Strawberry French Toast

This makes an elegant looking breakfast or brunch and can be made up the night before then grilled in the morning. I have used fresh strawberries and just blended them to use in making the sauce. Top with whipped cream.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 802 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 ½ teaspoons white sugar
• water as needed
• ½ cup sliced almonds (Optional)
• 1 tablespoon butter, or as needed
• 1 loaf Italian bread
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen strawberries - thawed, drained, and juice reserved

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Cook and stir almonds in a skillet over medium high heat until fragrant and toasted, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 2

Add enough water to reserved strawberry liquid to equal 1 cup liquid.

Step 3

Stir 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch together in a saucepan over medium heat. Gradually stir strawberry liquid into sugar mixture; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is clear and thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir strawberries and almonds into sugar mixture.

Step 4

Beat cream cheese, 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Whisk milk, eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl.

Step 5

Slice bread at 1 1/2-inch intervals about 3/4 of the way through. Cut a slit in the center of each slice to form a pocket, and fill each pocket with 1 rounded tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture. Separate slices from loaf by cutting each slice the rest of the way through the loaf.

Step 6

Dip bread slices in egg mixture to coat completely.

Step 7

Melt butter on a griddle over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook bread slices on preheated griddle until golden brown, 2 to 5 minutes per side. Serve French toast with strawberry-almond mixture.