{"id":83283,"date":"2018-01-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-09T00:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/origin-www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/overnight-pumpkin-french-toast-casserole\/"},"modified":"2025-01-06T11:24:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T17:24:45","slug":"overnight-pumpkin-french-toast-casserole","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/overnight-pumpkin-french-toast-casserole\/","title":{"rendered":"Pumpkin French Toast Casserole"},"content":{"rendered":"

Make-ahead breakfast casseroles let you prep the night before and sleep soundly, knowing you will be popping a fancy dish in the oven while enjoying your favorite beverage in the morning. For a seasonal twist that makes it a popular overnight breakfast recipe for the holidays<\/a>, this pumpkin French toast casserole folds in pumpkin puree. The puree makes our breakfast casserole rendition rich and silky, especially when mixed with the cream cheese and egg custard.<\/p>\n

The egg custard gives quartered bread slices a French toast coating, but soaking the bread in the mixture overnight thickens and melds the layers until you can slice through them as you would a coffee cake. Cream cheese and pumpkin taste so good together that they make a popular pairing in some of the best pumpkin recipes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For a decadent finishing touch to this French toast pumpkin casserole, sprinkle the top with chopped pecans so that they turn toasty in the oven. Once the casserole is done, just dust it with confectioners’ sugar and add a drizzle of maple syrup.<\/p>\n

What’s the best bread for pumpkin French toast casserole?<\/h2>\n

Cinnamon-raisin bread, with suspended raisins and cinnamon in a rolled swirl, works so well in this recipe because it tends to be denser than white sandwich bread. Other thick breads, like sourdough or an Italian loaf, work too. Brioche or challah holds up well to the egg custard and pumpkin, and either adds buttery flavor to the casserole.<\/p>\n

If your bread loaf seems too soft, cut the slices in quarters and let them sit in a paper or breathable bread bag on the counter for a day or two to dry out slightly. For faster results, toast the bread in a 275\u00b0F oven for 10 to 25 minutes. Hard stale bread has actually gone too far and will likely turn leathery and chewy in French toast casserole with pumpkin.<\/p>\n

Ingredients for Pumpkin French Toast Casserole<\/h2>\n