Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

My Strawberry Stuffed French Toast features whole grain bread stuffed with a creamy mixture of fresh strawberries, ricotta and Neufchâtel cheese. It’s a delicious and nutritious family-friendly dish that will make you feel like you’re indulging in a decadent treat!   

 

I’m always looking for healthy and delicious breakfast ideas.  On workdays, I’m usually rushing out the door in the morning and prefer portable breakfasts to take on the go like my make-ahead breakfast burritos or blueberry French toast muffins. But when the weekend rolls around, there's nothing I enjoy more than a relaxed brunch with my loved ones, savoring dishes like my crockpot French toast casserole, strawberry oatmeal blender pancakes or blueberry lemon Dutch baby. 

If you're looking for a breakfast dish that offers a balance of wholesome ingredients and indulgent flavors, look no further than my mouthwatering strawberry stuffed French toast. Whether it's a hectic weekday morning or a leisurely weekend brunch, this dish brings together the best of both worlds, offering a delicious treat that's both satisfying and nutritious.

This strawberry stuffed French toast is a fun twist on a classic breakfast dish, featuring a sweet cream cheese and ricotta filling, fresh strawberries, and a hint of maple syrup for an irresistible flavor combination.  It's perfect for special occasions like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, a bridal brunch, or any day when you want to treat yourself or your loved ones.

Healthier French Toast

This strawberry stuffed French toast recipe is a lightened up twist on classic stuffed French toast that will satisfy your cravings without compromising on nutrition or flavor.  Here's how I lightened up the dish:

• Whole Wheat Bread: By using whole wheat bread instead of white bread, this recipe incorporates nutritious whole grains, offering fiber and essential nutrients for a healthier option.
• Neufchâtel Cheese: Instead of regular cream cheese, I use Neufchâtel cheese, which boasts the same delicious flavor but with fewer calories and less fat. Look for it in the grocery store next to regular cream cheese, sometimes labeled as "⅓ less fat" cream cheese.
• Ricotta Cheese: Combined with Neufchâtel cheese, ricotta not only enhances the richness and creaminess of the filling but also adds a protein boost to the dish, making it more satisfying and nutritious.
• Packed with Strawberries: I stuff the French toast with slices of strawberries and also pile extra strawberries on top of the dish.  Strawberries add natural sweetness and a boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
• Lightly Sweetened: A touch of pure maple syrup in the filling provides a hint of sweetness without excessive added sugars. Serve with additional maple syrup and powdered sugar on the side for those craving extra sweetness.
• Milk in the custard: Many French toast recipes call for heavy cream to make the egg custard but I use milk. Whole milk or 2% milk will give enough richness without the extra calories and fat.

Ingredients

Ingredient notes and substitutions. See recipe card at the end of the post for full recipe details.

• Whole wheat bread- I like to use whole grain bread to incorporate nutritious whole grains into the dish. If my bakery has a nice fresh loaf of bread, I'll go for that. Otherwise, you can use regular sliced bread. For classic French toast, you can use brioche bread, French bread or sourdough.
• Neufchâtel cheese- sometimes referred to as "light cream cheese," this French cheese is similar to cream cheese but has a slightly tangier flavor and a lower fat content, making it a lighter alternative.
• Ricotta cheese- ricotta adds creaminess to the filling that makes it taste like cannoli filling. It also adds a boost of protein.
• Vanilla extract- adds tons of flavor to the egg custard 
• Maple syrup- I add a small amount of pure maple syrup to the filling to lightly sweeten it. You can substitute honey or agave nectar. 
• Strawberries- I use fresh strawberries in the filling and also to top the French toast; you can substitute other berries like blueberries or blackberries
• Eggs- form the base of the custard mixture that the bread gets soaked in
• Milk- you can use any type of milk including plant-based milk. I typically use 2% milk. The higher the milk fat, the richer the custard will be. 
• Cinnamon- adds classic French toast flavor

How To Make Strawberry Stuffed French Toast Step-By-Step

See recipe card at the end of the post for full recipe details.

• Step 1- Mix the ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, and maple syrup together in a small bowl.
• Step 2- Spread some of the strawberry cream cheese filling on each slice of bread. I like to use an offset spatula for this. Arrange strawberry slices on the surface of 4 slices of bread. Top them with the other 4 slices of bread, forming 4 sandwiches.
• Step 3- Whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon together in a shallow dish or bowl. Dip each sandwich into the egg mixture for a few seconds on each side.
• Step 4- Heat a griddle or large skillet like a cast iron skillet over medium heat and brush with a small amount of oil, butter or cooking spray. Place the French toast on the griddle and cook 3-4 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook another 2-3 minutes on the second side. Serve with fresh strawberries and a little maple syrup and/or powdered sugar.

What To Serve With French Toast

Serve this strawberry stuffed French toast with maple syrup or powdered sugar to drizzle on top.  You can also add your favorite toppings like fresh fruit, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, lemon zest or chocolate chips.  

You can pair the French toast with other dishes on the side for a full breakfast or brunch spread.  Some options are: 

• Crispy bacon or breakfast sausage
• Fresh fruit salad
• Whipped cream or Greek yogurt
• A side of scrambled eggs for an added protein boost  
• A refreshing smoothie like my tropical pineapple banana smoothie or immunity-boosting orange strawberry smoothie

Recipe FAQs

More Tasty Breakfast Dishes

Recipe