Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast (Printable)
Golden brioche slices stuffed with cream cheese and topped with warm strawberry drizzle.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cream Cheese Filling
01 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
02 - 2 tbsp powdered sugar
03 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ French Toast
04 - 8 slices brioche or thick-cut white bread
05 - 3 large eggs
06 - 2/3 cup whole milk
07 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
10 - Pinch of salt
11 - Butter, for frying
→ Strawberry Drizzle
12 - 1½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
13 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
14 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
# How To Make:
01 - In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until completely smooth and lump-free.
02 - Spread the cream cheese filling evenly across 4 slices of bread, then top each with a second slice to form 4 stuffed sandwiches.
03 - In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, and salt until fully combined.
04 - In a small saucepan, combine the sliced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries break down and the juices thicken into a syrupy sauce. Lightly mash with a fork, then remove from heat and set aside.
05 - Place a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add a generous pat of butter, allowing it to melt and coat the surface.
06 - Dip each assembled sandwich into the egg custard, coating both sides thoroughly. Place in the hot skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until deep golden brown and cooked through. Add more butter between batches as needed.
07 - Cut each stuffed French toast in half on the diagonal, arrange on plates, and spoon the warm strawberry drizzle generously over the top. Serve right away.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The strawberry drizzle comes together in minutes and tastes far more luxurious than anything from a bottle.
- It turns basic breakfast ingredients into something that looks and tastes like it came from a café menu.
- You can prep the filling and sauce the night before to make morning assembly nearly effortless.
02 -
- Day old bread holds up much better during soaking because fresh bread absorbs custard too quickly and falls apart in the pan.
- If the cream cheese is cold when you spread it, you will tear the bread and end up with patchy uneven filling.
03 -
- A thin layer of cream cheese spread all the way to the crust prevents the filling from squeezing out when you press the sandwich together.
- Warming your plates in a low oven before serving keeps the French toast hot through the last bite.