Pumpkin French Toast

Cool mornings call for rich, decadent fall breakfasts. When it comes to these morning treats, we’ll take anything from pancakes to waffles to cinnamon rolls, but this pumpkin french toast will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thick layers of brioche are soaked in a rich pumpkin egg custard, fried to golden perfection, and topped with creamy pumpkin butter . . . talk about fall on a plate.

One of our favorite things about this French toast is the contrast between the crisp, golden crust and the soft, custardy middle. We love that super tender center you get from thoroughly soaking the bread in the custard before frying it, but if you prefer yours a little drier in the middle, skip the soak and just dip the bread briefly in the custard on the way to the pan.

Read on for more tips on this easy and elegant breakfast. And if you’re looking for more fall-themed brunch classics, check out these sweet potato pancakes– they’re the real deal!

What kind of bread is best for French toast?

It sounds like a non-answer, but it really depends on what you’re looking for in your French toast. If you want a richer, sweeter French toast, challah or brioche are both great options. If you’re looking for something a little less sweet, try white country bread. And if you’re looking for something super custardy with a great crunchy exterior, you’ll definitely want to grab a baguette. We call for brioche here, because we want that lightly sweetened bread to match up with the rich, pumpkiny custard, but you could definitely swap it out for any of the other options with excellent results.

Do I need to leave the bread out overnight?

Traditionally, French toast is made with day-old bread– it was actually first created in an effort to revitalize stale loaves that weren’t fit for other uses– and there’s no denying that slightly dried out bread is better for absorbing all that custard. But if the only bread you have is super fresh, there’s no need to worry. You can toast the slices on a baking rack in the oven at 300° until they’re slightly dried out, about 10 minutes, or even toast them lightly in the toaster. And if you don’t have time to do either, fresh bread will also work in a pinch.

How long do I soak my French toast?

Well . . . that depends. This recipe calls for soaking the bread for 30 seconds on each side, and this will result in French toast with a super soft, tender center, even after the toast is thoroughly browned. However, if you prefer your French toast with a slightly drier center, consider soaking your bread for less time. Additionally, keep in mind that the thickness of your bread slices and how dry it is will affect how fast the custard soaks in. Our suggestion? Stay with your bread while it’s soaking and keep an eye on it. That way you can pull it when it looks good to you. Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.

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