Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole Cozy and Easy Recipe

ByLayla August 24, 2025August 24, 2025

$To make this tasty dish, you’ll need a few key items. Here’s what to gather: - 1 loaf of brioche bread, cut into cubes - 1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin puree - 4 large eggs - 2 cups milk (whole or almond) - 3/4 cup brown sugar - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract - 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon - Pinch of salt These ingredients create a rich and creamy base. The brioche bread soaks up the pumpkin mixture, making each bite soft and flavorful. You can easily change this recipe to fit your taste. Here are some fun options: - 1 cup pecans, chopped - Add chocolate chips for a sweet twist. - Swap in your favorite nuts or seeds. These extras let you make the casserole your own. Feel free to experiment! The right toppings can take your casserole to the next level. Here’s what I suggest: - Maple syrup, for drizzling - Whipped cream, for a light, fluffy finish - A sprinkle of extra cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice These toppings enhance the flavors and make your dish look beautiful. Enjoy the cozy taste of fall with each bite! First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This step is key for even baking. Next, grab a 9x13 inch baking dish and grease it well. This helps the casserole not stick when it’s done. In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, eggs, and milk. Stir in the brown sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix until everything is smooth and well blended. Then, add the cubed brioche bread. Gently fold it into the mixture. Make sure every piece of bread is soaked. If you like pecans, fold in one cup of chopped pecans at this point. Pour the mixture into your greased baking dish. Spread it evenly to ensure it cooks well. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. This wait lets the bread soak up all those great flavors. After that, remove the foil and place the dish in the oven. Bake it for 30-35 minutes. Look for a golden brown top and a firm center. When it’s ready, take it out and let it cool for a few minutes. Enjoy it warm with maple syrup and whipped cream! When picking brioche bread, look for a few key things. Choose a loaf that feels soft and fresh. The color should be golden brown, with a slight sheen. A good brioche has a rich, buttery scent. You can find it at bakeries or grocery stores. If you want a sturdier base, look for thicker slices or a round loaf. To help your casserole soak up all the goodness, let the bread sit longer. After mixing the bread with the pumpkin mix, let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Cover it with foil to keep the heat in. This helps all the flavors blend nicely. If you have time, let it sit in the fridge overnight. This gives the bread even more time to soak in the flavor. If you have leftovers, put them in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, cut the casserole into pieces. You can warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes. You can also use the microwave. Heat it for about 30 seconds or until warm. Drizzle with maple syrup again before serving for extra flavor. {{image_2}} You can switch up the bread in this recipe. While brioche is rich and soft, challah works well too. You might also try a crusty French bread for more texture. Each bread type gives a new taste. Experiment with different types to find your favorite. Feel free to add seasonal flavors to your casserole. You could mix in chopped apples or pears for a fruity twist. Dried cranberries or raisins can also add a nice touch. For a nutty flavor, try adding walnuts or pecans. These add-ins can change the whole dish. If you want a vegan or dairy-free casserole, it's easy to adapt. Use plant-based milk like almond or oat milk. Replace eggs with flax eggs or silken tofu for binding. Choose vegan bread to keep it completely plant-based. This way, everyone can enjoy a cozy slice of pumpkin spice goodness. Store your leftover Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days. Make sure to cool it completely before sealing it. This prevents condensation, which can make it soggy. You can freeze the casserole for longer storage. First, let it cool completely. Cut it into portions, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and then place them in a freezer-safe bag. It will last for about two months in the freezer. Label the bag with the date. This way, you can enjoy a taste of fall any time! To reheat, first, thaw it in the fridge overnight if frozen. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the casserole in an oven-safe dish and cover it with foil. Heat for about 20-25 minutes until warm. You can also use the microwave for quick reheating. Just place a portion on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 1-2 minutes. Enjoy it warm with maple syrup and whipped cream! Yes, you can prepare this casserole ahead. Mix all the ingredients and pour them into the baking dish. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge overnight. This way, the bread will soak up the flavors well. In the morning, just bake it straight from the fridge. You might need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time. If you don’t have brown sugar, use granulated sugar. You can mix it with a little molasses to get a similar flavor. About one tablespoon of molasses per cup of sugar works well. You can also use coconut sugar or maple sugar for a unique taste. Each option will give a slightly different flavor but will still be delicious. Yes, you can use sweetened almond milk. It adds a nice flavor to the casserole. Just keep in mind that it is sweeter than whole milk. You might want to adjust the brown sugar amount if you want it less sweet. This substitution makes the dish dairy-free and still tasty. This blog post covered everything about making a Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole. We explored the main and optional ingredients, as well as tasty toppings. The step-by-step instructions made preparation easy. I also shared tips on selecting the best bread and ensuring great flavor. You can customize this dish with various bread types and flavors. Finally, storing and reheating leftovers ensures you can enjoy this treat later. Enjoy every bite of this fall favorite!$

Get ready to cozy up with a warm slice of Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole! This easy dish combines rich flavors of pumpkin and spice, perfect for fall mornings or holiday brunches. You’ll love how simple it is to prepare and how customizable it can be. In this guide, I’ll walk you through all the steps, tips, and variations to make it just right for you. Let’s dive into this delicious recipe!

