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There’s nothing better than waking up to a ready-to-bake breakfast filled with cozy fall flavors. This Pumpkin French Toast Casserole brings together the warmth of pumpkin and cinnamon in an easy, make-ahead dish. Perfect for Thanksgiving brunch or any busy autumn morning, it’s a crowd-pleaser that lets you enjoy more time with family and less time in the kitchen.
Nikki’s Recipe Roundup
- Taste: Think cozy fall vibes! Sweet pumpkin, warm spices, tangy cream cheese, and crunchy pecans—so delicious
- Texture: Soft, custardy brioche with a crisp pecan crumble. Perfect balance of creamy and crunchy!
- Ease: Super simple. Mix, layer, chill, bake. Great for busy mornings!
- Pros: You can make it ahead! Just pop it in the fridge overnight, and bake fresh in the morning.
- Considerations: Needs a few hours in the fridge and is best served fresh.
- Recipe Repeatability: Perfect for brunch or holidays—and easy to switch up with different nuts or spices!
French Toast Casserole with Pumpkin Spice
There’s something so comforting about waking up to a breakfast you’ve already prepped, especially when you’re sharing it with the people you love. This Overnight French Toast Casserole is perfect for fall—packed with those cozy seasonal flavors we can’t get enough of!
What makes this dish a winner is the layering of textures and flavors. Soft, custardy brioche soaks up a rich mixture of eggs, milk, and pumpkin puree, while the tangy cream cheese filling adds just the right touch of sweetness. Then it’s all topped with a buttery pecan crumble for the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy. And the best part? You can whip it up the night before, so you’re free to enjoy the morning with your family—no stress, just good food and good company.
After years of making brunch dishes, I can tell you this one is a favorite. It’s simple, packed with flavor, and easy to customize! Using good, basic ingredients makes it shine, and you can always adjust it to fit your family’s taste. And who doesn’t lov something that resembles a cheesecake filling for breakfast?
Whether you’re hosting a brunch or treating yourself to something special, this casserole is a fall breakfast you’ll love.
Ingredients Needed to Make A Pumpkin French Toast Breakfast Casserole
- Milk: Milk will add moisture to the breakfast casserole! You can use any milk that you have on hand.
- Pumpkin Puree: Make sure to use canned pumpkin puree, and not canned pumpkin pie filling!
- Eggs: Eggs create the silky smooth custard filling that brings all of the ingredients together!
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: Pumpkin pie spice is a mix of warming spices that lend the classic fall flavor.
- Vanilla: Use vanilla extract for a little extra flavor!
- Brioche Bread: I like to use brioche bread here. It has the best flavor! However, if you don’t have brioche bread you can use thick-cut white bread. I don’t recommend using regular white sandwich bread as it won’t hold up well to the custard filling.
- Cream Cheese Filling: For the creamy pumpkin filling, you need a block of softened cream cheese, pumpkin butter, and powdered sugar!
- Crumb Topping: The sweet crumb topping on top consists of flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salted butter, and chopped pecans.
How To Make Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Make the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling
In a medium mixing bowl, with a hand mixer combine the cream cheese, pumpkin butter, and powdered sugar till creamy and well combined.
Step 2 | Prep the Egg Custard Mixture
In a separate mixing bowl combine the milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Step 3 | Coat the Brioche Bread
Lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and spread half the bread cubes over the bottom evenly.
Pour half the egg mixture over the bread evenly.
Step 4 | Assemble & Chill
As evenly as possible, spread the cream cheese mixture over the bread.
Sprinkle the remaining bread cubes over the cream cheese mixture followed by the remaining egg mixture.
Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours or even overnight. Before pulling out of the fridge preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Step 5 | Prep the Crump Topping & Bake
Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl.
Add the cold butter and using a fork or your fingers combined the ingredients till it becomes coarse crumbs. Add the chopped pecans and mix again.
