Pumpkin Spice French Toast

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Fall-flavored Pumpkin Spice French Toast is crispy on the outside, fluffy and soft on the inside, and easy to make. With a drizzle of maple syrup on the top, you get plenty of maple and pumpkin flavors in each bite. Whip this breakfast classic up for your next weekend brunch or breakfast as soon as possible.

Pumpkin Spice French Toast on a white plate with a jar of maple syrup and a fork to the side of the plate.
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There is that age old debate about “Pumpkin Spice or Apple Flavor” in the fall. You can certainly have both, I prefer both.

But when it comes to French toast, I love the crispy the pumpkin puree leaves on the bread. It gives it a festive orange color and crisps up deliciously. You and your whole family will love this pumpkin spice French toast.

Why Make Pumpkin French Toast

  • French Toast Made Better. Pumpkin spice French toast is more exciting than your average French toast. Not only is it more golden in color, it is crispier and flavorful.
  • Dairy-Free Friendly. Perfect for those who are lactose intolerant or simply prefer to skip dairy.
  • Easy Recipe. Pumpkin French toast is easy to make, your kiddos can defiantly assist with this recipe. It’s perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast!

Looking for more unique ways to use pumpkin this fall? Try my savory pumpkin pasta with sausage and these pumpkin banana muffins!

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients for pumpkin french toast in bowls on the counter before preparing.
  • Bread of choice. Since this is the main vehicle of the recipe, choose wisely. If you have a preference on bread, go for it. I typically use stale sandwich bread because it cooks up quicker than bakery breads and it fits in the pan I use perfectly. You can go for French bread or sourdough if you’d like.
  • Eggs. The eggs are what really help fluff up the bread and give it that light airy texture.
  • Pumpkin puree. This is going to make your bread crispy, give it a beautiful shade of orange, and make it more pumpkin-flavored.
  • Pumpkin Spice. I like to buy mine pre-mixed in order to save time in the kitchen. This spice is a mix of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, ground allspice, ground cloves. You can easily make it at home if you prefer.
  • Butter. I use vegan butter to keep things dairy-free. You can use regular if you’d prefer. You can also use coconut oil if you want to keep it dairy-free and you don’t have vegan butter.
  • Vanilla Extract. This adds warmth and a sweet flavor and fragrance. Pure extract is preferred for the best flavor.
  • Almond Milk. Unsweetened is my usual go- to and provides some additional moisture to the mixture to soak the bread. You can use any type of milk you prefer though I recommend using unflavored and unsweetened options.

Variations

  • Vegan or Egg-Free. You can leave out the eggs but it really changes the texture and I don’t love it that way as much.
  • Cinnamon Raisin. Use cinnamon and raisin bread to make the French toast. The raisins add extra bursts of sweetness and the bread boosts the cinnamon flavor.
  • Nutty Finish. Sprinkle your pumpkin French toast with toasted pecans or walnuts before serving.

How To Make Pumpkin Spice French Toast

Step 1: Make the Soaking Liquid. Mix the eggs, milk, spice, and pumpkin puree with a fork in a wide bowl. Dunk the bread two pieces at a time, letting them soak for 1 minute so the bread absorbs plenty of the mixture.

Step 2: Add to the Pan. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the toast to the pan. I can only fit two comfortably at a time so depending on the size of your skillet you may need to cook in batches. Make sure the bread doesn’t overlap but sits flat in the pan.

A collage of images showing the bread soaking in a bowl and then cooking in a pan.

Step 3: Cook the French Toast. Cook each piece for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side on medium-low heat. You may need to add a little butter to the pan if you no longer hear sizzling. The butter really helps with giving a nice crispy texture on the outside.

Step 4: Serve. Transfer your cooked pumpkin pie French toast to a plate and top with optional toppings like, maple syrup, powdered sugar and pumpkin seeds if you’d like.

Pumpkin Spice French Toast on a white plate with syrup with a bite cut and on a fork.

Expert Tips

  • Be patient when cooking. It’s important to cook low and slow to get the right even cook on your French toast. You may need to flip them more than once to get a nice even finish on both sides.
  • Soak the bread. For best results, let the bread sit in the milk and egg mixture so they soak up plenty of the liquid.
  • Preheat your skillet. Make sure the skillet is warm and the butter fully melted and sizzling before you start cooking.
  • Toppings. Keep it simple with maple syrup and some pumpkin seeds or you can experiment with different toppings such as caramel sauce or butter pecan syrup.
  • Serving. Enjoy some chicken apple sausage, cottage cheese scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, or another healthy breakfast side dish you love.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use pumpkin pie filling?

No, you will want to use pumpkin puree for this recipe since the texture is slightly different.

cAN I MEAL PREP THIS RECIPE?

Sure! You can make a batch or double batch to store for later. Allow it to fully cool, and then transfer it to a container or bag to store in the fridge for up to four days or the freezer for up to three months. Reheat slices straight from the freezer or thawed out in the oven or toaster oven until heated through.

More Sweet Pumpkin Recipes

If you loved this recipe let me know! Also, follow me on Instagram & Pinterest for even more fun recipes to make you feel good from the inside out. Thanks for being here.

A slice of pumpkin french toast on a plate topped with pumpkin seeds.
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Pumpkin Spice French Toast

Fall flavored pumpkin spice French toast is crispy on the outside, fluffy, soft on the inside and easy to make. Whip this brunch classic up for breakfast or brunch as soon as possible. 
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients 

  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 slices sandwich bread, Your favorite bread of choice will work! I prefer sandwich bread because it cooks reliably and quicker that bakery breads but you can choose any bread! 
  • ½ cup almond milk, I use unsweetened almond milk.
  • cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • ¼ tsp course sea salt
  • 2 tbsp butter, divided, * vegan butter is lactose free

Optional Toppings

  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 4 tbsp pepita seeds

Instructions 

  • Mix the eggs, milk, spice, puree, with a fork in a wide bowl. Dunk 2 pieces of bread in at a time, let them soak for 1 minute to get all the mixture into the bread. 
  • Melt butter in a medium pan on medium to high heat. Add the toast to the pan. I can only fit two comfortably at a time. If you can fit all four pieces in the pan without overlapping, do so.
  • Cook each piece for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side on medium/low heat. You may need to add a little butter to the pan if you no longer hear sizzling. The butter really helps with giving a nice crispy texture on the outside. 
  • Top with optional toppings like, maple syrup, powdered sugar or peptic seeds if you'd like. 

Notes

  • Be patient when cooking. It’s important to cook low and slow to get the right even cook on your French toast. You may need to flip them more than once to get a nice even finish on both sides.
  • Soak the bread. For best results, let the bread sit in the milk and egg mixture so they soak up plenty of the liquid.
  • Preheat your skillet. Make sure the skillet is warm and the butter fully melted and sizzling before you start cooking.
  • Toppings. Keep it simple with maple syrup and some pumpkin seeds or you can experiment with different toppings such as caramel sauce or butter pecan syrup.
  • Serving. Enjoy some chicken apple sausage, cottage cheese scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, or another healthy breakfast side dish you love.

Nutrition

Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 282mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 7095IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Bailey
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2
Calories: 302
Keyword: pumpkin french toast, pumpkin spice french toast
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