Strawberries & Cream French Toast

Custard drowned brioche bread slices, stuffed with a strawberries and cream cheese filling, cooked until golden. Topped with vanilla whipped cream, more fresh strawberries and a drizzle of maple syrup. The perfect combination of strawberries and cream with French toast.

There are a few flavor combinations that are absolutely perfect together. They are simple, delicious, compliment each other and classic. Strawberries and cream is one such pairing. There is something so traditional and nostalgic about the flavor. It is comforting and very easy to bring together. In many ways the flavors inspire to create more dishes from the original, like my strawberries and cream rolls. And this time I am back with a simpler recipe but still a very delicious one.

If you know anything about me, know this: I love a good custardy French toast. This comes with a rich brioche bread and egg custard soak. I shared a French toast latte recipe and my classic French toast recipe before which are so good, so this recipe has to trump that. And believe me it has. This recipe is one of the best French toasts you will make and eat. Believe me. You can serve this as an indulgent breakfast or brunch option. Alternatively enjoy it for dessert after a meal as well. I also ate the leftovers cold from the fridge at mid night (do not judge me). So let us get to it.

Why do strawberries and cream go together?

Sweet, tart strawberries that are seasonal to spring and rich cream complement each other, both in flavor and texture. And there are lots more ways to take advantage of this classic combo than simply topping your fresh berries with a little mountain of whipped cream even though it is a classic and delicious.

What is the tradition of strawberries and cream?

According to candy buffets in UK, “Since the first Wimbledon in 1877, strawberries and cream have been a symbol of the tournament. Strawberry season in summer made them ideal for the event, so the tradition began. Today, Wimbledon hosts thousands of servings of this dessert every year, making it an integral part of the sport.” Today there are many strawberries and cream inspired desserts like cakes, puddings, tarts, cupcakes, doughnuts etc. However Fresas con crema from Mexico is similar in ingredients to that of the classic dessert you find all over the UK. Growing up in India I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed strawberries and cream shakes at the juice centers during season which was literally strawberries blended with ice, cream and sugar. Some places made it with strawberries milk and ice cream.

What kind of cream goes with strawberries? What cream is good for strawberries?

Cream Chantilly is the best cream that goes with strawberries while the best cream to pair with strawberries is a full fat heavy cream/double cream/whipping cream which has at least 25% fat in it.

What ingredients do you need to make this strawberries and cream French toast?

To make the custard we need eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon powder, sugar and brioche bread. The brioche bread must be thick slices around 1-2 inches as this is the only way we can create little pockets to stuff the strawberries and cream mixture. The staler the bread the better, or you can toast the bread in the oven so it can soak up the custard better. For the strawberries cream we need fresh strawberries, freeze dried strawberries, cream cheese, heavy cream, sugar. To make the whipped cream I have used heavy cream, sugar and vanilla. I serve this with more fresh strawberries, maple syrup and powdered sugar.

What equipment do you need to make this strawberries and cream French toast?

For the custard we need a mixing bowl and whisk. To make the pocket in the bread we need a sharp knife to make a slit in the slice of brioche bread. To make the strawberries mixture we need a blender. I also made the whipped cream in the same blender. The French toast is stuffed with the strawberries and cream with a spoon. It is cooked in a sauté pan with a metal spatula.

How to make this strawberries and cream French toast?

In a blender let us make the whipped cream, add the heavy cream, vanilla, sugar and blend until thick. Transfer to a container or bowl and place in the fridge until needed. In the same blender let us make the strawberry cream by adding all the cream cheese, whipping cream, sugar, fresh strawberries, freeze dried strawberries, salt and blending until thick and smooth. Set aside. Make a slit in the brioche slices with a sharp knife, creating a pocket. Fill each pocket with the strawberry cream, around 3 tsp of the mixture per slice, set aside. In a mixing bowl add the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon powder and whisk well until combined. Add the stuffed brioche into the custard and soak for a minute on each side. In a sauté pan on low to medium heat add 1 tbsp butter and a drizzle of oil, place the soaked brioche in the pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side. We want the outside golden and crusty but the inside will be custardy and soft. Take it off the heat and place on a serving plate. Serve with more fresh strawberries, more of the strawberries cream mixture, the whipped cream, maple syrup and a little powdered sugar.

Serving this strawberries and cream French toast?

Serve the French toast with the leftover strawberries and cream cheese mixture, more whipped cream, fresh strawberries, maple syrup and powdered sugar. You can pair this with a delicious coffee or tea. I would suggest serving this for Sunday morning breakfast or brunch. You could also serve this as a dessert after a light meal. French toast is best eaten once cooked hence I wouldn’t recommend making it ahead or storing it. If you have leftovers store them in air tight containers in the fridge for a day maximum. You could heat it in the an on low heat until warmed through before serving. You could also serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Looking for more sweet breakfast/dessert recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make this strawberries and cream French toast recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.