Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Make your mornings special with this tasty pumpkin French toast casserole, topped with a sweet and crunchy streusel.
Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Pumpkin spice season is almost here and this pumpkin French toast casserole is the perfect dish to make to celebrate!
It's just like it sounds, a French toast casserole full of pumpkin spice flavor, plus a streusel topping.
It's easy to make and perfect for breakfast or brunch. It can be prepared the night before if you want, so you just have to stick it in the oven to bake the next morning.
Ingredients for Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Loaf of stale white bread: Stale bread absorbs the custard mixture better.
Milk: We used whole milk.
Pure pumpkin: Ensure it's pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling.
Eggs: Try and use room temperature eggs.
White sugar: Used in both the French toast portion and the streusel topping.
Pumpkin pie spice: If you don’t have this, you can substitute with a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract works best for a richer flavor.
All-purpose flour: Helps in forming the streusel crumb topping.
Brown sugar: Adds a deeper, molasses-like sweetness to the streusel.
Unsalted butter (melted): Used in the streusel topping.
How to Make Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Start by lightly greasing a 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
Cut a loaf of bread into small cubes or tear it into pieces with your hands and place the pieces in the baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, pumpkin spice, and vanilla extract.
Pour this pumpkin mixture over the bread in the dish and gently stir so that all the bread pieces are coated evenly.
Next, preheat your oven to 350°F.
For the streusel topping, mix the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl. Then, add the melted butter and stir to create the streusel.
Sprinkle and crumble this topping all over the top of the casserole.
Cover the pan with foil and bake in the pre-heated oven for 40 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.
Once done, slice the casserole and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks to Make the Best Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Here’s a list of tips for making this breakfast casserole:
Use Stale Bread: If your bread is a bit stale, it will soak up the pumpkin mixture better. If you don't have stale bread, you can lightly toast the bread cubes in the oven for a few minutes.
Prep Ahead: Assemble the casserole the night before. This saves time in the morning and lets the bread really soak up the flavors overnight.
Use Different Breads: French bread, challah, or brioche all work great. Experiment to see which one you like best.
Nutty Topping: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel topping if you'd like.
Cover with Foil: If the casserole is getting too brown on top, loosely cover it with foil during baking.
Check Doneness: Stick a toothpick or knife in the center to check if it’s done. It should come out clean.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow your French toast casserole to cool to room temperature, then
To store leftover Pumpkin French Toast Casserole, start by letting it cool down to room temperature. Once it has cooled, place the leftovers into an airtight container. If you don't have a container, you can also use plastic wrap or aluminum foil to cover the casserole dish tightly. Make sure the covering is sealed well to keep the air out. After that, place the container or dish in the refrigerator. Leftover Pumpkin French Toast Casserole can last in the fridge for about 3-4 days. If you need to keep it longer, you can freeze it by placing it in a freezer-safe container or wrapping it well in plastic wrap and then foil. In the freezer, it can last for up to 2 months. When you want to eat it again, thaw it in the fridge overnight and then reheat it in the oven or microwave until it’s warm.
What to Serve with Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Maple Syrup: A classic pairing that's delicious.
Whipped Cream: Add a dollop to your piece.
Crispy Bacon: Always a great side to French toast.
Fruit Salad: A nice and healthy side.
Cream Cheese Drizzle: A little extra special topping.
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Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 15-18 ounce loaf of stale white bread
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 cup pure pumpkin
- 5 eggs
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
STREUSEL CRUMBLE TOPPING
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Lightly spray a 9x13 inch glass baking dish. Cut the loaf of bread into small cubes or rip into pieces with your hands. Place the bread in the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, pumpkin spice and vanilla extract.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture over the bread and gently stir to make sure that the bread is evenly coated.
- Preheat the oven to 350°. For the streusel topping, In a medium bowl stir together the flour, brown sugar, white sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Then add in the melted butter and stir.
- Sprinkle and crumble the streusel topping all over top of the casserole. Cover the pan with tin foil and place in the oven for 40 minutes covered, then after bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
Please note that the nutritional content of this recipe will vary based on the specific ingredients used. For a detailed breakdown of the nutritional values, consider using a recipe nutrition calculator with the exact brands and measurements you've used.
