Easy Overnight Baked Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

This easy overnight baked pumpkin French toast casserole make’s the perfect breakfast or brunch for a crowd! French bread or soft brioche soaked in a pumpkin Milk Nog mixture and topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel. Baked until golden brown and tender. This French toast can be made the night before, simply let the bread soak in the mixture overnight and bake when ready. AE Dairy’s Milk Nog is a mixture of classic egg nog and skim milk, it adds the perfect hint of spice and a custardy, creamy texture!

Highlights of this baked French toast recipe:

• Can be made overnight for a stress free breakfast or brunch
• Family favorite
• Rich and decadent flavor
• Milk Nog adds a rich custard like texture
• Ingredients can be customized as needed
• If needed, this can also be baked at the time of preparation
• Great for Christmas morning
• Budget friendly ingredients
• Easy breakfast casserole for weekend mornings

Slice French bread or brioche bread into thick slices, this will help them soak up the pumpkin mixture without getting soggy. AE Dairy Milk nog adds extra spice and richness in addition to the milk that is needed to make this baked French toast!

Tools I used for this easy breakfast recipe

• 4 qt. Braiser – the perfect dish for preparing and baking this French toast.
• Rubber Spatula – a must for any home baker! Perfect for scrapping the mixture out of the mixing bowl.
• Pyrex Mixing Bowl Set – I love this set of nesting bowls for all recipes.

Top your baked French toast with whipped cream for a touch of creaminess, I use AE Dairy heavy whipping cream to make a quick homemade whipped cream! A sprinkle of cinnamon adds a nice touch of color as well!

If you like this Easy Overnight Baked Pumpkin French Toast Casserole, try these other easy recipes….

Easy Christmas Morning Breakfast Quiche Recipe

Rich Chocolate Espresso Muffins

Easy Copycat Panera Bread Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Coffee Cake Banana Bread

Easy Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

First Steps:

• Slice bread
• In a large bowl combine eggs, sugar, milk nog, pumpkin puree, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice
• Whisk well to combine

Grocery Store List & Substitutions:

• Loaf of French Bread or a Brioche loaf, could also use challah bread or a flavored bread
• Whole eggs
• AE Milk Nog, or heavy cream
• Pumpkin puree
• Granulated white sugar
• Vanilla extract, or substitute almond
• Pumpkin pie spice, or a mix of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg
• All purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Kosher salt
• Whipped cream, if desired for topping

Your guests will love a slice of this custardy, rich, pumpkin French toast. It is great for fall or winter, make a big pan ahead of time and bake when needed, the longer the French toast sits the better! Make any holiday morning stress free, not to mention kids and adults will love this recipe! It has the perfect hint of pumpkin and spice. A delicious breakfast for Sunday mornings!

Pro tips and tricks for perfect French toast:

• Heavily soak bread in egg mixture
• Let casserole soak overnight if possible to give a custard like texture
• Layer bread evenly in pan
• Use a thick cut, hearty bread so it will not get soggy
• Bake until golden brown for a nice curst
• Evenly sprinkle streusel so every bite gets some
• Serve topped with fresh whipped cream

Second Steps:

• Submerge each slice of bread in the milk mixture
• Evenly arrange in a prepared baking pan in a single layer, I like a shallow braising pan
• Pour remaining milk mixture over bread and let soak

Variations and Serving Ideas:

• Serve as a French toast bar with whipped cream, chocolate chips, fresh blueberries, or other toppings
• Serve family style at the breakfast table
• Use a thick cinnamon bread from a local bakery
• Top with a cream cheese glaze for extra sweetness
• Serve with pure maple syrup
• Serve with fresh fruit, eggs, and bacon or sausage
• Perfect for Mother’s day brunch or Easter morning

Final Steps:

• Prepare streusel mixture
• Topped soak French toast with streusel when ready to bake
• Bake until golden brown

Instructions for the pumpkin baked French toast:

• Spray a 4 qt. round braising pan or a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Slice French bread into 1″ slices, set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix together eggs, milk nog, pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice. Submerge each piece of bread into the egg mix, allowing the bread to sit at least a minute to soak up the mixture. Arrange the bread in the prepared baking dish. Pour the remaining egg mix over the bread slices. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight, at least 30 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add butter pieces and cut into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or fork. Combine until the mixture resembles sand with a few pea sized chunks. Keep in the fridge until ready to bake French toast.
• When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Evenly top French toast with streusel mixture. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the French toast is set and golden brown. Serve immediately topped with whipped cream!

*Leftover French toast can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days and reheated as needed

Did you make this recipe?

I would love to see it! Take a picture and post to Instagram with the tag @theheartylife and the hashtag #theheartylife – You can also leave me a question or comment below! If you’ve tried this recipe, feel free to give it a star rating on the recipe above.