The Best Pumpkin Spice French Toast
Cozy, warm, and packed with that pumpkin spice flavor you want all fall long — this Pumpkin Spice French Toast is the breakfast upgrade you didn't know you needed. Thick slices of bread are soaked in a rich pumpkin spice custard and cooked until perfectly golden on the outside with a soft custardy center. Served warm with a pat of butter, whipped pumpkin mascarpone, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. It comes together quickly, looks stunning, and tastes like fall in every single bite!
If you try out this recipe, I’d love to see it! Leave a comment with a star rating below and tag @wellmadebykiley on Instagram and hashtag it #wellmadebykiley
Ingredients You Need:
Full ingredients and recipe are in the recipe card below. Read through this section for all the ingredients substitution and baking tips!
Cream Cheese: The base of the whipped pumpkin mascarpone topping — make sure it is fully at room temperature before beating so you get a perfectly smooth and creamy consistency.
Mascarpone Cheese: Whipped together with the cream cheese for a silky rich and slightly less tangy topping that takes the whipped pumpkin mascarpone to a whole new level. Room temperature is key here for the smoothest result.
Brown Sugar: Used in both the whipped pumpkin mascarpone topping and the pumpkin spice custard for a warm sweetness that enhances all the cozy fall spice flavors.
Pumpkin Puree: Used in both the whipped pumpkin mascarpone topping and the pumpkin spice custard — adds that signature warm natural pumpkin flavor that makes every single bite taste like fall. Make sure to use plain pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
Cinnamon: Used in both the topping and the custard for that warm cozy spice that pairs so beautifully with the pumpkin flavor in every single bite.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: Adds that signature blend of nutmeg, ginger, and cloves to both the topping and the custard that gives this french toast its deeply warming and comforting fall flavor.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Adds a warm sweet aromatic depth to both the whipped pumpkin mascarpone topping and the pumpkin spice custard.
Salt: A small pinch in both the topping and the custard goes a long way in balancing the sweetness.
Milk: The base of the pumpkin spice custard — whole milk is recommended for the richest most custardy result but any milk of choice works well.
Heavy Cream: Added to the pumpkin spice custard alongside the milk for an extra layer of richness that gives the french toast that soft and indulgent custardy center.
Eggs: The backbone of the pumpkin spice custard that helps the bread soak up all that pumpkin spice flavor and gives each slice that golden exterior and soft custardy center when cooked.
Brioche or Challah Bread: Thick slices of brioche or challah are the best choice for this recipe — rich soft and absorbent enough to soak up every drop of the pumpkin spice custard without falling apart on the griddle.
Butter: Used for greasing the skillet or griddle and is what gives each slice of french toast that perfectly golden and flavorful exterior. Also served as a topping for that classic finishing touch right before serving.
Candied Pecans: Optional but highly recommended — a sprinkle of chopped candied pecans adds a beautiful sweet crunch that pairs perfectly with all the warm pumpkin spice.
Powdered Sugar: A light dusting over the warm french toast adds a delicate sweetness and a beautiful finishing touch that makes every single plate look stunning.
Maple Syrup: The classic finishing drizzle that ties everything together!
Why You’ll Love The Best Pumpkin Spice French Toast:
Golden Exterior And Soft Custardy Center: Each slice cooks up with a perfectly golden and crisp exterior while the center stays incredibly soft and custardy,
The Pumpkin Spice Custard Soak: The thick bread slices soak up every drop of the rich pumpkin spice custard for the most deeply flavored and perfectly cooked french toast that is packed with warm fall spice in every bite.
Whipped Pumpkin Mascarpone: The whipped pumpkin mascarpone topping is light, creamy, and perfectly spiced — it melts over the warm french toast and takes every single bite completely over the top.
It Comes Together Fast: This is the kind of impressive breakfast that looks like it took way more effort than it actually did. Quick enough for a weekend morning but special enough for a holiday brunch.
Served Warm With All The Good Things: Butter, whipped pumpkin mascarpone, powdered sugar, and maple syrup — every single topping works together to create the most cozy and indulgent fall breakfast plate.
That Classic Fall Flavor: Warm pumpkin spice in every single bite makes this french toast feel like the ultimate cozy fall morning treat whether you are making it for yourself or the whole table.
Perfect For Any Fall Occasion: Weekend mornings, Thanksgiving brunch, holiday gatherings — this pumpkin spice french toast fits every cozy fall moment perfectly!
Tips for Making The Best Pumpkin Spice French Toast:
Make The Whipped Pumpkin Mascarpone First: Prepare the topping before anything else so it is ready to go the moment the french toast comes off the griddle. It also gives the flavors a little time to come together which makes it even better.
Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese And Mascarpone: Cold cream cheese and mascarpone will result in a lumpy topping that is hard to whip smooth. Pull them out of the fridge ahead of time and let them fully come to room temperature before mixing.
