Description
Pumpkin Pie French Toast Bake is a warm, hearty breakfast combining the cozy flavors of pumpkin pie spices with custardy French toast. This easy-to-make, one-dish bake can be prepared ahead and is perfect for fall mornings, family brunches, or holiday gatherings. Using day-old brioche or challah soaked in a pumpkin-spiced custard, it delivers a comforting and flavorful start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 6–8 thick slices day-old brioche or challah bread, cut into cubes or slices
Custard Mixture
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk or cream (or dairy-free alternative)
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/3 cup sugar (brown or white)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Additional
- Butter for greasing the baking dish and optional dotting on top
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Cut your day-old brioche or challah into thick cubes or slices, then spread them evenly in a greased baking dish to create the base of your French toast bake.
- Mix the custard: In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and well combined.
- Combine and soak: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread, pressing gently to make sure each piece soaks up the flavorful liquid well.
- Refrigerate: Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight. This soak time allows the bread to absorb the pumpkin custard for a creamy texture.
- Bake: Remove the bake from the fridge and dot the top with small pieces of butter if desired. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 45-55 minutes until golden brown and set.
Notes
- Use sturdy bread like brioche or challah to hold custard without turning mushy.
- Refrigerating to soak the bread fully is essential for a custardy center.
- Adding knobs of butter on top before baking creates a golden, crispy crust.
- Check baking starting around 40 minutes to avoid overbaking and drying out.
- Serve warm for the best taste, with toppings of your choice such as powdered sugar, whipped cream, or maple syrup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/8 of recipe)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
Keywords: pumpkin pie, French toast bake, fall breakfast, pumpkin spice, baked French toast, brunch recipe
