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Creamy Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast Casserole

creamy strawberry cream cheese stuffed french toast casserole - featured image
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A comforting and indulgent breakfast casserole featuring custard-soaked brioche bread stuffed with creamy cream cheese and fresh strawberries, perfect for lazy weekends or brunch gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, sliced thick (about 12 slices)
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (225g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups (480ml) whole milk (or almond milk for dairy-free)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for greasing)
  • Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cream cheese filling by beating the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  2. Slice the brioche into 12 thick slices (about 1-inch thick). Hull and slice the strawberries thinly.
  3. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with melted butter. Lay out half the bread slices in a single layer.
  4. Spread about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese on each bread slice, then top with sliced strawberries.
  5. Cover with the remaining bread slices, pressing down gently to sandwich the filling.
  6. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and sugar until fully combined and slightly frothy.
  7. Slowly pour the custard mixture evenly over the assembled casserole, ensuring all bread slices are soaked. Press down gently with a spatula and let sit for 5 minutes to soak thoroughly.
  8. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole uncovered on the middle rack for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and custard is set (a knife inserted should come out clean). Tent with foil if top browns too fast.
  9. Let the casserole cool for about 10 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar and slicing into squares.
  10. Serve warm with optional toppings like whipped cream or maple syrup.

Notes

Use thick, sturdy bread like brioche or challah for best results. Soften cream cheese before spreading. Allow bread to soak custard for at least 5 minutes to avoid dry centers. Tent with foil if top browns too quickly. Assemble the night before and refrigerate for easy morning baking. Frozen strawberries can be used if drained well. Variations include adding chocolate chips, using mixed berries, or making dairy-free/gluten-free substitutions.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry, cream cheese, stuffed french toast, casserole, breakfast, brunch, easy recipe, creamy, custard, brioche

Find it online: https://emmastirs.com/creamy-strawberry-cream-cheese-stuffed-french-toast-casserole-recipe-easy-and-best-breakfast-idea/