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French toast is a constant staple in our home, particularly this strawberry and cream cheese French toast recipe. This French toast is prepared ahead of time, then baked in the morning.
I got this incredibly delicious Strawberry and Cream Cheese French Toast recipe from our friends, the Budges. It has become an all-time Walker family favorite. Perhaps my favorite thing about this French toast is that you can prepare it ahead of time and throw it in the oven in the morning. This is not your classic French toast recipe. It’s so much easier! Instead of having to individually dip and pan fry each slice on a skillet or griddle, you whisk the mixture together and pour the mixture over all the bread and bake it.
Ingredients in Overnight Strawberry French Toast
- French bread – you can also use brioche, challah, or Texas toast. You can also use gluten free bread.
- Whipped cream cheese – I like to use the whipped cream cheese because it is so much easier to spread, but regular cream cheese will work as long as you soften it.
- Eggs
- Milk
- Butter
- Seasonings: Sugar, Salt, and Cinnamon
- Strawberries
- Optional – maple syrup for topping
Whipped Topping Ingredients
- Whipping Cream
- Sugar
- Almond Extract or Vanilla Extract
How to Make Strawberry French Toast
This beautiful stuffed French toast recipe is perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, or any special occasion. All you need are a few basic ingredients and a glass baking dish. It comes together in no time and all you have to do in the morning is bake and enjoy! Here’s what to do:
- First, get a loaf of French bread (you can use brioche breads, Texas toast, challah, sandwich bread, or any bread slices you like, but I love the thickness and the texture of French bread). Layer the bottom of a baking dish with bread.
- Next, spread some sweet cream cheese on top of each slice of bread. I prefer to use the whipped cream cheese from the store, but you can use a block of 8 oz cream cheese that has been softened and whipped up using a hand mixer.
- Cover the cream cheese layer with another layer of sliced bread to create a cream cheese sandwich.
- Then, make the French toast casserole custard. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour the egg mixture over bread and let sit for five minutes. You can also dip each slice into the egg mixture if you prefer.
- Turn the top layer of the bread over to really let the egg mixture soak in, cover tightly and pop it in the fridge and let it sit overnight.
- In the morning, melt some butter and drizzle over the top of the French toast and bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
- When the casserole is golden brown, remove from the oven.
- Finally, top with homemade whipped cream and sliced strawberries. Heaven!
Homemade Whipped Cream and Sweet Strawberries
Nothing tastes more delicious on top of this French toast with sweet cream cheese filling than freshly made whipped cream and berries. For a classic whipped topping, mix a pint of heavy cream, a quarter cup of sugar and a couple teaspoons of almond, amaretto or even a teaspoon vanilla extract. Whip on high speed with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
Meanwhile, prep your berries by washing a couple cups strawberries. Use a sharp knife an slice them up, then toss the slices with a little bit of sugar. I like to assemble the strawberry stuffed French toast by layering a cream cheese stuffed toast on a plate, scoop a generous portion of whipped cream on top, then pile high with the sweetened sliced strawberries. This also tastes scrumptious on top of pancakes or waffles.
More Cream Cheese Combinations
I love the strawberry and cream cheese flavor on this french toast, but there are so many other great combinations as well. It’s fun to try this recipe with a flavored cream cheese like mixed berry or pineapple, and with other types of fresh fruit. You can make a tropical version by using a pineapple cream cheese layer with bananas and coconut, or use a mixed berry cream cheese with fresh berries like raspberries and blueberries. Additionally, you can add in amaretto or almond flavoring into the whipped cream…it is a must-try! Try using Nutella or peanut butter instead of cream cheese. Top with nuts like walnuts or pecans.
How to Soften Cream Cheese for Spreading
For this strawberry and cream cheese french toast recipe, the cream cheese will need to be softened so it can spread easily. You can easily do this by setting it out on the counter for an hour or so to soften, but if you’re anything like me, you might forget! If that’s the case, you can quickly soften cream cheese in the microwave. Simply take off the foil wrapper, set it on a plate and microwave on high for about 15 seconds. Additionally, you can also place the unopened foil package (remove the outside box) in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes. Easy!
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How to Make Overnight Strawberry French Toast
Overnight Strawberry French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread cut into 1 inch slices.
- 15 ounces strawberry cream cheese (we used the Philadelphia brand)
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 12 ounces sliced strawberries
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
WHIPPED TOPPING:
- 1 pint whipping cream
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1½ teaspoons almond or amaretto flavoring
Instructions
- Spread a layer of strawberry cream cheese between two slices of bread.
- Place sandwiched slices in a glass pan sprayed with non stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, sugar, salt and cinnamon.
- Pour the egg mixture over bread and let sit for five minutes, turn bread over and cover pan with saran wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
- Drizzle melted butter over the top of each piece of bread.
- Bake at 400℉ for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Slice strawberries and mix with powdered sugar in a mixing bowl.
- Beat together the whipped topping ingredients until stiff peaks form.
- Top with strawberries mixed with sugar and the whipped topping.
Love this French toast 😋 my twin sister and I had every year on our Birthday 9-1. This year for the first time I will be having it in memory of Linda, myTwin Love.
F toast, cheese and eggs, bacon, coffee & mimosa
I'm sure it would be great!
Do you think this would work with Texas Toast???
I was thinking the French bread would be more dense than the Texas toast [which came to my mind at first, too!]. Did you try the Texas toast? how did it hold up?
Susie
Delicious! I think the almond extract was absolutely yummy, but I couldn’t really taste much of the French toast. If I were to donut again, I’d add a bit less, and also put the strawberries on before the whipped cream in the hopes that it won’t melt quite so quickly. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Hi. I’m posting a Recipe Roundup for the FoodieView blog and would like to use your recipe and photo. Could you please contact me at readablefeast@gmail.com letting me know it’s o.k. to use. I couldn’t find any contact info on your blog.