These Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants are a mouthwatering fusion of breakfast and dessert! These heavenly treats are a marriage of flakiness, tenderness, and sweet, buttery goodness that will have you coming back for seconds.
These croissants are filled with a crave-worthy, creamy cheesecake filling and topped with juicy sliced strawberries and a dusting of powdered sugar. Whether you’re hosting a holiday breakfast, planning a weekend brunch, or simply craving a special treat, these strawberry cheesecake French toast croissants are a showstopper that’s sure to impress your guests.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Variations
- How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
- How to Store
- Serving Suggestions
- Frequently Asked Questions about Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
- More French Toast Recipes
- Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants Recipe
Why You’ll Love Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
Is there anything better than waking up to a fresh batch of warm French toast? Whether it’s cannoli baked french toast, baklava french toast, or this strawberry cheesecake French toast, it’s always guaranteed to hit the spot and put a smile on your face! However, that’s not the only reason why we adore this recipe. It’s also:
- Super simple to make and serve.
- Great to make ahead of time.
- Easy to double for feeding a crowd.
- Customizable to satisfy your tastebuds and dietary needs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Inspired by one of our all-time favorite desserts, this recipe uses a handful of minimal ingredients that come together to make one mind-blowing masterpiece. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Croissants – We recommend using a handful of small croissants for easy serving. However, large croissants would work, too.
- Half and Half – This is used in place of milk in the egg wash to create an extra-rich recipe.
- Vanilla Extract – Make sure you use a high-quality pure vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of the rest of the ingredients.
- Eggs – These help coat the croissants, locking in moisture, providing structure, and giving the bread the crisp, golden exterior we’re looking to achieve.
- Sugar – We use a combination of granulated sugar to sweeten the cheesecake filling and extra powdered sugar for dusting on top of the finished dish!
- Cream Cheese – Plain, full-fat cream cheese forms the base of the cheesecake filling.
- Mascarpone Cheese – This adds extra tang and helps create a smooth filling.
- Strawberries – Sliced and sprinkled on top for a pop of color and flavor.
Variations
Go ahead and get creative with this strawberry cheesecake French toast croissants recipe! You can experiment with various mix-ins and variations to customize it to your liking. Here are some of our favorite ideas to inspire you:
- Chocolate chips
- Blueberries
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
- Pieces of thick bread in place of croissants
- A drizzle of chocolate on top
- Whipped cream
How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
This recipe is great to prepare in advance and bake just before serving! Here’s what to do:
- Create the Cheesecake Filling. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mascarpone, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt, whisking until smooth.
- Spread. Smear the mixture inside each sliced croissant.
- Create the Egg Wash. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, half and half, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.
- Layer. Dip each croissant into the egg mixture, making sure it is well coated. Then, layer the bread in a round buttered baking dish. It’s okay if the croissants overlap! Pour the remaining egg mixture on top, coating the croissants completely.
- Refrigerate. Cover the dish, and place the strawberry cheesecake french toast croissants in the refrigerator overnight.
- Bake. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil, and continue to bake until the egg mixture is set and the croissants are golden brown on top.
- Serve. Sprinkle sliced strawberries and powdered sugar on top. Add a drizzle of maple syrup, if desired, and enjoy!
How to Store
We highly recommend making this recipe in advance! The longer the croissants have to soak, the more delicious they’ll be. Also, go ahead and make a double batch to keep on hand and serve later. Here’s how to keep it fresh.
Make Ahead: Assemble the French toast as the recipe states. Then, cover the dish, and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, pop it in the oven as usual, and enjoy.
Refrigerator: Once baked and fully cooled, this strawberry cheesecake french toast can be covered or transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer: You can freeze the croissants either before they are dipped in the egg mixture or after they are baked. To freeze before cooking, stuff the croissants with the cream cheese filling. Then, wrap each croissant with plastic wrap, transfer them to a sealable bag, and keep them frozen for up to 3 months. To eat, thaw at room temperature, follow the recipe as normal, and enjoy!
Or, bake the croissants completely, and store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheat: To enjoy, warm your strawberry cheesecake French toast croissants in the oven from the fridge or freezer until they are heated through.
Serving Suggestions
If you want to go all out and create an impressive breakfast or brunch spread, try pairing it with some of our other sweet and savory morning meals:
Frequently Asked Questions about Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
There are a variety of breads, from baguettes and brioche to challah that are ideal for making French toast. For this recipe, we love the soft flaky goodness of croissants and how they pair so perfectly with the creamy filling.
Be sure to let your bread dry out a bit so that it can soak up all of the creamy custard. If your bread is fresh, just pop it in the oven for 10-15 minutes on a wire rack to dry it out a bit.
The biggest mistake that can be made with French toast is not allowing enough time for the bread to absorb the custard mixture. Be sure not to skip the step of letting the dish chill overnight so that it can soak up the liquid.
While French toast does need time to absorb the custard, leaving it for an excessive amount of time can result in soggy French toast. Allow enough time to absorb the egg mixture — overnight is best — but don’t let it sit for too long.
More French Toast Recipes
Want to take your French toast game to the next level? Dive into some more of our favorite fun French toast recipes below!
- French Toast Cereal
- Cinnamon Bun
Air Fryer French Toast - Lemon Blueberry French Toast with Ricotta
- Bananas Foster French Toast
Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 4 ounces mascarpone cheese room temperature
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar + more for dusting
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups half and half
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon high-quality pure vanilla extract
- 12-16 small croissants or 8 large
- 2 cups strawberries sliced
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, mascarpone, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth and creamy.8 ounces cream cheese, 4 ounces mascarpone cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar + more for dusting
- Spread 2 Tablespoons of the mixture inside each sliced croissant.
- In a second mixing bowl, add the eggs, half and half, sugar, and vanilla, whisking to combine. Dip each croissant into the egg mixture, coating them completely.2 cups half and half, 1 Tablespoon high-quality pure vanilla extract, 6 large eggs, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 12-16 small croissants
- Arrange the croissants in a round buttered baking dish. Note: It’s okay if the croissants overlap.
- Pour the remaining egg mixture evenly over the croissants. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.*
- Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue to bake for 15-20 minutes or until the egg mixture is set and the croissants are golden brown and crisp.
- Top with sliced strawberries and extra powdered sugar. Serve warm with a drizzle of maple syrup, if desired.2 cups strawberries
- Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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Notes
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
