I’ve been mostly working from home in these last couple of weeks before the home stretch, but went in to the office last week to wrap up loose ends, take home all the heels that I totally forgot about for the last six months, and to do fun things like meet with my pro bono clients, who got all the adoptive funding we requested! It did mean that that hearing didn’t end up happening, but when it’s because we got everything we asked for, that’s okay with me. To be clear, I think our happy outcome had everything to do with (1) my clients being wonderful parents with the sweetest daughter who really deserved it, (2) the other side really wanting to postpone the hearing, and (3) me really not wanting to postpone the hearing because hey guys, I have a biological baby deadline, and nothing to do with any lawyering I did. But in a job where most of the time I represent (or, help people senior to me help partners senior to them represent) clients in long, drawn-out matters with things at stake that sometimes feel more abstract than real, helping parents get funding for their sunny, sweet nine-year-old, and getting this thank-you card, was about the best cap on starting maternity leave that I could ask for.
Other than that, I’ve hanging out at home! Technically still “working,” though I think most folks are a little scared to give me work at this point and I find myself spending more time getting distracted by the new waffle maker we didn’t need but I definitely bought than doing anything productive, but, you know, then at least I have waffles. When not waffling, I’ve also been revisiting some of my favorite things and seeing if I can make them more hands-off, or freezable — or both! And this baked French toast is, to my endless delight, one of them. To be honest, I’d take any excuse to come back to this pumpkin French toast after I made a stovetop version last year. I’m a fan of French toast in any incarnation, sweet or savory, but with a bit of pumpkin (or in this case, my favorite stand-in, kabocha) and some fall spices to turn it into a custardy, pumpkin-pie-French-toast love child, it was one of my favorite things that I’d ever made — and that version, already plenty easy and perfect for when you want an instant hit of pumpkin-y deliciousness, might just be even better baked. The thing I love about French toast is its ability to revive stale bread into an even more perfect version of its fresh self, and I think a baked casserole is even better for that — snappy on the outside, doughy, chewy, and soft within, with pockets of custard throughout. You throw it all into a pan the night before, bake it, hands-off, in the morning, and if you have leftovers, they’re ready to be sliced up and frozen for a quick breakfast (or midnight) treat after that. With a dollop of lightly sweetened Greek yogurt (because you know, then it’s healthy) and the quickest, easiest maple caramel sauce (which might technically be a butterscotch) drizzled on top, it’s pretty much my ideal fall breakfast. And if you have any more pumpkin puree left on your hands after you’re done, Sara over at Cake Over Steak and Aimee at Twigg Studios organized the most mind-blowing round-up of pumpkin recipes to use all of that (and more) up! You can find all the links on their lovely blogs.
I hope you’re all having the coziest start to your fall!
Ingredients
- for the kabocha baked french toast:
- 1 ¼ cup milk
- ¾ cup kabocha purée (or any other kind of squash purée)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 6-8 cups challah or brioche, cut into 2-inch cubes or sliced, preferably a bit stale (I used a loaf of challah about a foot long, half a batch of this recipe)
- 6 large eggs
- for the maple caramel sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup sugar (both brown and granulated work fine)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (whole milk also works)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- to serve:
- Greek yogurt or whipped cream
Instructions
- The night before: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the milk, pumpkin, vanilla, sugar, spices, and salt. Cook, stirring, just until hot, then remove from heat and set aside. Butter a 2-quart baking dish (an 8x8 dish or 10-inch skillet will work, or even a loaf pan) and fill it with the bread cubes or slices. Once the milk mixture is cool, add the eggs and whisk until well-combined. Reserve ½ cup of the egg-milk mixture and refrigerate, covered. Pour the rest evenly over the bread and let soak overnight, covered and refrigerated. (Note: Reserving the ½ cup is optional -- I like it because it helps keep the top moist after soaking overnight, but it’s not strictly necessary.)
- The day of: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour the remaining ½ cup of the egg-milk mixture over the top of the French toast. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until custard is set but still a bit wobbly, and the bread is slightly browned and does not ooze liquid when poked.
- While the French toast is baking, make the maple caramel sauce. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sugar and stir to combine. It will still stay a bit separated; this is fine. Add the cream or milk, taking care not to get splattered, and stir until fully combined. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat and add the maple syrup and salt. Stir until incorporated, then set aside until ready to use. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- When the French toast is done, serve warm with slightly sweetened Greek yogurt or whipped cream (Greek yogurt is my favorite) and plenty of caramel sauce.
Notes
Either sliced or cubed bread will work here; I liked the way that this looked with slices nestled together, but cubes will allow for more even moistening if that is what you prefer (and worked wonderfully in a 4-cavity mini loaf pan, where each loaf held approximately 2 cups). It doesn't make a big difference either way.
October 23, 2016 at 10:45 pm
This looks & sounds amazing! Wishing you a relaxing home stretch (as much as possible!)
October 24, 2016 at 12:27 am
Wow this looks sooooo yummy x
October 24, 2016 at 1:07 am
love baked french toast! normally i just lie the bread flat and stack the slices on top of each other, but i like how the slices are just casually slumped against each other here.
October 24, 2016 at 2:27 am
This looks incredible Cynthia! Baked french toast is my favourite brunch, and when it includes all those autumnal flavours and maple caramel?! Count me in.
October 24, 2016 at 3:40 am
Awesome recipe. Congrats on the outcome of the case. I just postponed a hearing of my own for an asylum. You describe the job perfectly. Im glad you’re enjoying the wfh. This baked challah French toast will be my new fave!!!
October 24, 2016 at 3:54 am
This look so scrumptious that im drooling right now…
Lia x
October 24, 2016 at 7:06 am
The reason I never make French toast is because I never plan for it and therefore am usually out of milk and/or bread. I love the look of this. I love that can plan to my heart’s content, and have a fancy breakfast without having to be a morning person to make it.
October 24, 2016 at 7:31 am
This looks great and it’s really similar to bread and butter pudding. I love the colours of this!
October 24, 2016 at 9:00 am
Oh my oh my, this is a dream!! Seriously drooling over this, I might have to post pone the rest of my tour around the virtual pumpkin party…it’s making me so hungry! I’ll be coming back to make this one, I’ve still got a stash of pumpkin puree in the freezer from the recipe I made. Can’t wait to try for myself! X
October 24, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Kabocha is one of my favorite squash! Never had it this way and that has to change. I’m really enjoying pumpkin season. Happy autumn!
October 24, 2016 at 2:00 pm
I’ve never done this, baked french toast!!! It sounds amazing, with a somewhat set-it-and-forget-it (or let it soak) quality!! Also – you will never regret a waffle maker purchase. Because Baby Bowl will be SOOO into waffles and pancakes etc FOR SURE. And you can make whole-grain ones with high fibre for Baby Bowl (when he starts eating solids n stuff) and it will be magical, because most little people love pancakes/waffles, and if it’s whole grain he will go poo lots, and let me tell ya, your child’s poo becomes your obsession, to put it mildly (and hopefully not too crudely!!!) 😛 Sorry for the poo tangient! Enjoy your last few (days??) of quietude, sweet mama!! Sending so many good vibes your way! XO
October 24, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Cynthia, this baked French toast looks amahzing!!! Perhaps I’ll make this for breakfast on Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s a beauty! Happy #VirtualPumpkinParty!!
October 24, 2016 at 8:50 pm
This is such an amazing recipe! I’d never think to make French toast with squash, that’s so insanely creative!! Props!
October 25, 2016 at 2:04 am
I can imagine that moving the hearing is not a good option, hahaha. It’s nice that you can work from home as well. I loved it. It’s so much more comfortable. Your french toast looks amazing!
October 25, 2016 at 2:17 am
Omg, YES! This French toast sounds amazing and looks even better!
October 25, 2016 at 10:21 am
Omggggg Cynthia you are so close to meeting your little guy!!!! Eeeek SO EXCITING!!!! I have had that loaf of challah on my to-do list for literally years but this…THIS is the perfect kick in the pants to finally make it. Because I want that squash-y french toast. Now. Currently obsessed with pumpkin and caramel and this is just everythingggg.
Umm so just thinking out loud, gonna be visiting family in LA in December (fingers crossed) and if you are not, you know, completely worn out being a parent, I would love to see you/bring you food/eat food with you etc!! Sending all the love and good vibes your way!!! <3333
October 25, 2016 at 7:10 pm
YAY happy maternity leave!!!! Wishing you all the best near the end of your pregnancy, holy smokes doesn’t time fly so fast!?
French toast looks wonderful, as your food always does :-*
October 26, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Make French toast at home to your heart’s content, please–I will continue drooling from afar. Congrats on everything working out, lady!
November 8, 2016 at 8:20 am
This looks really yummy!
November 10, 2016 at 3:42 am
What a creative, delicious recipe! Love this french toast!