Description
Creamy pumpkin french toast casserole brings autumn’s warmth to weekend breakfast tables. Cinnamon-spiced layers of bread and custard promise delightful comfort that brings pure morning happiness you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf challah or brioche bread (about 12 cups, cubed)
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
Sweeteners and Sugars:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Spices and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Transform challah or brioche into rustic, bite-sized cubes and distribute uniformly across a thoroughly greased 9×13-inch baking vessel.
- Craft a luscious pumpkin custard by vigorously whisking together pumpkin puree, eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, warming spices, and salt until achieving a silky, homogeneous consistency.
- Cascade the aromatic custard evenly over bread cubes, tenderly pressing to guarantee thorough absorption and maximum flavor integration.
- Construct a decadent crumble topping by blending brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and molten butter until achieving a crumbly texture. Optionally incorporate chopped nuts for additional complexity.
- Delicately blanket the custard-soaked bread with the prepared sugar-spice mixture, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Refrigerate the assembled casserole for a minimum of 4 hours or ideally overnight, allowing flavors to meld and bread to fully saturate.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), positioning rack in central position for uniform heat distribution.
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, monitoring until surface transforms into a golden, crispy landscape and center achieves a gentle, set consistency.
- Extract from oven and permit 10-minute resting period to stabilize structural integrity.
- Embellish with optional accompaniments like maple syrup, billowy whipped cream, or delicate powdered sugar dusting before serving.
Notes
- Choose soft, day-old bread like challah or brioche for maximum absorption and rich, custardy texture.
- Avoid using fresh bread, as it might become soggy and lose structural integrity during baking.
- Swap whole milk with almond or oat milk for a dairy-free version that maintains creamy consistency.
- Add extra warmth by incorporating a pinch of cardamom or cloves alongside existing spices for deeper flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg