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Easy Pumpkin Spice French Toast Bake Best Fall Breakfast

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This Easy Pumpkin Spice French Toast Bake is a warm, comforting breakfast that comes together with almost zero fuss. It’s the perfect dish for busy mornings or lazy weekends, featuring a custardy texture and warm fall spices.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf (14-16 ounces) day-old brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • For the streusel topping (optional):
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your bread: Cut day-old brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes (about 6-7 cups). Spread evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Make the custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk 6 eggs until smooth and slightly frothy. Add 1 ½ cups whole milk, 1 cup pumpkin puree, ½ cup packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Whisk until fully combined and smooth.
  3. Pour and soak: Slowly pour custard over bread cubes. Gently press down with a spatula to coat all pieces. Let sit at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate overnight for best results.
  4. Make the streusel (optional): In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Cut in 3 tablespoons cold cubed butter until mixture resembles coarse sand. Stir in ¼ cup chopped pecans if using. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  5. Preheat and bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Sprinkle streusel evenly over soaked bread. Bake for 35-40 minutes until top is golden brown and center is set (slightly jiggly but not liquid). A knife inserted near center should come out clean.
  6. Rest and serve: Let bake rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, drizzled with maple syrup and dusted with powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

For best texture, use day-old bread and let the custard soak overnight. If bread is fresh, cube and dry in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. To prevent over-browning, tent with foil during last 10 minutes if needed. Leftovers keep in fridge for up to 4 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin spice, french toast bake, fall breakfast, easy breakfast, pumpkin recipe, brioche french toast, overnight french toast

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/easy-pumpkin-spice-french-toast-bake-best-fall-breakfast/