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Start your weekend off with this perfectly spiced overnight pumpkin and apple French toast! The pillowy soft chunks of bread is soaked in a pumpkin spiced egg mixture and topped with an apple pecan streusel. It’s lightly golden and crusty on the top with a custard like bottom. So delicious and cozy for the fall! a must-try if you love apple recipes that double as both breakfast and dessert. A must-try if you love apple recipes that double as both breakfast and dessert.
I am a firm believer in the make-ahead breakfasts. Whether it’s my baked oatmeal, Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole, Strawberry Breakfast Bake, or even my Morning Glory Bread, they all have a few things in common. Make ahead and enjoy later, and the best breakfasts to impress your guests!!!
As a foodie and nutritionist, I always want to make something special when I have family or guests during the holidays. It’s so cozy and filled with fall spices, real pumpkin, chopped apples, and a crunchy pecan topping. This Overnight Pumpkin and Apple French Toast checks all of my boxes! I just love how pumpkin adds that perfect touch of warmth to holiday dishes.
Reasons you will love this Overnight French Toast!
- It’s large enough to feed at least 10
- It tastes exactly like everything you love during the fall season!
- You will save so much time! Assemble everything the night before, and bake easily the next morning in only 45 minutes.
- This recipe is versatile using whatever bread you prefer: Gluten-free, sourdough, French bread, challah, or even cinnamon raisin bread. You can’t go wrong!
Making this French Toast Casserole
This recipe comes together using only wholesome and good-for-you ingredients! Here is what you will need:
- Bread: As mentioned above, you can use whatever bread you want here. I prefer sourdough for it’s healthier benefits (fermented and better for the gut, also lower on the glycemic index)
- Eggs
- Milk: feel free to use any milk here to include a dairy-free option!
- Pumpkin puree: delicious and nutritious! You can use fresh pureed pumpkin or canned pumpkin for ultimate ease
- Maple syrup
- Coconut sugar or brown sugar
- Apple: use honey crisp, or Pink Lady
- Spices: Pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon
- Pecans: you can swap out with walnuts here
- Melted butter
To start, I cut up my bread into cubes/chunks, or tear it into pieces. I like it better than slicing bread. I mixed together my eggs, milk, pumpkin, maple syrup, and spices. Add the bread to a 9×13 dish, and cover with your egg mixture.
In the morning, you will add the ingredients for the Apple Streusel topping, and bake for right around 45 minutes.
That’s it! Serve with warm maple syrup (or plain), and you have a wonderful start to your day. This makes a fantastic idea for a Halloween breakfast, or maybe even Thanksgiving.
Does the French Toast Casserole need to soak overnight?
I do like to soak it overnight for timing purposes, but also it really allows the bread to soak up all of the goodness creating a more “custard-like” texture. However, you can be quick and make it the morning of, just make sure it soaks for about 15 minutes before popping in the oven.
Can I freeze this breakfast?
Yes! You will freeze after it’s already baked. Let it thaw in the refrigerator the day before. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 350.
This Overnight Pumpkin & Apple Streusel French Toast is a cozy holiday breakfast casserole that feels like dessert. Perfect for Christmas morning or festive brunch. If you’re making it this season, don’t miss my Free Holiday Guide, full of more warm breakfasts, party appetizers, and sweet treats to make your holidays shine.
Photo Credit: All photos in this post were taken by Loren at Fed and Nourished
Overnight Pumpkin and Apple French Toast
Ingredients
- 7 cups cubed french bread or sourdough
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup maple syrup, plus more for topping
- 1 tbsp + 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 2/3 cup finely diced peeled and cored apples
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
- The night before, grease a 9×13 inch pan. Toss in cubed bread.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, pumpkin, syrup, and 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice. Pour over top of bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Make the apple streusel topping: mix together brown sugar, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, apples, walnuts, and butter. Mix until moistened.
- Drop apple streusel mix by the spoonful on top of the french toast. Spread around as evenly as possible.
- Bake for 40 – 45 minutes, or until the top is crusty and golden.
- Serve immediately with warm maple syrup.
Hi 🙂 is it possible to leave out the apples in this recipe? And just make the pumpkin French toast?
Yes, definitely!