Treat yourself to a decadent start to the day with our Raspberry Cheesecake Challah French Toast! Filled with sweet raspberries and creamy cheesecake, baked to perfection, and served with a dusting of powdered sugar and a generous drizzle of warm maple syrup, this is a dish that’ll make every bite feel like a celebration.
We love making this for Mother’s Day, but no matter when you make it, this dish is bound to impress!
Table of Contents
- The Breakfast in Bed Mom Really Wants this Mother’s Day
- What Is Challah Bread?
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make this Challah French Toast Recipe
- Storage & Reheating
- Can I Freeze this French Toast?
- Can I Use Frozen Raspberries Instead?
- Can I Use Different Fruit?
- More Tasty French Toast Recipes
- Raspberry Cheesecake Challah French Toast Recipe
The Breakfast in Bed Mom Really Wants this Mother’s Day
As we’re sure you already know, Mother’s Day is this Sunday! So, have you thought about what you’re going to do to make the day special for Mom? Of course, chocolates and flowers are always appreciated. However, if you really want to go the extra mile, why not serve breakfast in bed?
After all, it’s pretty much guaranteed that Mom is tired. Who wouldn’t be after spending all their time running around after the kids, keeping the house in order, managing their job, and the million other tasks she seems to complete in a day?
Just any breakfast won’t do, though. Instead of bacon and eggs or a cold bowl of cereal, prepare something special this holiday. We’ve made it easy with this Raspberry Cheesecake Challah French Toast!
Why We Love Challah French Toast
A unique twist on classic recipes, this challah French toast is made with thick bread, stuffed with a creamy cheesecake filling, and baked in the oven. That’s just the start, though. It’s also:
- Super Versatile
- Quick to Make
- Perfect for a Crowd
- Decadent and Delicious!
What Is Challah Bread?
A traditional Jewish recipe, challah bread is a yeast dough that has been enriched with eggs and butter or oil. In addition, it has just a pinch of sugar for sweetness. When prepared, the unbaked dough is divided into three separate strands and braided. Then, it is brushed with an egg wash and baked. When finished it turns a golden-brown color and has an impressive appearance.
A major part of the Jewish religion, challah bread is served every week for the Sabbath and at major holidays such as Hanukkah and Rosh Hashanah.
Is Challah Bread Healthy?
Admittedly, most challah recipes vary slightly, containing different ingredients and portions used. However, on average, challah bread contains roughly the same amount of calories as standard white bread. Yet, it also most often contains more fat and protein. It’s healthiest when made with whole wheat flour, oil, and minimal sugar!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For this challah French toast, we broke the ingredient list into two sections. The first is for the raspberry cheesecake filling. The second is for the French toast portion of the recipe. Take a look below to find everything you’ll need!
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- Cream Cheese
- Lemon (Juice and Zest)
- Raspberry Jam
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Fresh Raspberries
For the French Toast:
- Challah Bread
- Eggs
- Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- Cinnamon
How to Make this Challah French Toast Recipe
- Slice the challah bread Hasselback-style. This means making horizontal slices across the loaf, cutting halfway down but not all the way through. (See pictures for details)
- Add the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon to a bowl, and whisk until smooth.
- In a second medium-sized bowl, add the cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, raspberry jam, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Stir until all of the ingredients are well combined. Then, gently fold in the whole strawberries. Be careful not to break them!
- Place the challah bread in a casserole dish, and stuff it with the cheesecake filling. Then, pour the egg mixture on top. Next, add a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
- Bake the challah french toast at 350° Fahrenheit for 40 minutes or until it is golden brown.
- Top it with more fresh raspberries, if desired, and enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
If you have leftovers, they can be covered with plastic wrap and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
When you’re ready to eat, reheat your challah bread french toast in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until your desired temperature is reached. Or, if you’re in a pinch for time, microwave it instead! To do so, place a serving on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a paper towel, and warm it in intervals of 45 seconds until it is heated through.
Can I Freeze this French Toast?
No, this recipe doesn’t freeze well. The cheesecake filling becomes too watery, resulting in soggy French toast.
Can I Use Frozen Raspberries Instead?
Fresh raspberries work best for this recipe. However, if you do use frozen berries, we recommend letting them thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, be sure to pat off any excess moisture before baking.
Can I Use Different Fruit?
Yes! This challah french toast works with pretty much any fruit you have on hand. Other berries like strawberries or blueberries work great. However, peaches, pears, and more all taste just as good. Just keep in mind that the baking times may vary depending on the type of fruit you use!
More Tasty French Toast Recipes
Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns
Blueberry Marscapone French Toast Bake
Raspberry Cheesecake Challah French Toast
Ingredients
For the Cheesecake Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- Lemon zest to taste
- 2 Tablespoons raspberry jam
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup fresh raspberries
For the Challah French Toast
- 1 Challah bread loaf sliced to Hasselback
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the Challah bread Hasselback-style, and place it in a casserole dish.1 Challah bread loaf
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whisk until smooth.4 large eggs, 1 cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- In a second medium-sized bowl, add the cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, raspberry jam, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Mix until well combined. Gently fold in the raspberries.8 ounces cream cheese, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, Lemon zest to taste, 2 Tablespoons raspberry jam, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ⅓ cup powdered sugar, ¼ cup fresh raspberries
- Use a spatula to spread the raspberry mixture between the slices of the Challah bread.
- Pour the egg mixture on top, covering the loaf completely.
- Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.
- Bake the french toast for 40 minutes or until it is golden brown.
Video
Notes
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My family loved it and that made me happy. It was a perfect breakfast recipe. So happy to see your growth and following you ladies.
Thank you so much, Jency! We’re so happy to have you here and appreciate your support. ๐
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Recipe is good – however, aiwould like to point out that ืึฒื ึปืึธึผื (Chanukah) is not a major Jewish holiday. (It is actually a rather minor religious holiday – and while candles are lit for the holiday, the rules of other major holidays (such as restrictions on performing work) aren’t applicable.
Do you let this sit overnight, or bake immediately?
let it sit overnight!