Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast: A Restaurant-Style Recipe for the Perfect Brunch

The best French toast is golden and crispy on the outside, nice and moist on the inside without being soggy. When you cut into a piece of this stuffed French toast and watch the delicious strawberry cream cheese filling ooze out, well, let’s just say you may find it hard to not lick your plate clean!

If this is the kind of breakfast you think you can only order at a restaurant, think again. It is easy to make this restaurant-style recipe right at home and it’s perfect for family brunches, breakfast in bed, special birthdays, and absolutely any time you want.

If you’re a fan of French toast, be sure to try my French toast muffins, overnight French toast casserole, air fryer French toast sticks, and chai French toast skewers, too.

Photo byRachel Cooks

Ingredient Notes

• Brioche Bread: Day-old brioche bread is the BEST bread for French toast. It’s buttery, light, and fluffy. When you use day-old bread, it’s just dry enough to soak up the eggs and milk without making the bread soggy.
• Spreadable Strawberry Cream Cheese: A container of spreadable cream cheese makes an easy filling. It’s ready to go! Don’t buy the whipped cream cheese; it deflates when it’s heated.
• Eggs: You’ll need 3 large eggs.
• Whole Milk: I like to use whole milk to make French toast because it makes a richer custard. Other types of milk will be okay, too.
• Brown Sugar: Just a tablespoon of brown sugar flavors the custard mixture.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: I always add a dash of vanilla to my French toast. It gives it the best flavor. Be sure to buy vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla.
• Optional Toppings: Fresh sliced strawberries make the best garnish for strawberry cream cheese stuffed French toast, along with a drizzle of real maple syrup, and a dollop of whipped cream.

Exact Ingredients

• 1 loaf (16 oz.) sliced brioche bread
• 1 container (8 oz.) spreadable strawberry cream cheese
• 3 large eggs
• ⅔ cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Optional toppings: sliced fresh strawberries, maple syrup, whipped cream

Photo byRachel Cooks

How To Make Stuffed French Toast

Prepare the bread. Slice the brioche into nice thick slices, about an inch thick. Then, carefully with a sharp knife, cut a large slit in the middle of the bottom of the slice, making a pocket for the cream cheese. Take a look at the photo if you’re unsure of how to do this.

Add the filling. Transfer the contents of the container of spreadable strawberry cream cheese to a pastry bag with a large tip. Squeeze about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese into the slit you created in each slice of bread.

Make the egg mixture. Beat the eggs until the whites and yolks are combined. Add the milk, sugar, and vanilla, and beat until the mixture is well-blended.

Dip the bread. Dip each slice of the stuffed bread into the egg mixture, flipping it once to coat both sides. Give it enough time to soak up the mixture. The drier the bread, the more quickly it will soak it up.

Cook the French toast. On a preheated griddle, cook each slice of French toast until it’s firm and golden brown on each side, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Serve. Top each slice with a drizzle of maple syrup, fresh sliced strawberries, and a dollop of freshly whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Photo byRachel Cooks

Recipe Variations

• Choose different bread. Other types of bread can be used such as Texas toast, challah, or French bread, as long as the slices are at least 1 inch thick. Day old bread works best.
• Choose different cream cheese. If you don’t have sweet tooth, stuff the French toast with plain spreadable cream cheese which isn’t sweetened. Spreadable cream cheese comes in lots of flavors, too, although many of them tend toward the savory rather than sweet. I’m thinking I might like to try a savory version of this stuffed French toast with chive and onion cream cheese, topped with a fried egg.
• Like traditional French toast? Don’t miss my classic French toast recipe. I cover all the tips to make perfect French toast!

Storage & Reheating Tips

Keep warm: Place cooked French toast on a wire baking rack placed on top of a sheet pan in a warm oven (175-200ºF). This will keep the cooked French toast warm and crispy while you finish cooking the rest.

Leftover French toast: Stuffed French toast is best eaten right away but if you happen to have some leftover, cover it in plastic wrap or foil, or keep in an airtight container. Refrigerate promptly. To freeze, transfer to a freezer-safe bag, separating each piece with parchment paper so it doesn’t stick together.

Reheating: Thaw stuffed French toast overnight in the refrigerator if it’s frozen. Pop it in the toaster oven or microwave for a quick and easy breakfast. Reheating may cause it to be slightly soggy due to the filling.

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