Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

 

Here’s a list of everything you need: a loaf of bread (not pre-sliced!)-I used a deli white bread I picked up from Publix (French or Italian bread will also work)-eggs, milk, butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, fresh fruit and jam (you can use only jam with no fresh fruit, but using both makes this flavor come alive in your mouth

 First things first, take your loaf of bread and cut into slices of 2-3 inches. Then with your knife, create a pocket in your slice by cutting a strip along the top of your bread, then cutting down into the bread til about 1/2" from the bottom and sides (don't want your delicious stuffing to come out during cooking!

 Next, take your room temperature cream cheese and stir in the delicious jam (Thank you Susanna Hindman for giving me your wonderful homemade strawberry jam!)

 The mixture will resemble yogurt when you are finished. Yummy!

Wash the strawberries. Then set aside a few of your prettiest strawberries for a garnish. Thinly slice your strawberry from the tip to the top, making sure not to cut completely to the top of the strawberry.

 Thinly slice the remaining strawberries.

Now we're going to macerate the strawberries! This is just a fancy word for mixing in a little sugar to bring out the juices.

Last step before the grand stuffing! Mix the strawberries with the cream cheese & jam.

 Now for the best part! The stuffing. Take about 2-3 tbsp. of your strawberry mixture and stuff the toast into the pocket. Then slightly pinch top to seal pocket back up.

For your batter, take you eggs, milk and cinnamon and mix together in a shallow dish.

Evenly coat both sides of your french toast for optimal cooking.

 Heat 2 tbsp. of butter on a griddle set on medium heat. Cook about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown.

Serve with a little butter, powdered sugar and your strawberry garnish. Enjoy!


Recipe:

• 1 loaf White, French, or Italian bread
• 3 tablespoons strawberry jam or jelly
• Fresh strawberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• ½ packages Cream Cheese (4 Oz),  at room temperature
• 2 whole Eggs
• 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Heat skillet or electric griddle to 325 to 350 degrees.
2. Cut french bread into 2-3 inch wide slices. Then, with a paring knife, go back and cut halfway into each slice, in the center, creating a ‘pocket’ that your fruit mixture can be stuffed into.
3. In a bowl, place the room temperature cream cheese and three tablespoons of jam/jelly.
4. Slice strawberries (leaving a few as a garnish), and mix with 2 tsbp. of sugar to coat.
5. Mix strawberries with the cream cheese and jam.
6. In a separate bowl, break 2 eggs; add cinnamon and milk and combine well.
7. Now, take fruit mixture and stuff into the ‘pockets’ of your french bread slices. Place on a baking sheet.
8. When done stuffing each piece of bread, completely coat each piece in egg mixture. Make sure all sides are covered. Do all pieces before starting to fry.
9. Put 2 tbsp of butter into a hot skillet and melt completely. Add all of the bread to the skillet and cook roughly about 3-5 minutes on each side, until it reaches a nice golden brown. You want to make sure the cream cheese mixture heats through.
10. When done cooking, serve immediately and enjoy with a little butter and powdered sugar (if desired) and top with strawberry garnish.


Recipe borrowed and slightly altered from manda2177. http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breakfastbrunch/stuffed-french-toast-2/