1-First, preheat your oven to 225 degrees and heat an electric griddle to 350 degrees or use a non-stick skillet over medium heat. This step ensures everything cooks evenly and keeps your toast warm.

2-Next, in a shallow dish, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, light-brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves until well combined, then add the half and half and whisk until fully blended. This mixture is the heart of the recipe, infusing the bread with those rich flavors you love.

3-Building the Custard Mixture: Dipping the bread is where the magic happens, so take your time to let each slice soak up the goodness. Dip each of the 9 slices of hearty white bread into the mixture, allowing it to absorb on both sides for about a minute each as per expert tips. This pumpkin French toast recipe benefits from using day-old bread, which holds the custard without getting too soft, making it ideal for busy parents or students.

4-Once soaked, butter the griddle with 2 to 3 tablespoons of butter and add the bread slices. Cook until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook the other side the same way. The total prep time is just 15 minutes, with cooking taking another 15, so you’re done in under 30 minutes. After cooking, transfer the slices to the oven rack to keep warm for up to 10 minutes, ensuring they stay fresh until serving.