It's just about strawberry season here in southern California. The prices have already dropped in the supermarkets and I've been loading up. Judah loves eating them with his breakfast, lunch and dinner although I try to vary it up between other fruits as well. I had a few strawberries in my fridge the other morning that were calling out my name, pleading with me to use them up before they went bad. I then remembered a recipe I had torn out of a Costco membership newsletter last December for strawberry stuffed french toast and immediately set out to make it for breakfast.
The original recipe, written by Sandra Lee, called for a few ingredients I didn't have on hand. So, I either left them out or substituted. A little worried that these alterations would possibly ruin the results, I was quickly set at ease after taking the first bite. The toast turned out fabulous! In fact, it was so good that I decided to just share my version below. Those ingredients I left out evidently were not vital to the flavor. And, my version creates a breakfast you can make at home with mainly items you should already have stocked in your pantry. Bonus!
To be completely honest, I had never tried stuffed french toast before. Not one single variation of it. Reading the recipe and looking at the photo, I was a bit skeptical of stuffing a slice of bread with a cream cheese mixture, then frying it. It didn't seem like it would work, and I was sure the texture would bother me. Boy, was I in for a big surprise. The crispy edges of the bread mixed with the creamy strawberry filling left such a pleasing taste on my palate. And, don't leave out the powdered sugar sprinkled on top. It creates the perfect additional sweetener!
Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
Yield: 6-8 servings
1 package (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons strawberry puree
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
4 eggs
1 cup whipping cream
8 slices very thick sliced bread, such as Italian bread, Challah, Texas Toast, etc
Butter
Sliced fresh strawberries
Powdered sugar (optional)
maple syrup or strawberry syrup
Preheat oven to 300˚F
In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese, strawberry puree and orange zest until smooth. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs then stir in the whipping cream. Pour into a shallow dish. Set aside.
Using a paring knife, slice a pocket into the side of each slice of bread, without cutting through the bread). Fill the pockets with a heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture.
Melt a tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip the filled bread slices into the egg mixture, then brown in the skillet for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Keep warm on a baking sheet in the preheated oven until ready to serve. Serve hot with maple syrup, powdered sugar and sliced strawberries.
Source: Sandra Lee via The Costco Connection
Karissa says
Wonderful recipe! I've never tried a recipe of yours I didn't love!!
Nikki says
Thanks, Karissa!
Elana says
My husband just made this for me for Mother's Day and it was yummy!
Nikki says
Thanks, Elana! You have a great husband! 😉 Happy Mother's Day!
Peggy says
This looks like the perfect Sunday Brunch! I love the strawberry filling idea! =)
Katelyn says
Thank you for the great recipe, I made it for my husband's birthday yesterday!! So good.
Jenn (Cookies Cupcakes Cardio) says
LOVE french toast...especially baked....Im thinking I'll have to make this for Sunday morning brunch this weekend. Thanks for the great idea!
Kristen | Menuism.com says
I've been stocking up on strawberry recipes in preparation for the next trip to the farmer's market (okay, or to the farmer that sells him from his truck because that's closer) - this one might have to be the first I try! Definitely more exciting than jam! 🙂
Mary @ Delightful Bitefuls says
This is flat out INCREDIBLE. I want this for dinner. And since I make dinner... 😉
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
Jami says
I just bookmarked this. Oh my goodness that looks good!!!
Lisa @ greylustergirl says
Oh man. This looks heavenly. Visiting from Today's Top Twenty.
Amanda says
You were featured on Today's Top 20! Woo Hoo!
http://www.todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com
Nikki says
Amanda, thanks for the feature. I tried to leave a comment on your blog, but none of the drop-down options (openID, typepad, google, livejournal, etc) work for me.
Danielle says
That looks so good. I had my first stuffed French toast last year, I bet it doesn't have anything on homemade stuffed French toast. I look forward to making this.
Mandie says
Just bought my 4 lb package of strawberries from Costco today! Perfect recipe!
Cookbook Queen says
I've never eaten or made stuffed french toast, but I've wanted to for awhile now. Strawberries are one of my favorite things!!
Blog is the New Black says
This looks wonderful! Great to serve for brunch!
Dishes of Mrs. Fish says
How decadent and delicious!