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Cozy Baked Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

Pumpkin French Toast Casserole - featured image
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A comforting, make-ahead holiday breakfast casserole featuring stale bread soaked in a rich pumpkin-spiced custard, topped with cinnamon sugar and nuts for a crispy, golden finish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8–10 cups stale bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (baguette, brioche, or challah)
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup 100% pure pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (for topping)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Place the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish, arranging them evenly.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, milk, pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Use a spatula to gently press down on the bread to ensure all pieces are submerged.
  5. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. If baking immediately, let sit on the counter for 30 minutes.
  6. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with cinnamon sugar and chopped nuts.
  7. Remove plastic wrap from the casserole and sprinkle the butter-nut mixture evenly over the top.
  8. Bake for 45-55 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy, and the center is set.
  9. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use stale bread for best structural integrity. Do not use pumpkin pie filling; use 100% pure pumpkin puree. For a dairy-free version, substitute cream and milk with coconut or almond milk. For gluten-free, use sturdy gluten-free bread.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin french toast, holiday breakfast, make-ahead casserole, pumpkin spice, brunch recipe, comfort food

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/cozy-baked-pumpkin-french-toast-casserole-1-easy-holiday-recipe/