pumpkin french toast casserole

One of the best parts of being home? Our huge, wonderful, fabulous kitchen!! (I may be exaggerating. But you would understand if you saw my sad little kitchen in my apartment. My KitchenAid mixer is on top of my fridge and never gets to be used.) This means I got to actually bake something while I was home, and immediately decided on Thanksgiving breakfast. But I wanted to do something that would be super easy, so I wouldn't miss any of the parade (priorities, am I right?). Enter the overnight french toast casserole. Made most of it the night before, left it in the fridge overnight, and all I had to do in the morning was make a crumb topping and pop it in the oven! Easy and it tasted yummy. Win.

pumpkin french toast casserole (recipe from Damn Delicious)

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs 
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (12-count) package KING'S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls, cubed
FOR THE CRUMB TOPPING
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans (I didn't use these, just because my sister and I aren't big nut fans)
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FILLING
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

• In bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, sugar and cinnamon on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes; set aside.
• In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.
• Lightly coat an 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Place a layer of bread cubes evenly into the baking dish. Pour half of the pumpkin puree mixture evenly over the top. Spread cream cheese filling in an even layer. (if you can actually spread in an even layer, you're a magician. I had my dad help me just dollop it over all of the bread) Top with remaining bread cubes and pumpkin puree mixture to completely cover the filling.
• Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the crumb topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter and toss to coat, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the bread cubes.
• Place into oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Serve immediately, sprinkled with pecans and confectioners' sugar, if desired.

notes: I would add pumpkin pie spice to the crumb topping and the cream cheese filling as well next time, just to get that added extra note of pumpkin. And be careful of cooking times. The top will get a nice crust, but make sure to check the middle as it definitely cooks through a little slower. A 9x13 is called for, but you could easily use a slightly smaller one, or add a couple more rolls to the mixture.

-Kylie