Pumpkin French Toast with a Maple-Fig Syrup

Pumpkin French Toast with All-spice butter and Fig-Maple Syrup

1 heaping cup pumpkin puree

6 eggs

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cloves

1tsp. vanilla

2 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 tsp. salt

8 (1-inch-thick) slices day-old brioche or challah

4 T. unsalted butter,cut into 4 pieces

1/4 cup canola oil

All-spice butter (recipe follows)

Fig-Maple Syrup ( recipe follows)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Whisk together the pumpkin, whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, cinnamon,nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, milk,cream, and salt in a large baking dish. Place bread in the baking dish, and turn the bread to coat evenly; let sit for 5 min.

3. Heat 2 Tablespoons of the butter and 2 Tablespoons of the canola oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat until the butter completely melted. Place 4 slices of the bread on the bottom, 2-3 minutes. Turn the slices over and cook until the bottom is golden brown, 2-3 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet. Wipe the pan out with paper towels and repeat with the remaining 2 Tablespoons butter,2 Tablespoons oil, and 4 slices of bread.

4. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 5 min.

5. Serve 2 slices per serving topped with the allspice butter and some of the fig-maple syrup.

Allspice Butter

Makes about 1/2 cup

8 T. unsalted butter, at room temp

2 tsp. ground allspice

2 T. pure maple syrup

1/4 tsp. salt

In a small bowl, combine the butter, allspice, maple syrup and salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30min. and up to 2 days.

Fig-Maple Syrup

Makes about 2 1/2 cups

8 fresh figs, quartered

1 1/4 cups pure maple syrup

Combine figs and syrup in a small sauce pan and simmer over low heat until the figs are soft, about 10 min. This can be made up to 4 hrs. in advance and refrigerated. Reheat before serving.