Pumpkin Pie French Toast Bites

Fall is in the air! When I think about fall, the first thing that comes to mind is pumpkins. It's a seasonal ingredient that I only use during fall and winter, so I make sure to cook at least a few dishes with pumpkin every year. That doesn't mean I go full-out baking pumpkin pies, as it's not always feasible with young kids running around. Instead, I opt for a quick and easy option like these pumpkin French toast bites. They come together in 25 minutes, giving you a delicious pumpkin pie flavor in each little bite. Both my 2-year-old and first grader couldn't get enough!

Tips for serving toddlers and kids for a better mealtime

I served these pumpkin French toast bites in Grabease Silicone Suction Cloud Plate. This cute plate has a section in the middle for the main meal and smaller sections surrounding it. I served ricotta cheese and pomegranate seeds with the pumpkin French toast bites and the cloud plate's sections made this fun and pretty to eat. Grabease dishes are made of 100% food-grade silicone that's durable, microwave and dishwasher safe, and odor- and stain-resistant so clean up was fast!

You can skip cutting the bread into bite-sized pieces if you'd like, but the bite-sized French toasts make a great opportunity for babies and toddlers to practice using a fork. My daughter loves using Grabease Stainless Steel Utensils as they fit perfectly in her hands.

Easy and delicious fall recipe for the entire family

This recipe works best with stale bread. If your bread is fresh, lightly toast the bread before soaking it in the wet mixture. When frying the French toast bites, place them in one layer on a buttered pan. Once the surface is golden brown, flip and cook the other side. After cooking two sides, you can gently toss the bites around as if you are sautéing cubed veggies. I like to cook over medium-low heat to ensure that the middle is cooked through before the surface gets burned. Young kids can be sensitive to undercooked eggs - my kids are both mildly allergic - so it's best to cook the bites fully.

Pumpkin French Toast Bites

Serving size: 2

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of brioche bread - stale or lightly toasted
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 tbsp whole milk, heavy cream, or full-fat coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• (optional for older kids) 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions:

1. Cut off the crust from the bread slices in desired. Cut the bread into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a bowl, beat an egg. Then mix in pumpkin puree, milk, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.
3. In a nonstick pan, melt butter. Soak the bread pieces in the pumpkin puree mixture for about 15 seconds. Shake off the excess mixture and place the bread pieces on the buttered skillet. Fry all sides until golden brown over medium-low heat to ensure French toast bites are cooked throughly.

Serving suggestions: serve with a side of ricotta cheese and seasonal fruit