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Delicious Recipe

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3.8 from 46 reviews

  • Author: Patricia
  • Total Time: 9 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings

Description

This Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast is a decadent breakfast or brunch treat perfect for special occasions, holidays, or when you have overnight guests. It features thick slices of bread layered with a sweet cream cheese filling, soaked in a cinnamon-spiced custard mixture, topped with a buttery streusel topping, and baked until golden and delicious. Serve it with powdered sugar, fresh fruit, maple syrup, or whipped cream for a delightful morning indulgence.

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Filling

  • 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg

French Toast

  • 1 loaf bread (French, cinnamon raisin, white, or egg/challah), 1 inch thick slices
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream (35%)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping

  • ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup pecans, chopped (optional)
  • ⅓ cup butter, softened

Options for Serving

  • Icing or powdered sugar
  • Maple syrup
  • Fresh fruit
  • Chocolate chips
  • Whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Baking Dish: Lightly coat a deep 9×9 inch casserole dish or similar sized baking pan with cooking spray. If your pan is a different size, consider adjusting the amounts of eggs, milk, and cream to ensure enough custard mixture to soak the bread. Set aside.
  2. Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, egg, and flour until smooth and well blended. You can use a handheld or stand mixer to simplify this step. Set aside.
  3. Layer Bread and Cream Cheese: Arrange slices of bread across the bottom of the prepared pan, using half slices or smaller pieces to fully cover it. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over this bottom layer. Then place the remaining bread slices on top of the cream cheese layer, overlapping in a different pattern. Set aside.
  4. Prepare Custard Mixture: In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg, whisking thoroughly. Slowly pour this mixture over the layered bread and cream cheese, making sure all pieces are well coated. Use a butter knife to gently lift bread edges to help the custard flow between slices.
  5. Chill Overnight: Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least two hours or preferably overnight, allowing the bread to soak up the custard fully.
  6. Rest Before Baking: Remove the pan from the refrigerator and let it rest on the counter for about 30 minutes before baking to let it come closer to room temperature.
  7. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to preheat.
  8. Make Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, softened butter, cinnamon, and flour. Mix with a fork or your fingers until crumbly and well combined. Stir in chopped pecans if using.
  9. Top and Bake: Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the soaked bread in the pan. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  10. Serve: Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Cut into slices and serve with a dusting of icing or powdered sugar, fresh fruit, whipped cream, chocolate chips, or maple syrup as desired. Enjoy your delicious stuffed French toast!

Notes

  • Using a deep casserole dish ensures the custard soaks the bread well and prevents overflow during baking.
  • Adjust the bread and liquid quantities if you use a pan size significantly different from 9×9 inches to avoid sogginess or dryness.
  • Refrigerating overnight helps the bread absorb the custard better, making the French toast tender and flavorful.
  • Chilling the assembled French toast before baking can be skipped in a pinch, but results might be less rich.
  • You can customize the topping by omitting pecans for a nut-free version or adding other nuts as preferred.
  • Serve with fresh berries or fruit for added freshness and natural sweetness.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://patriciarecipes.com/cream-cheese-stuffed-french-toast-recipe/