You know we love Brioche around here and couldn’t miss out on sharing this easy and versatile Pumpkin Brioche, perfect for breakfast or as a snack. After sharing the most delicious chocolate chip brioche recipe and the fluffiest vegan brioche, I didn’t think it could get any better.

And boy, I was wrong! This Pumpkin brioche is fluffy and easy to have with spreads, on its own or to rework it as a completely new dish. You can use the same dough to make smaller brioche buns to bring with you, have it toasted or cold. And what’s not to love about a recipe that can dress as plenty of different things?

Imagine a pumpkin brioche pudding or a pumpkin french toast all made with this simple pumpkin brioche recipe, or the base for your next pumpkin brioche twist recipe or brioche braid, the options are truly endless!

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What is brioche?

Brioche is a French bread known for its rich, buttery flavor and tender texture. It’s made with a dough enriched with butter, eggs, milk, and sometimes sugar, giving it a slightly sweet taste.

Brioche has a soft, fluffy crumb, a golden-brown crust, and is versatile, used in both sweet and savory dishes. It can also be shaped in different ways, like braids, loaves or rolls. It’s often enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or as a base for desserts or sandwiches. (Wikipedia)

What ingredients do I need for this pumpkin brioche recipe? Can I substitute anything?

This easy brioche recipe doesn’t require many ingredients and most are pantry items that you will most probably have already:

• Butter: you will need melter butter to start off your dough. Butter is of essence to your brioche and what will give the buttery flavour typical of it. You can substitute it for vegan butter too.
• All Purpose Flour: this will help combine all the ingredients together. You could try and use different kinds of flour, but we haven’t tried them so we can’t say much on this.
• Yeast: we used instant yeast in this brioche recipe, you don’t need to activate it, just pop it with your dry ingredients, as easy as it gets.
• Salt: this will help balance the sweetness of the pumpkin.
• Sugar: the recipe calls for granulated sugar, but you could swap it for brown sugar. The amount is very little, so it won’t affect much the taste.
• Pumpkin Puree: we roasted our own pumpkin with a drizzle of oil and then blended them, but you can also use store brought one. Just make sure it doesn’t contain added sugar or it will make the pumpkin brioche bread much sweeter.
• Eggs: we will need two eggs fo this recipe. You may be able to use egg replacements to make it vegan like apple sauce, but we have only tried with eggs and can’t assure you the end result.
• Milk: we used it to brush the top of the brioche, you could also use an egg wash to create a golden brown crust. You can substitute regular milk for any plant based milk of your choice.

How do I make the pumpkin puree?

Pumpkin puree is so easy to make and homemade one is so much better than store brough in my opinion. It might be a little time consuming while you cut the pumpkin if you are using a full one, or you could also buy a precut one.

All you have to do is roast it with a drizzle of oil for around 30 minutes or until it’s soft to the touch. Roasting will allow for all nutrients to stay, differently from boiling, where nutrients would just evaporate. e

When cooled down, blend it all together and get ready to use it for your favourite dishes, from desserts, to baking and savoury dishes. You can also freeze it in a freezer safe container and keep for up to three months. The dogs absolutely love it and it’s an amazing source of vitamins, so you can use it for the whole family!

How to make pumkin brioche?

You will start off by melting your butter in a microwave safe bowl or on the stove top. In a bowl, mix all the flour, salt, yeast, sugar and set aside. In another bowl, add the butter, pumpkin puree, eggs and mix well.

Combine the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer with a dough hook attachment and work the dough until smooth, it will take around ten minutes or so.

Let the pumpkin brioche dough rise until it doubles in size in the same bowl covered with a towel. This first rise will take around 1 1/2 hours, this though depends on temperature of the room and humidity. So make sure it doubled in size before continuing.

When doubled in size, you will move the dough onto a floured surface and fold it once: place your hands under the dough and move it upwards to remove any air bubble. This process can be repeated a few times and it helps with achieving a better texture in bread.

Separate the dough into two pieces. Place the folded dough pieces in the greased tin loaf as is and let it rise again for another 30 minutes. Afterwards, apply a milk wash all over the dough. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 180C. Let it cool completely before slicing and serving, enjoy!

How long does this pumpkin brioche last?

This brioche will last 3-4 days in an airtight container at room temperature. It will still keep fluffy if well preserved. You can also refrigerate it, still in an airtight container and keep it for up to a week. Make sure to take it out 5 minutes before you are going to enjoy it, so it won’t be cold from the fridge.

Can I freeze pumpkin brioche?

You can indeed! This pumpkin brioche can be frozen after baking. All you have to do is to let it cool, wrap it in cling film or foil and then place it in a frezer safe container or freezer bag. You can freeze it either sliced or as it is. It will keep up to two months, so make sure to label it!

