When the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to fall, it’s time for a breakfast that brings comfort and celebration. This Fall Pumpkin French Toast for Breakfast transforms thick slices of rustic bread into a cozy layered morning treat with rich pumpkin custard, warm spices, and a maple drizzle that tastes like autumn in a bite. Whether it’s a weekend brunch or a special holiday start, this recipe invites you to slow down and indulge.
What Makes This Pumpkin French Toast Exceptional
- A rich custard base using half & half for creaminess and depth.
- Robust pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves) layered gently for flavor, not overpowering.
- The right bread: sturdy, day-old, thick-cut to absorb custard without collapse.
- Cooking technique: griddle or skillet + brief oven warm-through to finish center.
- Family-friendly, approachable, with options to elevate. As Two Peas says: “my boys devoured this.”
Ingredients You’ll Need
- ½ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- ¾ cup half & half (or milk + cream)
- 4 large eggs
- 2½ Tbsp light brown sugar
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1¼ tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, ¼ tsp ginger, ⅛ tsp cloves
- 9 slices hearty bread (rustic French loaf or brioche)
- Butter for griddle
- Maple syrup and whipped cream for topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat griddle or non-stick skillet to ~350 °F (or oven to 225 °F to keep slices warm).
Step 2: In a shallow dish whisk pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, spices, half & half until smooth.
Step 3: Dip each bread slice, allowing it to soak on both sides. Bread slice being dipped into pumpkin custard mixture.
Step 4: Butter griddle, cook slices 2–4 minutes per side until golden brown.
Step 5: Transfer to oven rack (225 °F) for up to 10 minutes to ensure doneness without burning.
Step 6: Serve warm immediately with maple syrup, whipped cream, toasted pecans or walnuts.
The “Custard Braise Elevation”
Instead of a simple soak, try a light overnight soak (or 30-minute rest) in the custard with an added splash of brewed espresso (½ tsp). The subtle coffee enhances the pumpkin spice flavour, deepens the caramel notes when cooked, and gives the toast a café-worthy finish without changing texture. Then finish with a drizzle of melted brown-butter instead of plain butter for an elevated brunch experience.
The “Crunch/Soft Dual-Textural Trick”
After cooking, spot-toast the edges of each slice under the broiler for 1 minute this creates crispy caramelized edges while the interior remains custardy-soft. Serve with a maple-pecan crumble: mix ¼ cup pecans chopped, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon; sprinkle just before serving. The juxtaposition of crunchy edges, melting interior and sweet-nutty topping gives a textural surprise not found in typical french toast recipes.
Variations & Substitutions
- Use whole-wheat or gluten-free bread (increase soak time slightly).
- Swap half & half for dairy-free almond-oat milk blend (for lighter version).
- Add ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice instead of individual spices.
- For dessert feel: top with caramel sauce + vanilla ice cream.
- Make ahead: assemble dipped slices, cover, refrigerate 1–2 hours before cooking.
Serving Suggestions
- Pair with hot apple-cider, cinnamon-spiced coffee, crispy bacon.
- A great brunch centrepiece for holidays like Thanksgiving or a lazy Saturday morning.
Storage & Reheating
- Leftovers: Cool, cover, refrigerate up to 2 days.
- Reheat: 350 °F oven for 8–10 minutes, or toaster for individual slices.
FAQs
Can I use regular bread instead of French loaf?
Yes, but ensure it’s sturdy (not thin sandwich bread) so it holds the custard without collapsing.
Why pumpkin puree and not pie filling?
Puree has no added sugar/spices gives you full control over flavour and texture.
Can I bake instead of griddle?
Yes, place dipped slices in a 13×9-inch dish, bake at 350 °F for 40-45 minutes. Variation used by Two Peas.
Conclusion
This Fall Pumpkin French Toast for Breakfast is your go-to for autumn mornings: rich, comforting, and deceptively easy. With the custard soak, hearty bread, warm spices and two textural innovations, it stands out from every pumpkin french toast out there.
Make this weekend brunch unforgettable and share the love around your table.
❤️ More Cozy Comfort Dinners
Discover more sweet treats: Apple Crisp Mini Cheesecakes.
Craving cheesecake bars? Try Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars.
Love seasonal dessert bars? See Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bars.
For a breakfast treat twist: check Apple Cinnamon Roll.
And for a fun dip idea: Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip.