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Strawberry-Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

Source of Recipe

From "Back Around the Table" by David Venable


Recipe Introduction

"When I was in college, breakfast was often 'a bagel à la Bama—' a toasted bagel with cream cheese and Bama strawberry jelly. Those same creamy textures and sweet flavors are brought together in this updated French toast. I spread cream cheese and strawberry jelly, and add some fresh strawberries, between slices of bread before cooking them in a skillet or on a griddle. If that isn't enough strawberry goodness, I drizzle strawberry-orange sauce on top of each serving. Oh my, this is so good!"

List of Ingredients

Strawberry-Orange Sauce:
â—¦ 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
â—¦ â…“ cup sugar
â—¦ ½ teaspoon orange zest
â—¦ 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice

French Toast:
â—¦ 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
â—¦ 3 tablespoons seedless strawberry jam
â—¦ ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
â—¦ 10 ¾-inch-thick challah or brioche slices
â—¦ 1 ¼ cups sliced fresh strawberries
â—¦ 4 large eggs
â—¦ ¾ cup whole milk
â—¦ 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
â—¦ 1 tablespoon sugar
â—¦ Unsalted butter


Recipe

To make the sauce, combine the strawberries, sugar, orange zest, and orange juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the strawberries are soft and the syrup is slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool.

To make the French toast, whisk together the cream cheese, strawberry jam, and vanilla until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture on the 10 bread slices. Top five of the bread slices with ¼ cup each of the sliced strawberries, then put the remaining bread slices on top like sandwiches.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, orange juice, and sugar in a shallow bowl. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Dip the sandwiches into the egg mixture and allow to soak for a few seconds on each side. Cook the sandwiches until light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to serving plates and drizzle the sauce on top. Serve warm.

Makes 5 servings