While I am more of a egg and savory breakfast girlie like loaded breakfast totchos, there's just something about a decadent sweet breakfast like french toast. My strawberry stuffed french toast is a decadent treat for the morning: creamy mascarpone and berry preserves sandwiched between slices of thick brioche bread.
Although I am a huge savory breakfast girl, I love a sweet breakfast from time to time. There's just so many options available to you first thing in the morning! Sweet breakfasts like my croissant french toast bake, chocolate chip loaf cake, or a classic Belgian blueberry waffle recipe all have their own special place in my heart.
TL; DR Recipe Summary
- 👩🏼🍳 Bake Level: Easy/Beginner
- ⏱️ Bake Time: ~15 minutes
- 😋 Taste: Sweet, custardy, crispy, chewy, tart.
- 🍽️ Best Paired With: Whip up a delicious brunch cocktail like a classic espresso martini with Bailey's, or skip the booze and pair with a high protein easy green smoothie.
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Trusted Tips for Making Stuffed French Toast
- Use enough cooking spray or butter when frying the bread so that it doesn't stick to the pan.
- When slicing the brioche, keep the slices at most ½" thick. Too thick slices don't get soggy enough to soak up the egg and milk mixture, causing it to not cook well.
- Be sure to dip the french toast enough into the egg mixture so that the bread gets soggy, but not too soggy that it falls apart. It helps to count to 3 on each side (based on experience!) when dipping the bread.
- Keep the flame on a medium-low heat, as the bread will burn if the temperature is played with. I find that medium-low gets enough browning without it burning in seconds.
The Main Ingredients
- Brioche bread - thick, fresh sliced brioche bread is the perfect bread for this stuffed french toast recipe.
- Mascarpone Cheese - Sure, you can opt for cream cheese, but there's something even more delicious about using mascarpone cream in this recipe. Sweet, smooth, and oh so creamy.
- Strawberry Preserve - I love using Bonne Maman preserves, but St. Dalfour or even a Trader Joe brand works great here too.
- Fresh Strawberries - A little added freshness and added layer of fruit is absolutely necessary.
- Eggs - eggs are important for the egg and milk mixture/dredge to make the french toast
- Milk - I like using half and half for a little thicker consistency and a little added fat.
- Vanilla Extract - adds a little more flavor to the french toast
- Cinnamon - a tablespoon of cinnamon in the milk mixture gives this beautiful brown color on the french toast, and also adds a little warmth.
Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
- Swap out the mascarpone if you don't like it and use regular cream cheese, or a dairy-free version if you're going for a dairy-free cheese.
- Opt for whole milk, or use your favorite dairy-alternative such as almond or soy.
- If you want challah instead of brioche, go for it! Gluten free? You can use your favorite gluten-free bread instead of the fancy breads. It will work just as well!
- Skip the strawberry and make stuffed french toast with banana, blueberries, nutella, peanut or almond butter, or even cannoli cream.
How to make stuffed strawberry french toast
Step 1: When done cooking, add to a plate and dust with powdered sugar to coat, then serve.
Step 2: Spread the mascarpone cheese onto one slice of the bread, and add the preserves to the other.
Step 3: Place a few fresh slices of strawberries on the side with the mascarpone cheese.
Step 4: Make a sandwich with both of the slices of bread and press the mascarpone and strawberry together, then set aside.
Step 5: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Take the french toast sandwich and dip into the egg and milk mixture, holding in the mixture for a few seconds each side.
Step 6: In a frying pan over medium-low heat with melted butter, add the stuffed french toast. Let the sides get golden brown, about 2 minutes then flip. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
Stuffed French Toast FAQs
Place any leftover french toast in an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat in the microwave, or in the oven for a few minutes at 350º until warmed.
If you are not into the berry preserves, simply swap with fig jam or fig butter, nutella, or add in some chocolate chips to make it a cannoli-inspired french toast.
Yes, you can use challah instead of brioche, but it may fry up differently as the texture is different in brioche than it is in challah bread.
Check out some of my other awesome french toast recipes:
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Strawberry Stuffed French Toast Recipe
Equipment
- frying pan
- cutting board
- large mixing bowl
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 loaf brioche sliced into ½" thick pieces (6 pieces)
- ½ cup mascarpone cheese
- ½ cup strawberry preserves
- 6 large strawberries sliced
- 3 whole eggs whisked
- ⅔ cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Slice the brioche into six ½" thick pieces.
- Spread the mascarpone cheese onto one slice of the bread, and add the preserves to the other.
- Place a few fresh slices of strawberries on the side with the mascarpone cheese.
- Make a sandwich with both of the slices of bread and press the mascarpone and strawberry together, then set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Take the french toast sandwich and dip into the egg and milk mixture, holding in the mixture for a few seconds each side. In a frying pan over medium-low heat with melted butter, add the stuffed french toast. Let the sides get golden brown, about 2 minutes then flip.
- When done cooking, add to a plate and dust with powdered sugar to coat, then serve.
Rachel says
Now THIS is how you do breakfast! Made this for my son, he said it was the best breakfast he’s had!!! This will be a repeat Sunday funday breakfast from now on!