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Creamy Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake

creamy strawberry cream cheese french toast bake - featured image
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A cozy and comforting baked French toast featuring challah bread soaked in a rich custard with cream cheese pockets and fresh strawberries, perfect for breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf challah bread (about 12 ounces / 340 grams), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk (480 ml)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (120 ml)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar (65 grams)
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar (30 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 10–12 medium berries)
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (100 grams)
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (30 grams)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Cut challah loaf into 1-inch cubes and spread evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth.
  4. Dollop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture evenly over the cubed bread, then scatter sliced strawberries (tossed in lemon juice if using) on top. Gently swirl cream cheese through some bread cubes without mixing completely.
  5. Pour custard mixture evenly over the bread, cream cheese, and strawberries. Press down gently to help bread soak custard. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
  6. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, chopped nuts (if using), flour, and melted butter until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the soaked bread.
  7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
  8. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes until topping is golden and custard is set but creamy.
  9. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use softened cream cheese to avoid lumps. Let bread soak in custard for at least 10 minutes for best texture. Cover with foil during initial baking to prevent over-browning. Can assemble the night before and refrigerate. Use challah or brioche bread for best results. Optional nuts add crunch but can be omitted for nut-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: French toast bake, strawberry, cream cheese, breakfast, brunch, baked French toast, creamy, easy recipe

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/creamy-strawberry-cream-cheese-french-toast-bake-easy-recipe-for-breakfast-delight/