A cozy and delicious Pumpkin French Toast Bake combining the warm flavors of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pumpkin puree with thick-sliced Texas toast in a sweet, custardy casserole perfect for fall breakfasts or brunch.
Total Time:55 minutes
Yield:8 servings
Ingredients
Bake Mixture
8 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 loaf Texas toast thick-sliced bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
Topping
⅓ cup brown sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter, softened
Instructions
Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Mix Pumpkin Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, and white sugar until well combined. Beat in the pumpkin puree thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended.
Assemble Bake: Arrange the cubed Texas toast evenly in the greased baking dish. Pour the pumpkin custard mixture over the bread cubes, using a spatula or spoon to toss and coat them evenly so each piece soaks up the custard.
Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, flour, and softened butter. Use a fork to mix these ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly with small clumps.
Apply Topping: Sprinkle the crumbly brown sugar topping evenly over the custard-soaked bread cubes to add a sweet, crunchy layer.
Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes. Bake until the top is golden brown and the custard is set, ensuring a deliciously baked French toast casserole.
Notes
For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with coconut oil or a dairy-free margarine.
The Texas toast bread is ideal for soaking up the custard; if unavailable, use thick sliced brioche or challah.
You can prepare the bake the night before; cover and refrigerate overnight for a convenient morning bake.
Adding chopped nuts or raisins to the topping can add extra texture and flavor.
Serve warm with maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar for an extra special touch.
