Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

I have two words to convince you to make this...streusel topping. Is not everything better with a streusel topping? Well, almost everything.

This is probably the best French toast casserole I have made so far...and I've made several. It is very similar in taste to my Easy Baked French Toast with Streusel Topping but this has the added benefit of pumpkin...which is a vegetable, making this healthy *wink wink*. I really liked the texture as it wasn't 'soggy' like bread pudding and as I said, the streusel topping just takes it over the top. It makes a nice, sweet, cinnamon-y crunchy topping.

Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

6 1/2 cups stale French bread, cut into approx. 1" cubes
5 eggs
1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup)
1 cup milk
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (or fresh, but not canned pumpkin pie filling)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

Streusel Topping:

1/4 cup butter, cold
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
• Grease or spray an 8×8 inch baking pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, honey, milk, pumpkin, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. 
• Add bread cubes and gently stir to combine.
• In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, and pumpkin pie spice. Cut in butter until crumbly.
• Add bread mixture into prepared pan, gently pressing down with a spatula. 
• Sprinkle streusel over the top.
• Bake for approx. 45 minutes or until topping is nice and brown and the center is puffed, indicating the middle is center is cooked. The casserole will deflate a little as it cools. 
• Let casserole sit for about 10 minutes before serving.

Can be served plain or with your favorite syrup (or this quick and easy version if you suddenly realize you're all out!)

Recipe adapted from A Kitchen Addiction

The original recipe (link above) said to use softened butter for the streusel. I do not recommend that because the streusel becomes a gooey, sticky blob of cinnamon butter. Ask me how I know this. I had  to carefully try to spread it over the bread cubes. The end result was delicious, but I think you will get a better crumbly, traditional streusel by cutting in cold butter. 

Also, if you need an egg-free version, both of these are pretty good! Egg-Free French Toast Casserole and Egg Free Baked Pumpkin French Toast.

This recipe was featured at:

The Country Cook

Thank you ladies!

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