Description
Comforting pumpkin French toast bake brings autumn’s warmth to breakfast tables with rich spices and creamy textures. Layers of bread, pumpkin custard, and cinnamon create a delightful morning indulgence you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 15-18 ounces (425–510 grams) loaf of stale white bread, such as challah, French bread, or brioche
- 5 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) milk
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
Sweet and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) white sugar
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, or make your own see recipe notes
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious 9×13 inch glass baking dish by applying a light coating of grease to prevent sticking.
- Deconstruct the bread loaf into rustic, bite-sized cubes or tear into irregular pieces using hands, then distribute evenly across the greased pan.
- Create a luxurious pumpkin custard by vigorously whisking milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, pumpkin spice, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Gently cascade the vibrant pumpkin mixture over the bread pieces, carefully ensuring each morsel becomes thoroughly saturated and coated.
- Craft the streusel topping by combining flour, brown sugar, white sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and chopped pecans in a separate bowl, creating a textural blend of sweet and nutty elements.
- Introduce melted butter to the streusel mixture, stirring until the ingredients form a crumbly, cohesive topping.
- Heat the oven to 350F (180C), positioning the rack in the center for even cooking.
- Generously sprinkle the prepared streusel across the pumpkin-soaked bread, creating an enticing crumbly layer.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the texture to develop.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes, watching for a golden-brown surface and ensuring the center is completely set.
- Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick, which should emerge clean and free from raw custard.
- Allow the dish to rest and cool slightly before serving, permitting the flavors to settle and the texture to firm up.
Notes
- Swap regular bread with gluten-free alternatives for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals.
- Choose whole wheat or sourdough bread for added nutritional value and deeper flavor profile.
- Enhance moisture by allowing bread to sit in pumpkin mixture for 15-30 minutes before baking, helping cubes absorb more liquid.
- Customize streusel with different nuts like walnuts or almonds for varied texture and taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55-60 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg