toast Casserole is a delicious option for breakfast or brunch. Not only is it incredibly easy to make, it uses just a few simple ingredients with show stopping results. Everyone will love it! 

This recipe is sponsored by Planet Oat who I am excited to be partnering with throughout 2021. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Best Gluten Free Gingerbread French Toast Casserole Recipe

Gingerbread is one of my favorite flavors of the holiday season! It’s warm, cozy, and just a little spicy – perfection! 

This delicious Gingerbread French toast Casserole is the perfect combination of gingerbread flavor in a tasty French toast bake that is perfect for a holiday breakfast or brunch. 

Not only is this French toast casserole delicious, it’s also made with just a few simple ingredients such as Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oatmilk for the best silky texture and flavor. 

All you need is a little prep time to put together a show stopping casserole that everyone will absolutely love. 

Reader Favorite French Toast Recipes

gingerbread French toast casserole ingredients

The Ingredients You’ll Need for This Gluten Free Gingerbread French Toast Casserole Recipe

Gluten Free Bread: To keep the French toast casserole gluten free, this recipe calls for one pound of your favorite gluten free white bread. 

Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oatmilk: A good French toast casserole needs a creamy, flavorful custard base to pull everything together. That’s why we’re using Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oatmilk in this recipe. Not only is it dairy-free, but it also has the perfect creamy texture that makes this recipe one-of-a-kind. I also love it because it’s naturally sweet and complements all the other flavors in the casserole. It’s also dairy, gluten, soy and peanut free, making it a great option for all guests this holiday season, regardless of their dietary preferences!

Eggs: These make up the other half of the custard to help bind everything together. 

Vanilla Extract: This gives the French toast that rich vanilla flavor. 

Spices: For the perfect gingerbread flavor, we’re using a combination of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and ground nutmeg. 

Molasses: A must-have ingredient in any gingerbread treat. 

Coconut Sugar: This gives the casserole the perfect amount of sweetness and flavor. 

Orange Zest: This adds a brightness to the casserole that I think you will really enjoy!

Powdered Sugar: After the French toast casserole is baked, it receives a liberal sprinkle of powdered sugar for the final finish. 

oat milk being poured into mixing bowl

How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole

Step One: First, start by greasing a 9×13 baking dish with a little butter or oil. Then, add the dried out bread cubes to the baking dish.

Step Two: Next, make the creamy custard that will hold the casserole together. Add the eggs, Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oatmilk, spices, molasses, coconut sugar, and orange zest to a large mixing bowl. 

Step Three: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread. Use your fingertips to press the bread cubes down slightly into the custard to ensure that every piece comes in contact with the custard mixture.

Step Four: Tightly cover the casserole dish and refrigerate overnight.

Step Five: Once you are ready to bake the casserole, start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the casserole dish from the fridge, uncover, and let sit on the countertop for thirty minutes to allow the baking dish to come to room temperature.

Step Six: While the oven is preheating combine three tablespoons of coconut sugar and one teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the casserole.

Step Seven: Place the casserole in the middle rack of the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until it is golden brown and set in the middle. 

Step Eight: Let the casserole cool for ten minutes before serving. Top with sifted powdered sugar, fresh berries, and maple syrup.

bread cubes and custard in baking dish

How to Dry Out Your Bread

Dry or slightly stale bread is the key to a good French toast casserole. Dry bread will absorb the delicious oatmilk custard mixture so you will not be left with a soggy casserole.

This recipe works really well with old bread that has naturally dried out a bit. However, if you do not have time to wait a few days for your bread to dry out, here are a few quicker methods you can try.

Method #1: Cube your bread and spread it out onto a sheet pan. Let it sit out on the countertop for a few hours or overnight to let the bread dry out.

Method #2: If you are really short on time, you can let the bread dry out in the oven. Cube your bread and place it on a sheet pan. Bake the bread for eight to ten minutes at 300 degrees.

Can You Make the Casserole the Same Morning?

Yes! This is not the preferred method but it can work if you are short on time or forgot to assemble the casserole the night before. Just cover the casserole and place in the fridge for one to two hours before baking.

gingerbread French toast casserole

How to Prevent Soggy French Toast Casserole

Tip #1: Make sure the bread is dry enough before making the casserole. If the bread is not dry enough it will not soak up enough of the custard mixture which will lead to a soggy casserole. The bread does not need to be crisp, but it does need to be dry enough to absorb all of the liquid.

Tip #2: Ensure that the casserole has had enough time to soak up the rich creamy oatmilk custard. Allowing the casserole to sit overnight, or for more than one or two hours, helps to ensure that the bread has enough time to absorb all of the liquid.

How to Serve

This French toast casserole is great on its own but there are a few great serving options that can really take it to the next levels. Here are a few serving ideas:

  • Top the casserole with fresh berries
  • Add a few slices of banana to an individual slice
  • I love to sprinkle on a bit of powdered sugar over the top of the casserole before serving
  • Last, but certainly not least, you’ll need a good drizzle of real maple syrup

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use regular bread? Yes! If you do not have a gluten allergy or sensitivity, feel free to use regular bread. A crusty loaf of sourdough would be delicious.
  • What is the best way to reheat the casserole? I prefer to reheat the casserole quickly in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time. It won’t dry out the casserole and it will still be delicious.

gingerbread French toast on plate

More Easy Breakfast Recipes

I hope you give this Gingerbread French Toast Casserole a try! It’s the perfect holiday breakfast or brunch!

If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.

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French toast casserole on plate

Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

  • Author: Ashlea Carver
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
  • Author: Ashlea Carver
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

  • 1 pound gluten free white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 8 eggs
  • 3 cups Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oatmilk
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (plus 1 teaspoon)
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon dark unsulphured molasses
  • 2/3 cup coconut sugar (plus 3 tablespoons)
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • Powdered sugar, for serving

Method

  1. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and then add the bread cubes to the baking dish.
  2. Next, make the custard. Add the eggs, Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oatmilk, vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, allspice, nutmeg, molasses, 2/3 cup coconut sugar, melted butter, and orange zest to a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until everything is well combined.
  3. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread. Press the bread down slightly into the custard to ensure that every piece comes in contact with the custard mixture.
  4. Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours. Or, if you are short on time, cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  5. Once you are ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the casserole dish from the fridge, uncover, and let sit for 30 minutes to allow the baking dish to come to room temperature.
  6. While the oven is preheating combine 3 tablespoons of coconut sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the casserole.
  7. Place the casserole in the middle rack of the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes until it is golden brown and set in the middle.
  8. Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before serving. Top with sifted powdered sugar, fresh berries, and maple syrup.
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Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: THE MINDFUL HAPA

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4 Comments

  1. Christine says:

    This, paired with the gingerbread latte recipe, made the perfect holiday breakfast! My family loved it, and I love anything I can make ahead of time!






  2. Casey Colodny says:

    Made this for family over the holidays and it was a hit!! a perfect combo of gingerbread, toasty bread and cinnamon!






  3. Can you use almond milk instead of oat milk?

    1. Ashlea Carver says:

      Hi, Katrina! yes, I think that would work.