Ingredients

Main Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole

To make this tasty dish, you’ll need a few key items. Here’s what to gather:

– 1 loaf of brioche bread, cut into cubes

– 1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin puree

– 4 large eggs

– 2 cups milk (whole or almond)

– 3/4 cup brown sugar

– 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

– 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

– Pinch of salt

These ingredients create a rich and creamy base. The brioche bread soaks up the pumpkin mixture, making each bite soft and flavorful.

Optional Ingredients for Customization

You can easily change this recipe to fit your taste. Here are some fun options:

– 1 cup pecans, chopped

– Add chocolate chips for a sweet twist.

– Swap in your favorite nuts or seeds.

These extras let you make the casserole your own. Feel free to experiment!

Suggested Toppings and Garnishes

The right toppings can take your casserole to the next level. Here’s what I suggest:

– Maple syrup, for drizzling

– Whipped cream, for a light, fluffy finish

– A sprinkle of extra cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

These toppings enhance the flavors and make your dish look beautiful. Enjoy the cozy taste of fall with each bite!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparation and Preheating

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This step is key for even baking. Next, grab a 9×13 inch baking dish and grease it well. This helps the casserole not stick when it’s done.

Mixing the Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, eggs, and milk. Stir in the brown sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix until everything is smooth and well blended. Then, add the cubed brioche bread. Gently fold it into the mixture. Make sure every piece of bread is soaked. If you like pecans, fold in one cup of chopped pecans at this point.

Baking the Casserole

Pour the mixture into your greased baking dish. Spread it evenly to ensure it cooks well. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. This wait lets the bread soak up all those great flavors. After that, remove the foil and place the dish in the oven. Bake it for 30-35 minutes. Look for a golden brown top and a firm center. When it’s ready, take it out and let it cool for a few minutes. Enjoy it warm with maple syrup and whipped cream!

Tips & Tricks

How to Select the Best Brioche Bread

When picking brioche bread, look for a few key things. Choose a loaf that feels soft and fresh. The color should be golden brown, with a slight sheen. A good brioche has a rich, buttery scent. You can find it at bakeries or grocery stores. If you want a sturdier base, look for thicker slices or a round loaf.

Ensuring Perfect Flavor Absorption

To help your casserole soak up all the goodness, let the bread sit longer. After mixing the bread with the pumpkin mix, let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Cover it with foil to keep the heat in. This helps all the flavors blend nicely. If you have time, let it sit in the fridge overnight. This gives the bread even more time to soak in the flavor.

Storing Leftovers and Reheating Tips

If you have leftovers, put them in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, cut the casserole into pieces. You can warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes. You can also use the microwave. Heat it for about 30 seconds or until warm. Drizzle with maple syrup again before serving for extra flavor.

Variations

Alternative Bread Options

You can switch up the bread in this recipe. While brioche is rich and soft, challah works well too. You might also try a crusty French bread for more texture. Each bread type gives a new taste. Experiment with different types to find your favorite.

Seasonal Flavor Additions

Feel free to add seasonal flavors to your casserole. You could mix in chopped apples or pears for a fruity twist. Dried cranberries or raisins can also add a nice touch. For a nutty flavor, try adding walnuts or pecans. These add-ins can change the whole dish.

Vegan or Dairy-Free Substitutions

If you want a vegan or dairy-free casserole, it’s easy to adapt. Use plant-based milk like almond or oat milk. Replace eggs with flax eggs or silken tofu for binding. Choose vegan bread to keep it completely plant-based. This way, everyone can enjoy a cozy slice of pumpkin spice goodness.

Storage Info

Refrigeration Tips

Store your leftover Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days. Make sure to cool it completely before sealing it. This prevents condensation, which can make it soggy.

Freezing the Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole

You can freeze the casserole for longer storage. First, let it cool completely. Cut it into portions, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and then place them in a freezer-safe bag. It will last for about two months in the freezer. Label the bag with the date. This way, you can enjoy a taste of fall any time!

Reheating Instructions

To reheat, first, thaw it in the fridge overnight if frozen. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the casserole in an oven-safe dish and cover it with foil. Heat for about 20-25 minutes until warm. You can also use the microwave for quick reheating. Just place a portion on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 1-2 minutes. Enjoy it warm with maple syrup and whipped cream!

FAQs

Can I make Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare this casserole ahead. Mix all the ingredients and pour them into the baking dish. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge overnight. This way, the bread will soak up the flavors well. In the morning, just bake it straight from the fridge. You might need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

What can I substitute for brown sugar?

If you don’t have brown sugar, use granulated sugar. You can mix it with a little molasses to get a similar flavor. About one tablespoon of molasses per cup of sugar works well. You can also use coconut sugar or maple sugar for a unique taste. Each option will give a slightly different flavor but will still be delicious.

Can I use sweetened almond milk instead of whole milk?

Yes, you can use sweetened almond milk. It adds a nice flavor to the casserole. Just keep in mind that it is sweeter than whole milk. You might want to adjust the brown sugar amount if you want it less sweet. This substitution makes the dish dairy-free and still tasty.

This blog post covered everything about making a Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole. We explored the main and optional ingredients, as well as tasty toppings. The step-by-step instructions made preparation easy. I also shared tips on selecting the best bread and ensuring great flavor. You can customize this dish with various bread types and flavors. Finally, storing and reheating leftovers ensures you can enjoy this treat later. Enjoy every bite of this fall favorite!