Name: Cinnamon-Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 teaspoon unsalted butter; 1 cup heavy cream; 3 large eggs; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 (8-ounce) can pumpkin puree; 1 large loaf brioche or challah bread, sliced into 2-inch sticks; 1 cup light brown sugar; 3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped; 4 tablespoon unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/4-inch cubes; 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 8 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted; 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Cinnamon-Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

This yummy pumpkin breakfast casserole is ideal for crisp mornings before tailgating.

By: Addie Gundry

Editor's Note: No fall morning is complete without a sweet and savory treat to warm bellies on a crisp morning. This tasty pumpkin breakfast casserole combines the ease of a casserole with the decadent delights of making french toast. Baked to perfection and topped with a brown sugar, pecan, and cinnamon streusel, this pumpkin french toast casserole is drizzled with maple butter, as well. This dish is easy to share and ideal for potlucks, as well.

I have a vivid memory of carving pumpkins with a friend on a cold fall weekend in New England. We wore cozy sweaters, drank tea, and spent the majority of the day on the floor scooping and sifting the pumpkin seeds out while a dog lapped around, doing her best to lick them up. There are plenty of things to make with pumpkin, namely that ubiquitous pie, but this is by far one of my favorite pumpkin recipes. The challah bread is sliced thick, resembling the French toast sticks I ate as a kid and coated in a sweet cinnamon-pumpkin mixture.

Serves6

Preparation Time20 min

Cooking Time45 min

Ingredients

2 teaspoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (8-ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 large loaf brioche or challah bread, sliced into 2-inch sticks
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
For the French toast: Combine the cream, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the pumpkin puree until smooth. Place the bread sticks in the baking dish, add the pumpkin mixture, and gently toss to coat.
For the streusel topping: Gently combine the brown sugar, pecans, butter, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Sprinkle the streusel topping over the casserole and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until set (if the streusel starts to brown, cover with foil to finish baking).
For the maple butter: While the casserole bakes, combine the melted butter with maple syrup in a small bowl.
Scoop the French toast into serving bowls and serve drizzle with maple butter.