Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast
Fluffy French Toast envelopes a rich, creamy cheesecake filling and juicy strawberry compote for an amazing breakfast in this recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast.
If you love creative stuffed breakfast ideas like these amazing Stuffed Waffles, you'll adore this stuffed French toast.
Slices of brioche get sandwiched around an incredibly tasty cheesecake mixture with strawberry compote inside.
Griddled until golden brown, this showstopping brunch or breakfast dish is something everyone will be asking for seconds of.
Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast
There are so many times this extra special French toast recipe would be perfect for. Making it to surprise someone with breakfast in bed such as for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day or a birthday would be amazing.
Having a brunch for Mother's Day or maybe hosting a bridal shower? These would look lovely.
Christmas morning is another idea on when you might want a breakfast that is special.
For any lazy Saturday or Sunday these are idea. Treat yourself to these restaurant worthy stuffed French toast when you want an indulgent weekend brunch.
They're perfect any time you want a special breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
Brioche bread - Light and fluffy to soak up custard.
Eggs
Milk
Seasonings: cinnamon, nutmeg - Traditional warm flavors.
Cream cheese: take out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before starting so it has a chance to come to room temperature.
Sour cream
Lemon juice: Bright acidity balances sweetness.
Powdered sugar: Sweet coating for filling.
Strawberries: Fresh seasonal fruit topping.
Sugar: Draws out berry juices.
How to Make Stuffed French Toast
To make the strawberry cheesecake French toast, start by slicing strawberries and mixing them with sugar to macerate.
In a bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth for the filling.
In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and vanilla extract.
On one side of a slice of bread, spread the cream cheese filling mix on it, top with the macerated berries. Spread cream cheese filling on another piece of bread and then place it on the strawberries. You should have a sandwich of with this order of layers: bread, cream cheese filling, strawberries, cream cheese filling, bread. Continue stuffing other slices of bread.
Dip each side of one stuffed bread into the egg mixture. Cook it on the griddle by melting some butter, then placing the stuffed bread onto the griddle. After a couple minutes or when the bottom is golden brown, flip it over. Cook the other side for a few minutes more, until it's golden brown. Remove the cooked French toast from the griddle to a plate.
Slice and serve topped with powdered sugar, more berries and syrup for a decadent brunch indulgence worthy of any special occasion. Feel free to customize with preferred toppings.
Tips
I have a few tips that can help you make the perfect Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast.
- Choose the right bread: It's crucial to select a bread that can hold up to the stuffing and absorb the egg mixture. Thick slices of bread like brioche or challah are perfect options because they're sturdy and absorbent.
- Use softened cream cheese: For the cheesecake filling, make sure to use room temperature cream cheese to make it a smooth consistency.
- Customize the filling: Your strawberry cheesecake filling can be customized according to your preferences. Feel free to add a touch of lemon zest or a sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra layer of deliciousness.
- Cook on medium-low heat: To make sure your French toast is cooked evenly, both inside and out, it's important to cook it on medium-low heat. Cooking on a lower heat setting will allow the bread to cook thoroughly without burning the outside.
Leftovers
Here are a few tips on how to store and reheat this delightful dish.
You can wrap a plate with this French toast with plastic wrap. Make sure to store them in the fridge and they should stay fresh for 2-4 days. Make sure to check the strawberries when you take it out to make sure they haven't gone bad. Everything else should stay relatively fine, it's the strawberries that'll go bad with these first.
You can also freeze these. To do this, first let the french toast cool down completely.
Then, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze them for a couple of hours.
Once they're frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or a ziplock freezer bag. These can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
When I'm ready to enjoy my leftover Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast, I reheat them in the oven or on the stovetop. For the oven method, I preheat it to 350°F (180°C) and place the french toast on a baking sheet. I let them warm up in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. If the French toast was frozen, I may need to extend the reheating time by a few minutes.
For the stovetop method, I preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat, adding a touch of butter if desired for extra crispiness. I then cook the french toast for a few minutes on each side, making it's heated through and golden brown on both sides. You'll want to cook them on low-medium so it doesn't burn the French toast before it's heated through. It's a bit trickier to heat these compared with regular French toast due to the stuffing and added thickness.
What to Serve With It
Here are my suggestions on to pair this with when serving it.
- Fresh Fruit Salad: A vibrant mix of strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, pineapples, and bananas.
- Bacon or Sausage: You can never go wrong with a side of sausage or bacon with French toast.
- Breakfast Potatoes: A side of lightly seasoned breakfast potatoes or hash browns can add a satisfying, hearty element to your meal.
- Yogurt Parfait: A light and fruity yogurt parfait, topped with granola and berries, can provide an additional source of creaminess and sweetness without overpowering the main dish.
- Scrambled Eggs or Omelette: Adding a side of fluffy scrambled eggs or a veggie-filled omelette creates a well-rounded breakfast plate and helps to balance the flavors.
Feel free to be creative and put together your own accompanying dishes that suit your preferences. Enjoy!
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Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast
Ingredients
- 10-12 slices brioche bread loaf
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
Strawberry Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup strawberries sliced
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
Toppings (Optional)
- Powdered Sugar
- Sliced Strawberries
- Syrup
- Whipped Cream
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, start by adding the 1 cup of sliced strawberries and ¼ cup of white sugar. Mix together with a spoon and set aside. Let sit so the mixture can macerate.
- In another medium sized bowl add the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Blend together with a hand mixer until smooth. Set aside.
- In another separate bowl, create the mixture to dip the brioche bread in. Add the eggs in the bowl and whisk together. Then add the milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. Whisk again until combined. Set aside.
- Heat a frying pan to medium heat.
- Prepare the stuffed french toast, by placing a slice of bread on a plate. Coat one side with the cream cheese filling, leaving about ½ inch of uncoated space on the bread slice. Place a couple spoonfuls of the macerated strawberry mixture on top of the cream cheese filling. Then take another slice of bread and coat with the cream cheese filling. Place that slice face cream cheese side down on top of the other strawberry covered slice.
- Place this into the heated frying pan and let cook on each side, until golden brown on both.
- Repeat this process until all the french toasts are finished.
- To finish this delicious stuffed breakfast, top with powdered sugar, then more sliced strawberries and maple syrup.
Notes
Please note that the nutritional content of this recipe will vary based on the specific ingredients used. For a detailed breakdown of the nutritional values, consider using a recipe nutrition calculator with the exact brands and measurements you've used.
