An easy entertaining breakfast or brunchrecipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake French Toast Casserole. Assemble the night before and just bake the next morning!
I'm not what you would call a manly man. It's okay, no need for sympathetic comments below to make me feel better. I'm proud and content with my ownership of just an IKEA tool set. It get the job done... most of the time.
Who am I kidding. I need to rely on my awesome friends for a heck of a lot when it comes to house projects. This past weekend my man Tommy, who also happens to be an electrician, came over to help us out big time. We installed (he installed, I pathetically tried to help) high hat lights in our master bedroom and our music studio/office.
You have no idea how unbelievably hot and gross it is to crawl around an attic. Holy crap if that's what hot yoga is like, I'm out. I have a way new appreciation for you electricians out there.
And we are SO happy to finally have some lights upstairs. Before this, there was nothing except a hall light and the bathroom lights. But then Tommy said, let there be light. And there was light. And it was good.
You know what I made right before Tommy came over? This Pumpkin Cheesecake French Toast Casserole. Tommy works best on a fully stomach 😉
And so folks, here we go. My 2nd ever pumpkin recipe.
Youz guyz seems to like my Baked Pumpkin Pie Donuts, so I figured aw heck, let's try another pumpkin breakfast on for size. Especially since I bought one of those big ole cans of pumpkin puree and I didn't want it to go to waste.
So let's talk about this pumpkin cheesecake breakfast goodness.
You've got 2 layers of pumpkin french toast with sweetened cream cheese slam packed in the middle. A little brown sugar pumpkin-spiced struesel on top.
And then, just because we're worth it come breakfast time, a litle maple pumpkin spice glaze.
This is not your average weekday type of breakfast. It's a treat yourself with something special weekend type of goodness. And it really perfect for easy entertaining. Assemble everything the night before, then just pop it in the oven to bake up the next morning. Boom.
Did you catch all that goodness? That's like a movie starring ScarlettJohansson, Mila Kunis, Kaley Cuoco, and Kate Upton.
Oh sorry, for all you ladies... a movie starring Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Channing Tatum, Ryan Renyolds, and Ryan Gosling... with a sountrack by Adam Levine.
Pumpkin Cheesecake French Toast Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- 6 to 7 cups (approximately) 1" bread cubes (any crusty bread will do)
- 7 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- Large pinch Kosher salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
for the Streusel Topping
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Pinch Kosher salt
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into tiny pieces
for the Maple Pumpkin Spice Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ to 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 13 oven-safe pan. Spread half of bread along bottom of the pan in an even layer.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin puree, and a large pinch of Kosher salt. Pour half of pumpkin mixture evenly over the bread, pushing on bread with a spoon or your fingers until all bread is softened by liquid mixture.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar and cream cheese. Spread an even layer of cream cheese on top of the liquid-soaked bread. It may be easiest to drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese scattered on top of the bread and then lightly using a spoon or knife to spread it out.
- Top with the remaining bread, and then the remaining pumpkin mixture. Use a back of the spoon or your hands to lightly push down on the bread so all the bread absorbs the pumpkin mixture and soften. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to bake, remove from refrigerator and preheat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle with the streusel topping. Bake, uncovered, for 45-55 minutes, until the top is golden brown and no longer wet. It should bounce back when pressed.
- Serve with Maple Pumpkin Spice Glaze. Devour immediately.
for the Streusel Topping
- In a separate bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Add butter pieces and cut into the dry mixture using a fork or your hands. Combine until the mixture resembles sand with a few pea sized chunks. If too wet, add a bit more flour until it gets to a crumby consistently.
for the Maple Pumpkin Spiced Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, maple syrup, ½ tablespoon of milk, and pumpkin pie spice. Add other ½ tablespoon of milk if needed to reach glaze consistency.
Notes
You can also make individual servings in ramekins (like in the photos above). It should make about 6 to 8 individual casseroles depending upon the size of your ramekinds. Follow the same process as above, baking for approximately 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
Want more pumpkin? Check out my Baked Pumpkin Pie Donuts with 2 topping choices!
GiGi Eats says
YOU PUT MY FOOD PHOTOS TO SHAME!!!! I was TRYING SO HARD to make a recipe I created yesterday... THAT TASTES SOOO FLIPPING GOOD I MIGHT ADD... to look good in the photos - and FAIL x 19312847823468723! LMFAO!!! How much photo shop are you using sir? LOL!
Dannii says
What I love about your recipes is the combinations you have. Everything is so creative.
This sounds so sweet and so good!
Chris says
Thanks so much Dannii! Really appreciate the kind compliment!
Alice says
Chris,
oh my gawd, I love this!!! Assemble everything the night before and bake the next morning? Even better!! Lucky you have talented friends who can easily be persuaded to work/help you . . but yeah since you made this for him. . anyone would have wanted to help you! Looks fantastic!
Chris says
I know... my friends rock! It was the least I could do for his handy-dandy skills!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
Chris, I love the the Streusel Topping!!! Great recipe 😉
Chris says
Thanks Olivia! Yea, me too... and the glaze 😉
Mike says
That looks very good my man, loving the pictures as well. And don't worry about house projects, that's what friends are for!
Chris says
Thanks Mike!
CakePants says
You have basically combined all my favorite things into one dish - any breakfast item with cheesecake in the title?? I'm sold! Looks like the perfect weekend treat. (Can it be the weekend already...?)
