Level up your breakfast game with stuffed French toast! It’s easy to put together and feels just a little bit fancy without being complicated. You can keep it classic with cream cheese and fresh berries or go all-out with Nutella, jam, or whatever combo you love. The thick custard batter crisps up the outside while the inside stays soft and full of gooey, sweet filling.

Can’t get enough French toast? You’ve got to try our French toast sticks or French toast casserole.

Why Our Recipe

  • Easy filling options like Nutella, cream cheese, fruit jelly, fresh berries, or mix and match!
  • Thick custard batter with flour gives a golden, crispy crust and soft interior.
  • Regular old white sandwich bread is all you need, or you can go fancy with ultra-thick cut brioche or challah.
A fork cutting into two stacked pieces of French toast stuffed with cream cheese and blueberries.

This recipe is great for weekend brunch or special occasions, but it’s simple enough for any day of the week. You don’t need any special bread or equipment—regular sandwich bread works just fine. Once you try it, stuffed French toast might just become your new favorite way to start the day.

Ingredient Notes

Overhead view of measured eggs, milk, butter, flour, cream cheese, salt, sugar, vanilla, and slices of bread.
  • Sandwich Bread: Regular white sandwich bread works great, but you can use thicker brioche or challah if you want to go fancy.
  • Nutella, Cream Cheese, or Fruit Jelly: Use your favorite filling! Softened cream cheese or whipped cream cheese spreads easiest. You can also add fresh berries or layer in fruit jelly.
  • Milk: Whole milk gives the richest custard, but 2%, 1%, or any milk alternative will work.
  • Large Eggs: Just standard grade AA large eggs here.
  • Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work. Dark brown sugar will add a deeper molasses flavor which is kinda tasty.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Helps create that thicker custard that clings to the bread.
  • Ground Cinnamon: Adds that classic cinnamon flavor.
  • Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
  • Salt: Just a little salt balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
  • Salted Butter: For cooking the French toast and adding that golden crust.

Easy or Fancy Bread Options

The easiest option is regular white sandwich bread. It’s soft, convenient, and perfect for this recipe. Just spread your filling and gently pinch the edges together to seal.

If you want to go a little fancier, use extra-thick slices of brioche or challah. They need to be about 1 1/2 inches thick. Instead of sandwiching two slices, cut a slit into the side of each thick slice to create a pocket.

To do this, lay the bread flat and use a small sharp knife to carefully cut a horizontal slit halfway through the thickness of the bread, being careful not to cut all the way through. Fill the pocket with your desired filling and proceed with the recipe as directed.

A collage of eight images showing the process of how to make cream cheese and berries stuffed in French toast.

Prevent Leaks

If you’re using sandwich bread, spread the filling evenly but leave about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. This gives you room to press the slices together without the filling squeezing out. After placing the top slice on, gently pinch the edges together all the way around to help seal. If you want extra security, you can press the edges down with the tines of a fork (just like sealing a hand pie).

For thick-cut bread with a pocket, avoid overfilling. Too much filling can make it hard to cook evenly and may cause leaks when flipping. Use a butter knife or small spatula to spread the filling in a thin, even layer.

No matter which bread you use, always flip the stuffed French toast gently with a spatula to help keep everything intact while cooking.

Filling Ideas

You can keep things simple or mix and match to create your perfect stuffed French toast. Nutella or Nutella combined with fresh berries is always a hit. Try peanut butter with a sprinkle of chocolate chips for a sweet, peanut butter-lover option.

Cream cheese works well too, either plain or layered with your favorite jam or fresh berries. If you’re using cream cheese, make sure it’s softened or use whipped cream cheese so it spreads easily.

For berries, slice strawberries thin or use small whole berries like blueberries or raspberries. Just don’t overfill, so the custard can still soak into the bread and cook evenly.

Cream cheese and raspberries stuffed into French toast.

Avoid Lumps

Flour can be a little tricky to whisk in smoothly. Honestly, it just takes some good strong whisking, so don’t be shy about giving it a solid stir.

Sprinkle the flour in slowly, or go the extra mile and sift it for even less chance of clumping. If you really want an ultra-smooth batter without the arm workout, toss everything in a blender and mix until smooth. Easy!

Storage & Reheating Instructions

Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container or plastic bag. Be sure they are completely cooled to avoid them steaming and getting soggy. They will stay good in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

Reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through, or in your toaster.

More breakfast favorites…

Watch the video below where Caytlin will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.