Pumpkin Pie Spice French Toast is the kind of breakfast that makes fall mornings feel a little more festive. With cozy warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, plus real pumpkin blended into the custard, it brings all the flavor of pumpkin pie without the wait for dessert.
If you are looking for more fall treats, try these: my pumpkin spice sugar cookies and my carrot pumpkin cake. They are perfect for a fall get together.
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Why this Pumpkin Spice French Toast Recipe is a Keeper
This recipe is perfect for using up that extra canned pumpkin and makes a great weekend brunch or even a quick weekday treat. It’s crisp on the outside, custardy in the middle, and pairs beautifully with maple syrup, toasted pecans, or a dollop of whipped cream. Whether you’re hosting brunch or just craving something seasonal, this French toast delivers classic fall flavor in every bite.
- Seasonal Delight: It perfectly captures the essence of autumn with the warm, comforting flavors of pumpkin pie spice, making it an ideal fall breakfast or brunch.
- Comfort Food Classic with a Twist: It takes a beloved breakfast staple (French toast) and elevates it with a festive, aromatic flavor profile that feels special yet familiar.
- Easy to Make: Despite its impressive flavor, it’s just as simple to prepare as traditional French toast, requiring minimal extra steps or specialized techniques.
- Crowd-Pleaser: The whole family will love the inviting aroma and flavors of pumpkin spice. It’s sure to be a hit with family and friends, perfect for holiday breakfasts or weekend gatherings.
- Versatile: It pairs beautifully with various toppings, allowing for endless customization to suit individual preferences.
- Visually Appealing: The golden-brown toast with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of syrup is inherently inviting and looks great on a brunch spread.
What Kind of Bread is Best for Pumpkin French Toast?
The best brand to use for any French toast recipe is stale bread. Leave any bread you have out overnight, or lightly toast it in the oven before using.
Pro Tip for Pumpkin Cinnamon French Toast
Go to your local bakery and pick up a loaf of day old bread to slice for your French toast. Not only will it be delicious, but it’ll be easy to work with.
Ingredient Notes for Pumpkin Pie French Toast
You only need a few simple ingredients, and most are pantry staples for the perfect fall breakfast.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Milk: Whole milk is best to get the perfect batter consistency.
- Pumpkin Puree: Be sure to pick up a can of pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Pumpkin Spice: Make your own pumpkin spice with a little nutmeg, clove, allspice, ginger and cinnamon.
Variations and Substitutions to Make French Toast
This perfect fall recipe is a great twist on classic french toast is super easy to customize. I like to take it to the next level by using different ingredients or trying different flavors.
- Milk: Try 2% milk, half and half, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk or coconut milk.
- Sweetener: In place of white sugar, try brown sugar or a touch of honey or maple syrup.
- Spices: Customize the flavor by increasing the cinnamon, ginger, allspice, or cardamom.
- Bread: Feel free to use any bread you have but you can try different breads like homemade sourdough, brioche or challah bread.
- Gluten-Free Bread: Works perfectly for those with dietary restrictions.
- Toppings: Top with sliced apples (sautéed or fresh), pears, cranberries, or a mixed berry compote. You could also top with chopped pecans, walnuts or toasted pumpkin seeds, and some whipped cream.
- Drizzle: Top with a drizzle of maple syrup, caramel sauce or chocolate sauce.
How to Make Pumpkin Spiced French Toast
This recipe comes together in just 3 quick and easy steps. This pumpkin toast is so good, I make this every fall because my family loves pumpkin.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Make the Batter and Heat Your Pan: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin puree. Add the vanilla extract, sugar and pumpkin spice. Mix well before adding the milk.
- Dip the Bread: Melt a tablespoon of butter in your pan. Dip each slice of bread into the pumpkin mixture, making sure both sides are coated. Let any excess egg mixture drip off back into the bowl.
- Cook the Toast: Place the bread slices onto your pan and cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for this Popular Recipe
I like to prepare ingredients ahead of time so that I don’t have to do all of the steps at once when I’m making pie for breakfast.
- Make the Custard: Whisk together all the custard ingredients (milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla). Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Whisk again thoroughly before using.