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the bread cubes and bake for 45 minutes. Cover with foil and continue cooking for an additional 20-30 minutes till golden brown till set in the middle.
Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with maple syrup and powdered sugar, if desired.
Recipe Tips for Pumpkin Brioche French Toast Casserole
- Refrigerate overnight if possible. Not only does refrigerating the casserole overnight allow the bread to fully absorb the custard, but it also makes this an easy overnight French toast casserole recipe.
- Don’t forget to cover the casserole halfway through baking. This will ensure that the bread in the top layer doesn’t get too brown and crispy! You want it just slightly crispy but not burnt.
- Allow it to rest before cutting into it. To make sure that the fillings have a little bit of time to set, allow it to cool for 10 minutes before diving in.
Variations and Substitutions
- Bread alternatives: If brioche isn’t available, challah, croissants, or even thick slices of white bread work well. The key is to use soft (but not too soft), slightly sweet bread.
- Nut-free version: Omit the pecans for a nut-free topping. You can substitute rolled oats for a crunchy topping without the nuts.
- Dairy-free option: Use dairy-free cream cheese and a plant-based milk like almond or oat milk to make this casserole suitable for dairy-free diets.
- Sweetness adjustments: If you prefer a slightly less sweet version of this pumpkin French toast casserole, reduce the powdered sugar in the cream cheese filling or skip the pumpkin butter.
Pumpkin Spice Breakfast CasseroleRecipe FAQs
You can add a few tablespoons of milk and add some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice and skip the pumpkin butter. You won’t have quite as much to spread, but it will still taste delicious!
Yes, as the bread soaks up the moisture it will even out more. You don’t want it to be 100% soggy or it will take a lot longer to cook and won’t turn out as yummy.
I have had it in the fridge up to 24 hours before baking it. I’d imagine you could make it up to 2 days before baking.
Storage for French Toast Overnight Casserole
Storage: Cover with foil or plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Freeze: Freezing is another option—simply wrap the cooled casserole tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. It will last in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat: Cover the dish with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes. You can also microwave individual portions for 1 minute or until warm.
What to Serve with Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole
Serve this pumpkin cream cheese French toast with a warm drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar for extra sweetness!
For a complete brunch, pair it with crispy bacon, fresh fruit, or a hard boiled egg on the side. A cup of coffee or tea on the side would complement the sweet pumpkin flavors, too.
Other Recipes
- Cinnamon Roll Casserole
- Glazed Pumpkin Donut Muffins
- Bourbon Apple Pecan Bread Pudding
- Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
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Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup milk
- ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
- 5 large eggs
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 loaf brioche bread (1 pound loaf), cut into 1-inch cubes
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup pumpkin butter
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
Topping
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup salted butter, cut into small cubes
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, with a hand mixer combine the cream cheese, pumpkin butter, and powdered sugar till creamy and well combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl combine the milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and spread half the bread cubes over the bottom evenly.
- Pour half the egg mixture over the bread evenly.
- As evenly as possible, spread the cream cheese mixture over the bread.
- Sprinkle the remaining bread cubes over the cream cheese mixture followed by the remaining egg mixture.
- Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours or even overnight. Before pulling out of the fridge preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl.
- Add the cold butter and using a fork or your fingers combined the ingredients till it becomes coarse crumbs. Add the chopped pecans and mix again.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the bread cubes and bake for 45 minutes. Cover with foil and continue cooking for an additional 20-30 minutes till golden brown till set in the middle.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with maple syrup and powdered sugar, if desired.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Notes
- Refrigerate overnight if possible. Not only does refrigerating the casserole overnight allow the bread to fully absorb the custard, but it also makes this an easy overnight French toast casserole recipe.
- Don’t forget to cover the casserole halfway through baking. This will ensure that the bread in the top layer doesn’t get too brown and crispy! You want it just slightly crispy but not burnt.
- Allow it to rest before cutting into it. To make sure that the fillings have a little bit of time to set, allow it to cool for 10 minutes before diving in.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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