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Easy Pumpkin Pie Spice French Toast Bake

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A quick and easy baked French toast recipe with warm pumpkin pie spice, perfect for busy mornings or a cozy weekend brunch. This forgiving, one-dish breakfast comes together in minutes and tastes like a warm hug.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk (or any milk; oat milk works great)
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup (or honey or brown sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (McCormick brand recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 8 cups stale bread cubes (about ½-inch pieces; French bread or sourdough works perfectly)
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter (for topping, optional but recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (like turbinado or demerara, for topping, optional but recommended)
  • Extra maple syrup, for serving
  • Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)
  • Extra pumpkin pie spice, for dusting (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. If your bread isn’t stale, cube it into ½-inch pieces and spread on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes to dry it out. If stale, cube directly into the greased dish.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the 6 eggs vigorously for about 30 seconds until frothy. Add the 1 ½ cups milk, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Whisk until completely combined.
  4. Place the bread cubes in the greased baking dish. Pour the custard evenly over the top. Gently toss the bread with a spatula or your hands to coat every cube. Let it sit for 10 minutes to absorb the custard.
  5. Drizzle the 2 tablespoons melted butter over the soaked bread. Sprinkle the 1 tablespoon coarse sugar evenly over the top.
  6. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
  7. Remove the foil carefully. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the top is golden brown and puffed up. The center should be set but still slightly jiggly.
  8. Let the bake rest on the counter for 5 minutes. Serve warm, drizzled with extra maple syrup and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice.

Notes

Stale bread is ideal; if using fresh bread, toast it lightly in the oven for 5-7 minutes to dry it out. Don’t over-soak the bread—10 minutes is the sweet spot. For a make-ahead option, assemble the night before (without the butter and sugar topping), refrigerate, and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking. To make your own pumpkin pie spice, mix 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon ground cloves.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin pie spice, French toast bake, easy breakfast, fall breakfast, baked French toast, pumpkin spice, breakfast casserole

Find it online: https://forkmila.com/easy-pumpkin-pie-spice-french-toast-bake-recipe/