Vegan Pumpkin French Toast

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Take your breakfast to the next level with this Vegan Pumpkin French Toast. It’s made with real pumpkin, thick slices of bread, and a simple egg-free custard. It’s the definition of the perfect fall breakfast.

pouring maple syrup on a stack of french toast with whipped cream

If you love our Classic French Toast Recipe or Vegan Banana French Toast, you will absolutely love this cozy breakfast packed with the flavors of fall. Warming spices, pumpkin puree, and creamy plant-milk whisked together then soaked up in thick slices of day old bread. Trust us – it’s as amazing as it sounds!

Ingredients for vegan pumpkin french toast on a wooden board

Ingredients You’ll Need

Non-dairy milk: We prefer to use unsweetened oat milk, but you can opt for any plant-based milk of choice. Cashew milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and soy milk all work well. If needed, make your own plant milk at home using a high-speed blender and nut milk bag. Follow our simple almond milk recipe here.
Pumpkin puree: Adds the perfect pop of pumpkin flavor to the pumpkin batter! When shopping for pumpkin puree in stores, make sure to purchase unsweetened, plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix. These two are typically stocked right next to each other but cannot be used interchangeably. Check out this Canned Pumpkin Comparison and find the best one available to you!
Chickpea flour: Also known as gram flour, this soy-free flour is the secret ingredient that gives this eggless french toast an eggy flavor without any chicken eggs! It also adds a boost of protein, fiber and iron to the batter.
Pure maple syrup: Adds sweetness to the batter. We find the bold, caramel-like tones in the maple syrup compliment the pumpkin perfectly, but feel free to use any sweetener of choice.
Pumpkin pie spice: The perfect pair for pumpkin french toast. If you don’t have a pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice, make your own at home with a combination of cinnamon ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Or, swap it entirely for just cinnamon!
Vanilla: Adds a nice depth of flavor to the pumpkin french toast.
Stale bread: It is important to use thick and sturdy bread – we recommend day old bread that’s sliced about 3/4-1-inch thick. For best results, avoid white bread or sandwich bread. These types of bread often lead to mushy french toast. Our favorite bread is Texas Toast, but thick sourdough bread slices, vegan brioche, or french bread are great options, too.

Equipment Needed

a stack of french toast dusted with powdered sugar

How to Make Vegan Pumpkin French Toast

Make the french toast batter. In a medium or large shallow bowl, whisk together the oat milk, pumpkin puree, chickpea flour, liquid sweetener, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and a custard-like texture. Then pour it into a wide, shallow dish. Alternatively, you can blend these ingredients until well combined in a high-speed blender, then transfer the milk mixture to a shallow dish.
Prep your griddle or large skillet. Place over medium heat and lightly grease with coconut oil or vegan butter.
Dip the stale bread. Dip a slice of bread into the batter and allow it to soak up the mixture for about 20 seconds on each side.
Cook. Shake off any excess batter, then immediately place the soaked bread onto the hot griddle or skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Repeat this process until all of your pumpkin french toast is cooked.
Serve. Serve your fall-inspired french toast warm, as desired.

French Toast Topping Ideas

Vegan Butter: What’s vegan french toast without a pat of vegan butter? Our go-tos are Earth Balance or Country Crock Plant Butter.
Vegan Whipped Cream: We love to top our pumpkin french toast with our 2-Ingredient Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream. If you happen to be allergic to coconut or not a fan of the taste, Reddi-Wip makes a store-bought dairy-free whipped cream made with almond milk.
Fresh fruit: We find fresh berries are better suited for classic french toast, but we love this pumpkin french toast served with fall favorites like fresh apples, pears, or pomegranate arils.
Fruit compote: If you prefer a warm topping, make a homemade Apple-Pear Compote or even drizzle with our Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
Maple Syrup: Although the batter for this vegan pumpkin french toast has maple syrup in it, we recommend adding a healthy drizzle of maple syrup on top, too. It’s hard to overdo it!
Powdered Sugar: Adds an additional pop of sweetness and also makes this homemade french toast restaurant-worthy!
Crushed Nuts: Whether it’s walnuts, pecans, or almonds, adding crushed nuts will add additional textures and flavors to your pumpkin french toast. You can even use candied nuts for an additional boost of flavor!

placing whipped cream on a stack of french toast

Storage Instructions

Leftover pumpkin french toast will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month. For best results, store the french toast in an airtight container or freezer bag with as much excess air removed as possible.

This french toast recipe can be reheated using one of three methods:

Microwave instructions (the quickest): Place the vegan pumpkin french toast in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 15-20 second increments, or until the french toast is warmed through.
Oven method (best for multiple servings): Spread the french toast in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Tightly cover with foil and bake at 375F for 8-10 minutes or until warmed through.
Toaster method (crispiest option): Pop the french toast in the toaster or toaster oven and warm through until hot and crisp.

Recipe FAQs

Can I turn this pumpkin french toast into a french toast casserole?

We have not tested a casserole version of this vegan pumpkin french toast recipe. It would require an altered ratio of batter ingredients and additional testing. If you’re interested in a french toast bake, try this Overnight Vegan French Toast Casserole from our friend Caitlin at From My Bowl.

Can I make this pumpkin french toast gluten-free?

Yes! Use your favorite gluten-free bread and follow the recipe as usual.

How do you make french toast not soggy?

The key to making good french toast that’s soft and custard-like in the center but not mushy is using day-old, crusty bread (or even better – a few days old!). If you only have fresh bread on hand, you can dry it out in the oven at 300°F on a wire rack for about 8 minutes on each side or until sufficiently dried out.

a stack of french toast with whipped cream

More Vegan Pumpkin Recipes You May Enjoy:

Fluffy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls – these cinnamon rolls are an absolute game-changer!
Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding – a healthy, cozy fall breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Vegan Pumpkin Bread – a warmly spiced loaf of bread topped with an irresistible cream cheese icing.
Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes – delicious pumpkin flavor baked into tall, fluffy pancakes.
Pumpkin Spice Moringa Energy Bars – homemade granola bars filled with warm pumpkin pie spices.
Thick Chocolate Pumpkin Smoothie – a healthy, cold way to enjoy pumpkin this fall.

Make sure you tag us on Instagram @sweetsimplevegan and @consciouschris and hashtag #sweetsimplevegan if you recreate any of our recipes; we love to see your photos!