Berry Stuffed French Toast Recipe

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If you’re looking to upgrade your breakfast or brunch, this berry-packed stuffed french toast recipe is exactly what you need. Thick french toast filled with berries and cream cheese and topped with maple syrup, what’s not to love?

two slices of French toast stuffed with cream cheese filling

The secret’s out – I like sweet things for breakfast and today I’m serving up one of my favorites: cream cheese and mixed berry stuffed french toast.

I used to own and run a bed and breakfast and this stuffed french toast was one of my go-to breakfasts. The guests loved it and it was really easy to make! I would often serve it with my brown sugar bacon or a slice of spinach bacon swiss quiche.

French toast has long been a breakfast favorite, cherished for its simplicity and versatility. However, this recipe takes it to the next level by adding a luscious cream cheese and mixed berry filling that will leave your taste buds dancing. Imagine golden-brown slices of bread, crisped to perfection, encasing a creamy, tangy filling infused with the vibrant sweetness of mixed berries. Each bite is a delightful contrast of textures and flavors, making it the ultimate breakfast treat. (It’s one of my favorite brunch recipes too!) I know you’re going to love it!

close up of French toast dusted with powdered sugar and covered with berries

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • The tangy cream cheese filling perfectly complements the sweetness of the mixed berries, creating a burst of flavors with every bite.
  • The fluffy bread’s soft texture provides a pleasant contrast to the crispy exterior, adding an extra dimension to the dish.
  • It’s a delicious and unique take on a classic dish. Anyone can served French toast. A stuffed French toast is special and unexpected.
  • It’s customizable. Feel free to have fun with unique and flavorful filings! Try a different fruit like pineapple or use a different spread like Nutella.
berry cream cheese breakfast on a plate

Ingredients

I used traditional ingredients to make the French toast, but the filling makes it really stand out! Remember, the fresher the ingredients (minus the bread – keep it slightly stale!), the better it will taste.

  • French Bread: This is the best kind of bread to use because it will toast and crisp up perfectly.
  • Cream Cheese: Soften an entire package of cream cheese; you will use this in the filling.
  • Fresh Berries: Any type of berries are perfect, so use what is in season.
  • Sugar: Use granulated sugar in the filling.
  • Vanilla Extract: Use vanilla in the egg coating for the bread to give the filling a deeper flavor.
  • Eggs: These are what crisp up and give the French toast its iconic flavor and texture.
  • Milk: Either whole milk or half and half will work perfectly. You need full-fat milk.
  • Ground Cinnamon: As the French toast cooks, you’ll smell the slightly-spicy aroma of cinnamon.
  • Ground Nutmeg: This is a classic ingredient in my favorite French toast recipes.
  • Salt: Enhances all the other ingredients and makes them stand out more.
  • Butter: Use unsalted butter when you fry the French toast.
  • Optional: Maple syrup, confectioner’s sugar, and additional berries for serving.
close up of stuffed French toast breakfast
Berry Stuffed French Toast pinterest image

How to Make

I will walk you through the process of making this delicious pasta dish. For your convenience, I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.

What makes this recipe work especially well is the preparation of the bread. You start with a loaf of unsliced French bread.

To cut the bread, make your first slice only 3/4 of the way through the bread. Then, move over and make a second slice the whole way through.

man holding a slice of bread

This will make a little pocket to fill with that delicious sweet cream cheese berry mixture.

cream cheese mixture between two pieces of bread

Speaking of the filling, for this recipe, I’m showing you how to create mixed berries. However, you can substitute any fruit you’d like. I’ve done this with just strawberries and even cranberries around the holidays. Use whatever you like or whatever is fresh.

fresh mixed berries in a bowl
stacked of stuffed French toast

Once the bread is stuffed, the preparation is the same as any French toast – dip that bread into a mixture of egg and milk and make sure its evenly coated.

French toast being dipped into egg and milk mixture

Then, drop it into a skillet or on a griddle and fry up your French toast.

golden brown toast in a skillet

Naturally, you’ll want to top it all off with a sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar, maple syrup, and some more fresh berries. Since we’ve come this far, we might as well do it, right?

Then, grab your fork and enjoy!

syrup being poured over top of berry stuffed French toast

How to Store

Sadly, stuffed French toast does not store very well. It tastes the best when you eat it hot off the griddle. However, if you want to save leftovers, I suggest eating them within a day or two.

Store leftover stuffed French toast in an airtight food storage container and keep it in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.

Recipe Variations

Now that you’ve mastered the basics of this berry-packed French toast recipe, it’s time to get creative! Here are a few variations to try out:

  • Swap out the bread: While this recipe calls for French bread, feel free to experiment with different types of bread. Brioche, challah, sourdough, or even cinnamon raisin bread would all work well.
  • Add some flavor: Want to add a little extra flavor to your French toast? Try experimenting with different spices and extracts in your egg mixture before soaking the bread.
  • Go savory: French toast doesn’t always have to be sweet! Try swapping out the berries and for savory toppings like avocado, bacon, or fried eggs.
  • Make it healthier: To make this recipe a little healthier, use whole wheat bread or gluten free bread. You can also use light cream cheese or even a mixture of cream cheese and greek yogurt.
a bite of cream cheese filled French toast on a fork

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make a French toast filling?

