This Stuffed French Toast is an amazing dish for breakfast, brunch, lunch and even breakfast for dinner, also known as brinner! It elevates classic French toast a few notches with decadent touches.
This is a unique French toast recipe made with layers of mascarpone cheese, vanilla butter syrup, fresh strawberries, and buttery brioche. A perfect brunch recipe for special events like Mother’s day, Christmas morning or birthdays. cream cheese french toast,
Why You’ll Love This Stuffed French Toast Recipe
Classic french toast stuffed with a creamy filling and fresh strawberries- what’s not to love?
- Elevated breakfast favorite – This cream cheese french toast takes a classic breakfast dish up a notch!
- Instagram worthy – If you’re a foodie like me, you are going to want to snap a few photos of this breakfast because it is gorgeous!
- Easy to switch up – There are plenty of ways you can switch this up to your liking. Check the section below for suggestions.
Grab the Ingredients
This cream cheese stuffed french toast recipe uses simple ingredients to create a mind blowing dish.
- Mascarpone Cheese– Mascarpone is the Italian version of cream cheese. It’s a soft, mild cream cheese that is made from whole cream and either citric acid, lemon juice, or vinegar. It can be used in savory or sweet recipes like this french toast, risotto, cheesecake, or in a very well recognized dessert, tiramisu.
- Powdered Sugar– This fine sugar will seamlessly beat into the cream cheese without being grainy.
- Milk– Helps to thin out the filling, which is essentially like cream cheese frosting. Cream can also be used for added richness.
- Vanilla Extract– For flavor and can be supplemented or swapped for almond extract.
- Salt– Helps to balance out the extreme sweet flavors.
- Eggs– Quintessential to making French toast, whole eggs with the yolks tend to hold together and make for the best flavor. I do not suggest using egg whites only.
- Buttermilk– Our secret ingredient to making the best French toast is to ditch the whole milk and use buttermilk, a thick and tangy element that adds decadence.
- Brioche bread- In my humble opinion, brioche is the best bread for this purpose. Brioche is a french bread that is high in egg and butter giving it a signature yellow hue and tender crumb.
- Fresh strawberries– Frozen can be used, but won’t have the same toothy texture as fresh. Check out these tips on how to make strawberries last longer.
- Dutch Honey Syrup- A syrup by many names, this is a family tradition (my personal favorite) and I highly recommend trying it before you grab a bottle of maple syrup.
Variations
There are plenty of ways you can change up this filled french toast recipe to make it your own. Here are a few suggestions.
- Fruit – Any fresh fruit can be substituted, but I highly suggest something soft and easy to chew; think berries (frozen or fresh), pears or bananas. If you are craving apples, then I encourage you to try out my Apple Pie French Toast.
- Bread – Swap out the brioche for other slices of bread like angel food cake, vanilla pound cake, challah, gluten-free bread, french baguettes or Texas toast.
- Syrup – Use a different type of syrup or glaze. Apple cider syrup or even a powdered sugar glaze are great options.
- Filling – Instead of a cream cheese filling, use vanilla custard. Nutella or strawberry jam would also be great. Add a tablespoon of coconut cream to the filling for tropical flavors.
- Brown sugar – Add brown sugar to the egg batter dip. This caramelizes for a dulce de leche flavor.
- Peanut butter – If you are like Elvis, maybe you’d also like a little dollop of peanut butter almond butter in the center. You can also top with chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
- Citrus – Add lemon zest or orange zest to the sweet cream cheese filling for a fun citrusy twist.
How to Make Stuffed French Toast
This stuffed French toast recipe isn’t hard at all. When you break it down, it is basically just two pieces of battered bread sandwiches together with a sweet filling and drizzled with sauce or syrup.
- Make filling. Beat the mascarpone cheese until it is nice and smooth. Having it room temperature is key to not having a lump filling. Add the milk, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt until fully mixed. Set aside on the counter so it stays soft until you are ready to spread.
- Prepare oven and pan. Preheat the oven to the warm setting, heat an electric griddle and coat with cooking spray. You can also use a skillet or pan over medium heat.
- Make egg batter. Whisk together the eggs and buttermilk in a shallow dish and then dredge the bread slices into egg mixture and place onto the griddle. If you need to cook in batches, then do not dredge until you are ready to place onto the griddle.
- Cook french toast. Cook on each side until golden brown. Remove to wire rack on baking sheet. Place in the oven to keep warm, continue until all bread is fried and browned.
- Assemble. Spread the cream cheese mixture over four slice of bread. Layer with the strawberry slices. Top with the other 4 slices and return to the oven to warm and marry.
- Add toppings. Drizzle with your favorite syrup or glaze, a little powdered sugar, more fresh strawberries, or other fresh berries and whipped cream.
What to Serve with Cream Cheese French Toast
You can serve this breakfast dish with any number of your other breakfast favorites! I personally like to serve mine with a breakfast meat like sausage or bacon.
If you’d like to add even more protein to the meal, you can serve with scrambled eggs. Or because this is such a hearty meal, you could totally serve it by itself with a hot cup of coffee.
Storage & Freezing
The mascarpone filling can be made ahead of time and refrigerated up to a day in advance. Make sure to remove it from the fridge about 20 minutes before using and give it a good stir. It will be easier to spread onto the bread. I do not recommend making the French toast slices ahead of time, they are best enjoyed fresh.
How to Store Stuffed French Toast
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in a skillet or the oven. Unfortunately, bread and especially French toast, will never get back that initially crusty exterior with the fluffy interior.
Can I Freeze This French Toast?
I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
More Breakfast Recipes
Breakfast is easily my favorite meal of the day. Here are a few of my breakfast favorites.
Cannoli Pancakes
Fruit Salad Dressing Recipe
Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Bread
Strawberry Stuffed French Toast Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese , softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 4 eggs , lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 8 slices brioche bread , approximately 1-inch thick
- 1/2 pound strawberries , hulled and thinly sliced
- 1 cup Dutch honey syrup (or vanilla syrup)
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or electric hand mixer, blend together the mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and salt until smooth. Set aside on the counter so it stays soft until you are ready to spread.
- Preheat the oven to 200°F. Heat an electric griddle to 350°F and coat with cooking spray. Place a wire rack over a baking sheet.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk. Dredge each slice of brioche into egg mixture and place onto the griddle. If you need to cook in batches, then do not dredge until you are ready to place onto the griddle.
- Cook on each side for 3-5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove to wire rack on baking sheet. Place in the oven to keep warm, continue until all bread is fried and browned.
- Spread four of the slices with the mascarpone mixture. Layer with the strawberry slices. Top with the other 4 slices and return to the oven to warm for 4-5 minutes.
- Drizzle with Dutch Honey Syrup and additional fresh strawberries.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!
Nutrition
This is the ultimate decadent breakfast..and with the mascarpone cheese filling it’s so delicious! Wonderful brunch treat.
This was so good! My whole family loved it!
Now this is a showstopper of a breakfast dish! I am loving everything about this. 🙂
Tayler! These are amazing! Decided to treat the fam and make these on the weekend for breakfast and dayum. They did not disappoint. Will definitely be making them again. At their request! Haha.
Oh my gosh was this delicious! The flavors are so perfect and it tastes just like a dessert!
oh my yummyness! I have to make this!