Pumpkin French Toast

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This Pumpkin French Toast is the perfect fall breakfast! Made with pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, and thick slices of brioche cinnamon bread, and topped with a dollop of sweet brown sugar pumpkin spice cream cheese.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American, French

Keyword: pumpkin french toast

Servings:

Author: Modern Honey® - www.modernhoney.com

Ingredients

1 loaf Cinnamon, Brioche, Challah Bread (about 8-10 slices of any thick bread)
1 1/4 cups Half-n-Half (or whole milk)
4 large Eggs
1/2 cup Pure Pumpkin Puree
1 1/2 teaspoons Pumpkin Puree
1/4 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Butter (for cooking)

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese:

4 ounces Cream Cheese (softened)
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Pumpkin Puree
2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice

Topping:

Cinnamon Sugar or Powdered Sugar, Maple Syrup

Instructions

Make the sweet pumpkin cream cheese by whipping the cream cheese with a hand or stand mixer for 2 minutes. Add brown sugar and whip for 1 minute longer. Fold in pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice.
Start by slicing cinnamon bread, challah or brioche bread into thick slices. If you can, use stale, day old bread as it is sturdier and is able to soak up the custard mixture.
Make the custard mixture by whisking together cream/half-n-half, eggs, pure pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon until all combined. A tip would be to blend it with an immersion blender or blender to ensure the cinnamon gets fully mixed into the custard.
Dip each slice of bread into the custard mixture. Allow to fully soak both sides for about 20 seconds. Carefully pull the bread out of the custard and allow the excess custard to drain off of the bread.
Cook low and slow. Since the bread is soaked in an egg and milk/cream mixture, it needs time to fully cook through.
Add a generous amount of butter to the skillet. This is what helps to create the perfect, golden brown outside crust on the French toast and adds so much flavor. Cook on a medium-low for low heat to allow the center to fully cook through without the exterior becoming too brown.
Cook each side for about 3-5 minutes. If the exterior is browning too fast, reduce the heat to low
Serve right away with a generous dollop of pumpkin cream cheese, a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar, salted butter, and real maple syrup.

Notes

What type of bread should I use?

Choosing the right bread will make or break your homemade French toast. I suggest using thick, sturdy bread like sweet cinnamon bread, challah or brioche bread. Thick and sturdy bread absorbs the custard mixture without becoming soggy.

Nutrition