Fluffy Strawberry Stuffed French Toast Hearts
A delightful Valentine’s Day breakfast featuring fluffy brioche bread stuffed with a sweet strawberry cream cheese filling, coated in cinnamon sugar, and cooked to golden perfection.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings (2 stuffed hearts per serving) 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices thick-cut brioche bread
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk (or almond milk for dairy-free option)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for cooking
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
- Strawberry jam or syrup, for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the filling: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and diced strawberries. Mix gently until just combined, leaving some strawberry pieces visible for texture. Set aside.
- Cut the bread: Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts from each slice of brioche bread. You should get two hearts per slice, about 16 hearts total.
- Make stuffed hearts: Take one heart-shaped bread piece and spread about 1 tablespoon of the strawberry cream cheese mixture evenly over it. Top with another bread heart to make a sandwich. Press edges gently to seal.
- Mix the egg batter: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and granulated sugar until smooth and frothy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Soak the toast: Carefully dip each stuffed heart into the egg mixture, soaking about 20 seconds per side. Ensure both sides are coated but avoid soaking too long to prevent sogginess.
- Cook the hearts: Heat butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place the soaked stuffed hearts in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and slightly puffed with warm, melty filling.
- Serve: Transfer to a cooling rack or plate. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with strawberry syrup or jam if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use room temperature eggs and milk for better soaking. Don’t soak the bread too long to avoid sogginess. Cook on medium-low heat to prevent burning and ensure the filling warms through. Let cooked hearts rest on a wire rack to keep crisp. Variations include adding chocolate chips, using vegan substitutes, or swapping fruits seasonally.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 stuffed hearts
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 10
Keywords: French toast, stuffed French toast, strawberry, Valentine’s Day breakfast, brunch, sweet breakfast, cream cheese, brioche