🍰🍓Strawberry cream cheese French Toast 🍓🍰

Let’s get some yummy spring breakfast ideas! This recipe Is warm, sweet, comforting, and miraculously easy, going to be a hug with every bite! Let’s get started with what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf brioche or challah bread 🍞(cubed)- if you don’t assess to either croissants or French bread would work as well!

• 8oz full-fat cream cheese (VERY cold and cubed) - “cold” part is KEY! 🔑

• 1 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries 🍓- hulled and sliced! Fresh is going to bring out of the best flavors BUT if you’re in a pinch and have frozen strawberries make sure they are well drained and thawed (pay dry to avoid being soggy)

• 6 large eggs 🥚

• 1 3/4 cups whole milk 🥛

• 1/3 pure maple syrup or honey 🍯

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract - DONT SKIMP!

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 pinch of fine sea salt 🧂

• For serving: Powdered sugar, extra maple syrup, fresh strawberries, and/or whipped cream. – Go wild! Presentation is part of the fun.

Recipe:

1. Prep Your Stage. Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. This isn’t just for non-stick insurance; it adds a lovely, buttery flavor to the edges. Trust me on this one.

2. The First Bread Layer. Scatter half of your bread cubes evenly in the bottom of the dish. Don’t pack them down—let them stay fluffy so the custard can circulate.

3. Dot with Delight. Now, take your cold cream cheese cubes and your sliced strawberries and distribute them as evenly as you can over this first bread layer. Try to get a bit of cheese and berry in every square inch! This ensures every serving is packed with goodness.

4. Top It Off. Add the remaining bread cubes over the cheese and berries. You’re building a delicious sandwich right in the pan!

5. Whisk the Magic Potion. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs vigorously until they’re uniform and slightly frothy. This incorporates air for a fluffier bake. Then, whisk in the milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and that all-important pinch of salt. Whisk until it’s one harmonious, smooth liquid.

6. The Soak. Slowly and evenly pour the custard mixture over the entire bread assembly. Take your time, moving across the dish in a zig-zag pattern. Now, here’s a chef hack: gently press down on the top bread layer with your spatula. This helps the top cubes start soaking up that custard, too.

7. Patience is a Flavor. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. This is non-negotiable for the best texture. It allows the bread to fully absorb the custard, transforming from cubes into a cohesive, pudding-like delight.

8. Bake to Golden Glory. When you’re ready to bake, take the dish out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter while your oven preheats to 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap. Bake, uncovered, for 40-50 minutes. You’re looking for a beautifully puffed, golden-brown top, and a center that’s set (not jiggly like liquid).

9. The Grand Finale: Rest. Pull the bake from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This allows it to settle, making it easier to slice and serving it at the perfect temperature—warm, not molten.

I like to slice it into big, generous squares. Dust the top liberally with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sieve—it looks like a light snowfall. Scatter a handful of fresh, sliced strawberries around the platter for a burst of color. Serve with small pitchers of warm maple syrup and bowls of freshly whipped cream on the side so everyone can customize it themselves.

The fun part its just a canvas or base there’s plenty of ways to customize it and make it your own! Tell me down below 👇🏼 if you tried it or added your own flare!

#strawberryfrenchtoast #spring #recipeideas #brunchrecipes #Lemon8Diary