Naughty Chai French Toast

A white plate with two heart-shaped French toasts drizzled with syrup and sprinkled with powdered sugar, a small cream pitcher with syrup, a Santa hat, cinnamon sticks, and a pair of glasses on a white wooden table against a white tile backsplash.
French toast with syrup and powdered sugar on a white plate, with a cup of coffee in the background, and a Christmas Santa hat in a festive setting.

Naughty Chai French Toast Bites

Cooked bananas with syrup and powdered sugar on a white plate.

Naughty Chai French Toast (Stale Sourdough Redemption)

Every once in a while, a recipe comes along that stops the whole house in its tracks…
This is that recipe.

Day 4 of Stale Sourdough Redemption brings you Naughty Chai French Toast — a warm, spicy, cozy, Christmas-morning-that-grew-up kind of breakfast. And let me tell you… this one got rave reviews from EVERYONE. Even the skeptics. Even the “I don’t usually like French toast” people. Even the “just a bite” people who suddenly eat half the plate.

And the secret glow-up?
I made this using my Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Sourdough, and oh my god… the cinnamon ribbons baked into the bread take this recipe to a whole new level. The chai spices melt into the swirl, the sugar caramelizes on the edges, and the whole thing becomes this warm, spiced, cozy masterpiece.

BUT WAIT.
Because we don’t waste bread in this house…
I also turned the “butts” of the loaf — you know, the end pieces nobody fights over — into Naughty Chai French Toast Bites.

And WOW.
These little crispy, custardy, chai-coated nuggets might be even better than the full slices. Perfect for snacking, sharing, dipping, or eating straight off the pan before they ever reach a plate. (No regrets.)

This recipe is warm, cozy, festive, and somehow tastes like a hug and a holiday movie at the same time.

Full recipe below — including how to make the bites.

NAUGHTY CHAI FRENCH TOAST (Day 4)

Warm spices + sourdough + holiday magic.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

For the Custard:

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1/3 cup milk

  • 2 tbsp heavy cream

  • 1 tbsp brown sugar

  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

  • Pinch of salt

Chai Spice Blend:

  • ¾ tsp cinnamon

  • ¼ tsp ground ginger

  • ⅛ tsp cardamom

  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg

  • Pinch of cloves

  • Pinch of black pepper (optional but adds authentic warmth)

For Cooking:

  • Thick slices of day-old Diablo Dough Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Sourdough

  • Butter for the pan

For Topping:

Choose 1–3 for best results:

  • Warm maple syrup

  • White chocolate or cream cheese drizzle

  • Powdered sugar snow

  • Cinnamon sugar

  • Berry sauce streak (for Santa red ✨)

  • Whipped cream

  • Cinnamon stick garnish

Instructions

1. Make the custard.

Whisk eggs, milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.

2. Add the chai spices.

Stir in cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and black pepper.

3. Dip the sourdough.

Soak each slice for 10–15 seconds per side.
Cinnamon swirl bread LOVES this custard.

4. Cook.

Heat butter in a skillet over medium.
Cook each slice 2–3 minutes per side until golden, crisp, and fragrant with chai.

5. Plate and top.

Drizzle with maple syrup, white chocolate, or cream cheese glaze.
Add powdered sugar or a berry streak for a festive finish.

BONUS: Naughty Chai French Toast Bites (The Famous “Butts”)

This is your new FAVORITE way to use the end slices of the loaf.

How to make them:

  1. Slice the bread ends into cubes.

  2. Dip them quickly into the chai custard.

  3. Cook in butter, stirring occasionally, until:

    • crispy

    • caramelized

    • deeply golden

  4. Drizzle lightly with maple syrup or icing.

  5. Serve as a little bowl of holiday magic.

Why it works:

The swirl + sugar edges caramelize even more on the smaller pieces, giving you:

  • more crispiness

  • more chai flavor

  • more caramelization

  • and basically bread-pudding-meets-churro energy

These are PERFECT for kids, sharing, movie nights, or just snacking while you cook the full slices.

Why We Love This Recipe

This French toast hits the perfect balance of:

  • warm chai spice

  • buttery crisp edges

  • soft custardy center

  • subtle sourdough tang

  • aromatic holiday flavor

  • and now… bonus bites that make zero-waste feel indulgent

It’s festive without being fussy, indulgent without being overly sweet, and absolutely perfect for movie nights, Christmas brunch, or December mornings where you need a little extra magic.

The fact that this recipe passed the “skeptics test” seals the deal — it’s a keeper.

Optional Variations

  • Extra Chai Kick: Add 1–2 tsp chai concentrate to the custard.

  • Cream Cheese Glaze: Mix cream cheese + powdered sugar + milk + chai spice.

  • Crunchy Version: Add a chai streusel topping after dipping.

  • “Nice” Version: Remove the black pepper and add a splash of almond extract.

Storage & Reheating

Naughty Chai French Toast reheats beautifully in an air fryer or skillet.
Warm at 350°F for 3–4 minutes.