Chris says
I like the way you think!
marcie says
How did you know I've been craving French toast casserole? I would totally do your lights for you guys if this was my payment. Sure, I don't know how to do lights, but I would learn, and it would be worth it! 🙂
Chris says
I still have 2 rooms to do Marcie. Come on over!
Pamela says
I'd drink that Maple Pumpkin Spice Glaze right from the bottle, I have no shame.
Chris says
I apparently have no shame either... b/c that happened already at our house hahaha
Medha says
The photography on this post is amazing! I love the bottle and the syrup in it, I love the bowls, I love the concept... this is so spot on 🙂
Chris says
Thanks so much Medha! Really appreciate the kind compliment!
Alyssa says
Chris! Wow! I love french toast bakes and this one looks fabulous. I lol'ed at your disclaimer that this is a weekend sort of breakfast. If I ate this before work I bet I wouldn't get up from the table I'd be in such a pumpkin-y, french toast-y daze! Not that that's a bad thing, just that it would squash my productivity haha
Chris says
Hahaha, yea... totally not "before work" material!
Tash says
How great it is to have friends who are so ready to help out like that! This looks DIVINE! "Pumpkin cheesecake French toast" sounds so beautifully sinful that I can barely say it.
Chris says
I know right?! I have the best friends ever!
Becca from It's Yummi! says
Ohmigerd, Chris... this is some SERIOUSLY delicious lookin' French toast, my friend!
Chris says
Thanks so much Becca!
David says
I see you've finally found the light...no, not the bedroom light. The pumpkin light! This creation looks absolutely delicious, and I'm so glad you're bringing me some this weekend! Oh, and what is the name of that Kate Upton movie? I think I need to rent it this weekend...while I'm eating this french toast casserole. #WolfpackEats
Chris says
Hahaha I don't remember the name of it... but I'm down for watching it with this casserole as well. Dude, you should just move down here already and be with Mike and I. Do it. Do it.
Melanie says
Looks amazing Chris! I love the french toast wavelength we've got going. 🙂
Happy Wednesday!
Chris says
Thanks so much Melanie!
Mira says
What a wonderful and creative idea! Almost like a fancy bread pudding with pumpkin! The glaze is so easy to make and seems pretty versatile, I would use it on other deserts. Great pictures!
Chris says
Thanks so much Mira! Yea... that glaze I used on my pumpkin donuts as well... as well as eating straight from the bowl, #fatty style.
Rachel says
OMG these are soo cute and look so wonderfully delicious! Love the streusel topping. Pinned!
Chris says
Thanks so much Rachel!
Helen says
Ooh yum! I've never seen or heard of anything like this before, but I sure wish I was invited around to your house next time you make it! Especially love the crumbly topping.
Congrats on the new lights!
Chris says
Anytime you want to come over and help me with a house project, I'll be sure to make you this Helen! Hahhaa
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
OMG I nearly fell out of my chair and had to instantly pin this! Amazing!
Chris says
Hahaha thanks Jocelyn!
Yankee Kitchen Ninja (Julianne) says
That Tommy is a lucky man! And I LMAO that you wound up making another pumpkin recipe just to not waste the big ole can of pumpkin -- that is so me! 🙂
Chris says
My wife yells at me if I let food go bad... so it's for my own protection, really!
Shashi says
THAT maple pumpkin spice glaze = Channing Tatum!!! And that stresel topping=Ryan Gosling! Good grief Chris - I would offer to come (pretend) to run wires through your hot attic if I could eat this first!!!
Your photos=Clooney+Gosling+Reynolds+Tatum+Aaron Eckhart( IMO way better than the Cooper dude)!!! Freakin GORGEOUS!!!
Chris says
Hahahahahaha Channing and Ryan... that's a lot of hotness right there. Hahaha about Cooper... but don't let my wife hear you say that. She's in love with that guy!
Renee | Two in the Kitchen says
I love how these are in individual containers. A breakfast all to myself that I don't have to fight the kids for!! 😉
Oh, and I was just looking at your "about" page. All those photos you have with celebrity chefs are so cool! I need to move to New York!! 🙂
Chris says
Thanks Renee! I'm all about the individual containers... that way my wife doesn't try to eat any of mine hahaha. Yea, those are all taken annually at the NYC wine and food festival... it's actually next weekend! It's such a great weekend. You should try to come sometime!
Ashley says
I don't know which part of this I like more!! The streusel topping or that glaze.... I bet your friend was super pumped to chow down on this! I know I would be!
Chris says
You can like both... I'll allow it 😉
Jess says
Double WOW, Chris! This casserole looks amazing! That maple pumpkin glaze also looks heavenly!
Chris says
Thanks so much Jess!
Chelsea says
This is so amazing!!! And that glaze - oh my gosh, just the perfect addition to a wonderful breakfast. Totally loving the serving dishes on this one too! Pinned 🙂
Chris says
Thanks Chelsea! Love my little Le Creuset mini dutch ovens 🙂
Sandra says
You know I feel like that girl that is always the last one to the party lately. A second pumpkin recipe and this one just...ah boy...your wife is one lucky woman...but how does she stay so fit with you making all this stuff?...geeze tell me the secret Ashley!!! Please. I can barely keep off the weight eating cardboard over here!
As always, awesome photos, perfect recipes and you make me laugh every time!!! LOL
Chris says
She's an athlete... so her metabolism is crazy fast I guess. I on the other hand, simply look at this cheesecake and form an instant muffin top.
Alex says
I'm making this for thanksgiving breakfast for me and the hubby, wish me luck!
Chris Cockren says
Hope you loved it!