Use Room Temperature Pumpkin Puree: Cold pumpkin puree can cause the cream cheese mixture to seize up slightly. Room temperature puree whips in smoothly and gives you that perfectly creamy consistency.
Whisk The Custard Very Well: Make sure there are no streaks of egg remaining in the pumpkin spice custard before dipping. A well-combined custard soaks into the bread evenly and gives you the most consistently flavored french toast.
Use Brioche Or Challah: Thick slices of brioche or challah are strongly recommended here. They are rich, soft, and absorbent enough to soak up the pumpkin spice custard beautifully without falling apart on the griddle.
Soak Each Side For 1-2 Minutes: Do not rush the soaking step. Giving each side a full 1-2 minutes in the custard ensures the bread is fully saturated all the way through for that soft center.
Cook On Medium Heat: Medium heat is the sweet spot for golden evenly cooked french toast. Too high and the outside will burn before the center has a chance to cook through properly.
Use Plenty Of Butter On The Griddle: Do not be shy with the butter when greasing the skillet or griddle. It is what gives each slice that golden and flavorful exterior.
Keep Finished Slices Warm In The Oven: Transfer cooked slices to a 225F oven on a rack or baking sheet while you finish the rest of the batch. This keeps everything warm and ready without drying out.
Serve Immediately For The Best Experience: This french toast is at its absolute best served warm straight off the griddle with a pat of butter, a generous dollop of whipped pumpkin mascarpone, a dusting of powdered sugar, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
How to Store The Best Pumpkin Spice French Toast:
Best Served Fresh: This pumpkin spice french toast is at its absolute best served warm and fresh straight from the griddle. The exterior is perfectly golden, the center is soft and custardy, and the whipped pumpkin mascarpone is at its creamiest right when everything comes together.
Refrigerator: Store leftover french toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the whipped pumpkin mascarpone separately in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: Warm individual slices in a skillet over medium-low heat with a pat of butter for the best golden exterior, or reheat in the oven at 325F for 8-10 minutes. The microwave works in a pinch but the skillet gives you the best result.
Freezer: Freeze individual cooled slices in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Reheat straight from frozen in the oven at 350F for 10-12 minutes or in the toaster for a quick and easy option.
Make Ahead (Whipped Pumpkin Mascarpone): The whipped pumpkin mascarpone can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. Give it a quick stir before serving and it is good to go.
Make Ahead (Pumpkin Spice Custard): The pumpkin spice custard can be made the night before and stored covered in the refrigerator. Give it a good whisk before dipping the bread to make sure everything is well combined.
FAQs:
Q: Can I make the whipped pumpkin mascarpone ahead of time?
A: Yes! It can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. Give it a quick stir before serving and it is good to go.
Q: Can I make the pumpkin spice custard ahead of time?
A: Yes. Make it the night before and store it covered in the refrigerator. Just give it a good whisk before dipping the bread to make sure everything is well combined.
Q: What bread works best for this recipe?
A: Thick slices of brioche or challah are strongly recommended. They are rich, soft, and absorbent enough to soak up the pumpkin spice custard beautifully without falling apart on the griddle. Thick cut Texas toast works as a substitute if needed.
Q: Can I use a different milk instead of whole milk?
A: Yes, any milk of choice works in the custard. Whole milk is recommended for the richest result but oat milk, almond milk, or 2% all work well.
Q: Can I substitute the mascarpone in the topping?
A: Yes. If you cannot find mascarpone, you can use all cream cheese instead. The topping will be slightly tangier and a little less silky but still absolutely delicious.
Q: Why do I need to soak each side for 1-2 minutes?
A: Giving each side a full 1-2 minutes in the pumpkin spice custard ensures the bread is fully saturated all the way through. This is what gives you that perfectly soft and custardy center that makes this french toast so irresistible.
Q: Can I make this french toast on a griddle instead of a skillet?
A: Absolutely. A large griddle is actually ideal for this recipe because you can cook multiple slices at once which makes the whole process much quicker and easier.
Q: Can I freeze pumpkin spice french toast?
A: Yes. Freeze individual cooled slices in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven at 350F for 10-12 minutes or pop them in the toaster for a quick option.
Q: Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?
A: No — make sure to use plain pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling has added sugar and spices that will throw off the flavor balance of both the custard and the topping.
Q: What other toppings work well with this french toast?
A: The whipped pumpkin mascarpone, butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup are all you really need but chopped candied pecans add a beautiful crunch that pairs so well with all the warm pumpkin spice flavors. A drizzle of salted caramel would also be incredible here.
Love these? Check out my other breakfast recipes:
Make sure to tag me @wellmadebykiley on Instagram and leave a review or comment if you make this pumpkin spice french toast!
