Description
This Cozy Pumpkin Pecan French Toast Bake is a delightful breakfast or brunch treat that tastes like fall in a dish. It’s a wonderfully comforting casserole that’s perfect for lazy weekend mornings or special holiday brunches, offering all the flavors of a classic pumpkin spice latte in a delightful baked French toast form. This bake is an irresistible combination of soft, custardy bread soaked in a spiced pumpkin custard and topped with a crunchy pecan streusel, baked until golden and perfectly tender.
Ingredients
1 cup Canned pumpkin
1 cup Milk
4 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 teaspoons Pumpkin pie spice
16 ounces Round loaf Hawaiian Bread
1/4 cup Cold butter cubed
3/4 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 cup Light brown sugar
1/4 cup Flour
2 tablespoons White sugar
1/2 cup Chopped pecans optional
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a 13 x 9 baking pan.
2. Cut the Hawaiian bread into 1-inch cubes and set them aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the canned pumpkin, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined.
4. Gently add the bread cubes to the pumpkin mixture, stirring just enough to ensure all the pieces are evenly coated.
5. Pour the coated bread and pumpkin mixture into the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly.
6. In a separate small bowl, combine the cold butter cubes, the light brown sugar, white sugar, flour, and ground cinnamon. Use a fork or your fingers to mix until it forms coarse crumbles. If you are using chopped pecans, stir them into the crumble mixture now.
7. Sprinkle this crumble topping evenly over the bread mixture in the pan.
8. Bake uncovered for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the top is beautifully browned and the french toast bake is set.
Notes
Don’t Over-Soak: While soaking is important, don’t let the bread sit for *too* long, especially if it’s very fresh, or it might become too soggy. 15-30 minutes is usually perfect.
Even Custard Distribution: Make sure to pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press down to encourage absorption, but avoid mashing the bread.
Check for Doneness: The bake is done when the center is set and a knife inserted comes out mostly clean. A little moistness is fine due to the pumpkin, but you don’t want wet batter.
Streusel Texture: For the best streusel, ensure your butter is fully melted and then mix until a crumbly texture is achieved. This ensures a nice, crispy topping.
Serving Warm: This bake is best served warm, fresh out of the oven or after a short rest, to enjoy the contrast between the tender bread and the crunchy topping.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast/Brunch
- Cuisine: American