- Slice Bread: If using a loaf that needs slicing, pre-slice it and store in an airtight bag or container.
- Pre-measure Toppings: Get your powdered sugar, nuts, or any other toppings ready to go
Alternate Cooking Methods for the Pumpkin French Toast
Make this recipe another way by using your oven or air fryer.
- Oven-Baked French Toast Casserole: Prepare the custard and soak the bread as usual, then place in a casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Bake at 350-375°F for 30-45 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Dip bread in custard as usual, then place French toast in a single layer in the air fryer basket (don’t overcrowd). Cook for 4-7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until golden and cooked through.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Pumpkin Pie Spice French Toast
- Storing: Cooked Pumpkin Pie Spice French Toast can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place frozen or refrigerated French toast on a baking sheet in a single layer. Reheat for 10-15 minutes (from refrigerated) or 15-20 minutes (from frozen) until heated through and lightly crisped.
- Using Leftovers: Turn into French toast sticks by cutting into strips for easy dipping, especially for kids.
- French Toast “Sandwich”: Fill with sliced apples, cream cheese, or a thin layer of nut butter for a quick snack.
- Dessert: Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce.
- Croutons/Crumble: Dice leftover French toast, bake until crispy, and use as sweet croutons on a fruit salad or as a topping for yogurt.
Common Questions Pumpkin Spiced French Toast
Make this dairy free by replacing the milk with a non-dairy milk, and the butter with margarine.
Use a thick cut bread and dip quickly to prevent soggy toast.
Expert Tips for Making Pumpkin French Toast Recipe
- Use Thick Bread: As mentioned, thick bread (1-inch slices) is key for a good French toast that’s crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside.
- Don’t Over-Soak: Dip the bread just long enough for it to absorb the custard – usually 10-30 seconds per side, depending on bread freshness. Over-soaking leads to soggy French toast.
- Hot Pan, Medium Heat: Ensure your skillet or griddle is hot before adding the French toast. Cook on medium heat to allow the inside to cook through without burning the outside.
- Butter or Oil: Use a little butter, oil, or a combination in the pan for flavor and to prevent sticking and promote browning. Refresh it between batches.
- Cook in Batches: Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches to ensure even browning and proper cooking.
- Keep Warm: If cooking multiple batches, keep cooked French toast warm on a wire rack set over a baking sheet in a low oven (around 200°F / 95°C).
- Fresh Spices: Ensure your pumpkin pie spice is fresh for the best aroma and flavor. Old spices lose their potency.
- Serve Immediately: French toast is always best served hot off the griddle!
- Serve With: Serve this recipe with Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes or Apple Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce.
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Cozy Pumpkin Pie Spice French Toast
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Ingredients
- 4 Eggs
- ⅔ cup Pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons White sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Pumpkin spice
- ½ cup Whole milk
- 10 slices Bread
- Butter, as needed
Instructions
- In a shallow dish or bowl, whisk together the eggs and pumpkin puree until combined.
- Add in the vanilla extract, followed by the sugar and pumpkin spice. Whisk well before adding the milk.
- Melt 1-2 Tablespoons of butter in a frying pan set over medium heat (or medium-low heat if your stove runs hotter).
- Once the butter is hot and melted, dip each slice of bread individually into the pumpkin egg mixture, coating both sides of the bread. Allow the excess egg mixture to drip off of the bread, back into the container, before placing in the hot frying pan.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes on the first side until well browned, then flip and cook until browned on the second side. (The second side will take less time, so check the cooking progress by using your spatula to lift up the corner and sneak a peek.)
- Remove the bread slice to a clean plate and repeat with all bread slices, adding an additional 1/2 Tablespoon of butter to the pan between each slice.
Christina’s Notes
- Thick Bread: 1-inch slices of bread is key for crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside French toast.
- Dip, Don’t Soak: Dip the bread just long enough for it to absorb the custard.
- Hot Pan: Ensure your skillet or griddle is hot before adding the toast for even browning.
- Butter or Oil: Use a little grease for flavor and to prevent sticking. Refresh it between batches.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.