Decadent Berry Cream Cheese French Toast
Indulge in the ultimate breakfast delight with our Decadent Berry Cream Cheese French Toast! This delightful twist on the classic French toast features luscious cream cheese mixed with sweet strawberry preserves, creating a rich, creamy filling that's perfectly complemented by a medley of fresh berries. Each bite delivers a burst of flavor and a heavenly texture that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy. Perfect for brunch or a special morning treat, this recipe is sure to impress your family and friends. Serve it drizzled with warm maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar for that extra touch of sweetness!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
Mixed fresh berries
2 cups (mixed)
Granulated sugar
2 tablespoons (for macerating berries)
Cream cheese
2/3 cup (softened)
Strawberry preserves
1/4 cup (for mixing with cream cheese)
Large eggs
3 (beaten)
Evaporated milk
2/3 cup (for egg mixture)
Brown sugar
2 tablespoons (packed)
Vanilla extract
2 teaspoons (for flavor)
French bread
12 slices (for sandwiches)
Butter or margarine
1 tablespoon (for cooking)
Powdered sugar
to taste (optional)
Maple syrup
to taste (optional)
Instructions
1
In a small bowl, combine the mixed fresh berries and granulated sugar, then gently toss and set aside to macerate.
2
In another bowl, mix the cream cheese and strawberry preserves together until smooth and well combined.
3
In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, evaporated milk, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is homogenous.
4
Spread the cream cheese and strawberry mixture evenly over six slices of French bread. Top with the remaining slices to create sandwiches.
5
Heat butter or margarine in a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat until melted and bubbly.
6
Carefully dip each sandwich into the egg mixture, ensuring both sides are well covered, then place them onto the skillet.
7
Cook the stuffed French toasts for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown and heated through.
8
Once cooked, sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired and top with the macerated berries. Serve warm with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Decadent Berry Cream Cheese French Toast?
It is a rich breakfast dish featuring French bread stuffed with a cream cheese and strawberry preserve filling, topped with macerated fresh berries.
What kind of bread should I use?
The recipe recommends using 12 slices of French bread to create six stuffed sandwiches.
How do I prepare the berries?
Combine 2 cups of mixed fresh berries with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and let them macerate.
What goes into the cream cheese filling?
The filling is made by mixing 2/3 cup of softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup of strawberry preserves until smooth.
What is in the egg mixture?
The egg mixture contains 3 large beaten eggs, 2/3 cup evaporated milk, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
Can I use regular milk instead of evaporated milk?
While evaporated milk provides a richer texture, you can substitute it with whole milk or half-and-half if necessary.
How do I cook the French toast?
Cook the stuffed sandwiches in a skillet with butter over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
How many eggs are needed?
The recipe calls for 3 large eggs, which should be beaten before being mixed with other ingredients.
What temperature should the skillet be?
The skillet should be set to medium heat to ensure the bread browns without burning while the filling warms through.
Is the cream cheese supposed to be softened?
Yes, softening the cream cheese allows it to blend smoothly with the strawberry preserves.
Can I use margarine instead of butter?
Yes, the recipe allows for either 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine for cooking.
What kind of preserves are used?
The recipe specifically calls for 1/4 cup of strawberry preserves.
How much vanilla extract is used?
The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract to flavor the egg wash.
Is brown sugar used in this recipe?
Yes, 2 tablespoons of packed brown sugar are added to the egg mixture for sweetness.
How many sandwiches does this recipe make?
Using 12 slices of bread, the recipe produces 6 stuffed French toast sandwiches.
Should I use fresh or frozen berries?
The recipe specifies 2 cups of mixed fresh berries for the best results when macerating.
Is powdered sugar required?
Powdered sugar is an optional topping used to dust the finished French toast for extra sweetness.
What serves as the final topping?
The French toast is topped with the macerated berries and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Can I use different fruit preserves?
While strawberry is suggested, you could substitute it with raspberry or blackberry preserves for a different flavor profile.
How do I assemble the sandwiches?
Spread the cream cheese mixture on six slices of bread and top them with the remaining six slices.
How do I coat the sandwiches in the egg mixture?
Carefully dip each assembled sandwich into the shallow dish of egg mixture, ensuring both sides are well covered.
What does macerating the berries do?
Macerating with sugar softens the berries and creates a natural sweet syrup for topping the toast.
Can I make this for brunch?
Yes, this decadent recipe is ideal for brunch or a special morning treat.
Is this recipe easy to make?
Yes, with a prep time involving simple mixing and dipping, it is considered an easy yet impressive dish.
Should the egg mixture be homogenous?
Yes, you should whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla until the mixture is completely uniform.
How much butter is needed for the skillet?
Use 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine to grease the large nonstick skillet or griddle.
What size dish should I use for the egg wash?
A shallow dish is recommended to make dipping the large French bread sandwiches easier.
Can I add more syrup?
Yes, maple syrup can be added to taste as an optional final touch.
What is the texture of the filling?
The combination of cream cheese and preserves creates a rich, creamy, and sweet filling.
How long does the whole cooking process take?
Once the skillet is hot, it takes approximately 4-6 minutes to cook each batch of sandwiches.