Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast (Printable Version)

Brioche sandwiches filled with creamy, tangy cheese, pan-fried to golden and topped with a warm strawberry syrup.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and creamy with no lumps remaining.
02 - Spread an even layer of the cream cheese filling onto 4 slices of bread. Top each with a second slice of bread to form 4 filled sandwiches.
03 - In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, and salt until fully combined.
04 - In a small saucepan, combine the sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries release their juices and the mixture thickens into a syrupy sauce. Mash lightly 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, turning to coat both sides evenly. Allow excess mixture to drip off.
07 - Place the dipped sandwiches onto the hot skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Add more butter as needed between batches.
08 - Slice each French toast sandwich in half diagonally, arrange on plates, and spoon the warm strawberry drizzle generously over the top. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream cheese filling stays rich and slightly tangy inside, cutting through the sweetness of the egg custard and berry drizzle in the best way.
  • Everything comes together in about thirty minutes, which means you can pull this off for a lazy brunch without stress or a sink full of dishes.
02 -
  • If the bread is too fresh it will tear during dipping, so toast it lightly or let it dry out overnight for a sturdier structure.
  • The strawberry drizzle thickens as it cools, so pull it off the heat while it still looks slightly looser than you want.
03 -
  • Use a generous hand with the butter in the skillet because that is what creates the crispy caramelized exterior that makes this memorable.
  • Spread the cream cheese all the way to the edges of the bread so every bite has filling, not just the center.

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