There are a lot of different ways you can make filling for stuffed French toast. My recipe uses cream cheese, fresh berries, sugar, and vanilla. Not a fruit fan? You could also leave out the berries and just use a cream cheese filling.

Why does my French toast come out soggy in the middle?

This is a common problem for anyone that uses a slice of bread that is too thin, fresh, or flimsy. No matter what type of bread you use, you need to make sure it is thick enough. If your bread is thick enough, then look at the milk mixture. If you use too much milk or skim milk, the bread might be soggy.

Other causes of soggy French toast include leaving the bread in the milk and egg mixture or cooking it at too high of heat, which sears the outside and leaves the middle uncooked.

What is the best type of bread to use in French toast?

My top three favorite types of bread to use for French toast are Brioche, challah, and French baguette. They are thick and dense enough to cook really well with the milk and egg coating.

I know we usually say “fresh is best” when it comes to food, but in this case, that’s not necessarily true. The best french toast is made with bread that’s slightly stale, so maybe a few days old. I usually buy a loaf, enjoy a fresh sandwich or two, then let it sit for a few days before whipping up my french toast!

What can I do with leftovers?

Leftover French toast can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can reheat it in the microwave or toaster oven for a quick breakfast or snack. You can also get creative and turn it into a dessert by topping it with ice cream and fruit.

This Berry Stuffed French Toast recipe is a breakfast winner stuffed with berries and cream cheese, then topped with maple syrup. #stuffed #berry #french #toast #breakfast #recipe #brunch #frenchtoast #creamcheese #mixedberries #berries

More Breakfast Ideas You’ll Love

Give this stuffed French toast recipe a try – add your own twist, and tell us what you think. Stop back and please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. 

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Berry Stuffed French Toast

This Berry Stuffed French Toast recipe is always a winner when served for breakfast. Stuffed with berries and cream cheese, then topped with maple syrup, what’s not to love?
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: berries, breakfast, brunch, french toast, stuffed french toast
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
Calories: 270kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Begin by cutting your bread. With a bread knife remove about an inch from the end of the bread. Then, make a slice about 1/2 inch into the bread. Only cut about 3/4 of the way through. Then, about a 1/2 inch from your first slice, make another cut into the bread. This time, slice through. This will leave you with a slice of bread with a little pocket. Continue slicing the rest of the loaf in the same fashion. Set aside.
  • In a bowl with a hand mixer, combine the cream cheese, chopped berries, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth. Set aside.
  • Using a spatula, spread a generous amount of the berry and cream cheese mixture between the two layers of each slice of bread. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, break the eggs. Whisk together with the milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  • Next, add some butter to a hot skillet set to medium-high heat and melt. Using a pair of tongs, dip the stuffed bread into the egg mixture. Allow any excess egg mixture to drip off; then place the bread in the skillet. Cook for about 4-6 minutes or until the bread is browned to your liking. Continue this process with the rest of the stuffed bread.
  • Sprinkle the French toast with confectioner’s sugar. Serve warm with maple syrup and more fresh berries.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 318mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

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15 Comments

  1. Michael this looks awesome! I’ve had my own recipe that I’ve been using for years that’s similar to yours and it’s fabulous! When I get in the mood to experiment I will give this a try because it looks delicious! The only difference I see is the cream cheese and you use a bread where I use a mix of my own and a waffle iron. I do make a baked French toast that’s out of this world but I’ve misplaced my recipe and hoping to find it soon.

  2. “Oh my goodness” is what I thought when I first saw this. This looks so good. I will have to try it. I had to smile at your cotton candy donuts story. 🙂 Yes we all have our little indulgences that we get carried away with in a good way. My was chocolate almond ice cream to which I added walnuts, pecans and raisins for even more goodness. Yummy!!!

  3. I never thought of doing this and I have been hoarding some very special homemade jam that I think might just be used in stuffed French toast! Can’t wait for Sunday morning brunch!

  4. Wow, what a way to make my favorite breakfast or anytime of the day……….this sounds fabulous and delicious and healthy. Thank you so very much Michael. I hope you have a very wonderful year!

  5. YUM! Unbelievable… I have no doubt this french toast will taste incredibly delicious! And so easy to prepare. BTW – I forgot to tell you we made your mulled wine recipe on Christmas day. It was fantastic! And will be a Christmas tradition for years to come (though I expect we’ll be making it a few more times during the winter 🙂 Thanks for all the great recipes!

  6. Oh. My. Goodness. Does this look delicious! I usually make the Barefoot Contessa’s French Toast with challah bread, unstuffed, but this gives me a new version to try, along with the Brown Sugar Bacon you posted the other day. Thank you!