When you are ready, just grab a slice and pop it in the toaster. If you freezed it as a whole loaf, you can thaw it overnight in the fridge and enjoy the next day.

What to have with your pumpkin brioche? Any topping recommendations?

1. Butter: We love to have it toasted and just spread some butter on it. The warmth of the freshly toasted pumpkin brioche will make the butter soak for even better experience.
2. Flavoured Butter: If you love to go fancier than just plain butter, mix it with some ingredients to have a flavoured one. Think like honey butter, cinnamon butter or a maple flavoured butter. Spread like usual and they will complement perfectly the pumpkin flavour.
3. Maple Syrup: Drizzle warm maple syrup over your pumpkin brioche for a classic fall-inspired topping.
4. Powdered Sugar: If you want to go for simple and sweet, just a quick sprinkle of powdered sugar can make your pumpkin brioche even better.
5. Cinnamon Sugar: Sprinkle a blend of cinnamon and sugar over the top of your pumpkin brioche for a delightful sweet and spicy crunch, even better if you toast it before and it will release the best fall flavours you can imagine!
6. Whipped Cream: Dollop some freshly whipped cream on top of a slice of warm pumpkin brioche, sprinkle some cinnamon or pumpkin spice on top, or chocolate for good measure, and you are in for an indulgent treat.
7. Cream Cheese: Spread some cream cheese, either plain or flavored (like pumpkin spice or maple), adds a creamy and tangy contrast to the brioche’s richness.
8. Spreads: For those with a sweet tooth, chocolate hazelnut spread or chocolate ganache can be a delightful topping. Or if you love pumpkin like no tomorrow, pumpkin butter is what you need!
9. Nut Butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter spread on pumpkin brioche offers a satisfying nutty flavor and protein boost.
10. Fruit Preserves: Fruit preserves like apricot, raspberry, peach, lime, clementine, orange or fig spread add a fruity sweetness that complements the brioche’s pumpkin flavor. (Thrive Cusine)
11. Chocolate Spread: For those with a sweet tooth, chocolate hazelnut spread or chocolate ganache can be a delightful topping.
12. Greek Yogurt and Berries: Top your brioche with a dollop of Greek yogurt and fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries) for a healthy and refreshing option.
13. Savory Toppings: Don’t forget that pumpkin brioche can also be enjoyed with savory toppings like avocado, cream cheese and smoked salmon, or a fried egg for a brunch-inspired treat.
14. Nuts and Seeds: Sprinkle chopped nuts (such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds) and seeds (like pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds) for a crunch and added texture.
15. Whipped Cream Cheese and Bacon: Spread whipped cream cheese and top with crispy bacon bits for a savory-sweet combination.
16. Sliced Fruits: Top slices of pumpkin brioche with fresh fruit such as banana slices, kiwi, or mango for a tropical twist.
17. Syrup and Fresh Fruit: Combine maple syrup with fresh fruit like sliced bananas or caramelized apples for a decadent topping.

How can I enjoy pumpkin brioche?

There are plenty of ways for you to enjoy this easy pumpkin brioche recipe:

1. As it it: This pumpkin brioche is perfect as it is. Just slice and enjoy, even on the go.
2. Toast and Spread: Toast slices of pumpkin brioche and spread them with butter, honey, jam, or your favorite nut butter for a simple and satisfying breakfast or snack.
3. French Toast: Turn pumpkin brioche into a luxurious French toast by dipping slices in a mixture of eggs, milk, and spices, then frying until golden brown. Top with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit. Similar to our croissant pain perdu but with this brioche.
4. Bread Pudding: Cube pumpkin brioche and use it as the base for a decadent brioche pudding. Combine with custard, spices, and add-ins like chocolate chips, raisins, or nuts. Bake until set, and serve with a drizzle of caramel sauce.
5. Sandwiches: Use pumpkin brioche to make gourmet sandwiches. It pairs wonderfully with roasted turkey, ham, or chicken, along with your favorite condiments and veggies.
6. Brioche Burger Buns: Shape your pumpkin brioche dough into burger-sized portions and bake them to make homemade burger buns. They’ll add a unique flavor and texture to your burgers.
7. Bread Crumbs: Dry out slices of pumpkin brioche in the oven, then pulse them in a food processor to make homemade bread crumbs. These can be used for coating chicken or fish, as well as in stuffing recipes.
8. Dessert Toppings: Crumble or cube pumpkin brioche and use it as a topping for desserts like ice cream, yoghurt, or fruit crisps for an extra layer of flavor and texture.
9. Tea Sandwiches: Make elegant tea sandwiches by spreading cream cheese or goat cheese on slices of pumpkin brioche, and then top with thinly sliced cucumbers or smoked salmon.

Other pumpkin recipes you should check out:

• Pumpkin gnocchi
• Pumpkin pie spice pancakes
• Pumpkin spice iced latte
• Pumpkin ganache pie