Get ready for some serious decadence — this Strawberry Mascarpone French Toast Recipe is going to knock your socks off! Imagine luscious strawberries mingling with creamy mascarpone, all nestled within crisp, buttery croissants. It’s the most heavenly way to start your day.
This breakfast masterpiece is the picture of perfection. Not only is it downright delectable, but it can be made ahead of time. The croissants soak overnight, then the whole dish bakes to crispy, tender perfection. It’s the ultimate treat for holidays, lazy weekends, and any morning you’re craving something extraordinary!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Is there anything better than starting your day with a warm serving of french toast? With endless variations like churro french toast, lemon blueberry french toast with ricotta, berry brioche cream cheese french toast bake, it’s one of our favorite breakfasts, and this strawberry mascarpone french toast is one of our best recipes yet! Here are just a few reasons why:
- It’s made with less than 10 ingredients.
- Featuring a sweet mascarpone filling and bright strawberries, it’s sweet and satisfying.
- Easy to make ahead of time, leftovers reheat well.
- It’s great for holiday breakfasts, weekend brunches, and more!
What Is Mascarpone Cheese?
Often mistakenly pronounced marscapone, mascarpone is a sweet, spreadable cheese similar to cream cheese, ricotta cheese, or creme fraiche. It is a type of soft Italian acid-set cream made from heavy cream and tartic acid. To form the mixture, the cream is heated, and the acid is slowly stirred in to help it thicken and solidify. Then, it is strained through a cheesecloth to remove any excess liquid. As a result, it has a fat content between 60-75% and is super silky and spreadable.
What Does It Taste Like?
The taste of mascarpone cheese is similar to cream cheese. However, it is slightly sweeter and has a less tangy taste, making it perfect for sweet breakfasts and desserts.
Ingredients You Need
The ingredient list for this strawberry mascarpone french toast is short and sweet! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Croissants – We use large croissants because they’re easier to stuff.
- Strawberries – Fresh strawberries add extra texture and a sweet flavor!
- Sugar – Powdered sugar is used to sweeten the mascarpone filling, and regular granulated sugar is added to the egg mixture for a dessert-like french toast recipe.
- Ricotta and Mascarpone Cheese – When combined, these create a sweet, creamy, cheesecake-like filling.
- Eggs – Crucial to lock in moisture and help create a crisp exterior.
- Vanilla Extract – Use high-quality pure vanilla extract to help enhance the rest of the ingredients.
- Whole Milk – We recommend using whole milk for the richest taste, but any milk you have on hand will work great.
Variations
Feel free to mix and match different ingredients to make this strawberry mascarpone french toast recipe your own! For instance, some variations we love are:
- Using thick sourdough or brioche bread.
- Including extra or different fruit like blueberries, blackberries, and bananas.
- Adding nuts to the mascarpone filling.
- Sprinkling chocolate chips on top.
- Adding a dollop of whipped cream just before serving.
How to Make Strawberry Mascarpone French Toast
This recipe is perfect to make ahead of time and bake just before serving. Here’s how it’s done:
- Create the Filling. Combine the mascarpone, ricotta, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl until a smooth, creamy texture is formed. Then, use a spatula to gently fold in the strawberries.
- Stuff the Croissants. Slice the croissants in half, and spread 2 tablespoons of the mixture inside each piece.
- Combine the Egg Mixture. In a second mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Soak the French Toast. Arrange the croissants in a buttered baking dish, and pour the egg mixture on top. Cover the dish, and refrigerate it overnight.
- Bake. Bake the strawberry mascarpone french toast covered for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil, and continue to bake until the egg mixture has set and the croissants are golden brown and crisp.
- Top and Serve. Add extra sliced strawberries and powdered sugar on top, and serve warm with maple syrup!
Make Ahead and Storage Options
This strawberry mascarpone french toast recipe is great to make ahead of time and can be soaked in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. However, once baked and cooled completely, it can be covered with foil or transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. We do not recommend freezing this recipe as the cheese filling will not retain its silky texture when it thaws.
To reheat, warm your french toast in the microwave or oven until your desired temperature has been reached.
Serving Suggestions
Indulge in this delectable Strawberry Mascarpone French Toast on its own for a sweet breakfast that’s sure to satisfy! Or, elevate your morning spread with some fabulous pairings. Here are a few of our favorites:
More French Toast Recipes?
Got a soft spot for French toast like we do? Then you’ve gotta check out more of our mouthwatering favorites below!
- Sheet Pan French Toast
- Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Croissants
- Raspberry Cheesecake Challah French Toast
- Bananas Foster French Toast
Strawberry Mascarpone French Toast
Ingredients
- 8 ounces mascarpone room temperature
- 4 ounces ricotta room temperature
- 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup fresh strawberries plus more for serving
- 7-8 large croissants sliced in half
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the mascarpone, ricotta, powdered sugar, and salt. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Fold in the sliced strawberries.8 ounces mascarpone, 4 ounces ricotta, 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar, Salt to taste, 1 cup fresh strawberries
- Slice the croissants in half, and generously spread about 1/4 cup of the mascarpone filling inside each one.7-8 large croissants
- In a second large mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Whisk to combine.4 large eggs, 1 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Arrange the croissants in a 13×9 buttered baking dish. Note: It’s okay if the croissants overlap.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the croissants. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake, covered with aluminum foil for 25 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue to bake for 15-18 minutes or until the egg mixture is set and the croissants are golden brown and crisp on top.
- Top with sliced strawberries and extra powdered sugar, if desired. Serve warm with a drizzle of maple syrup!
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was delicious and easy to make! I made it for church breakfast on a Sunday morning, just had to pop it in the oven in the morning. Will definitely make again!
Wish I could add a picture, it was beautiful too!
Thank you so much, Gabrielle! We’re glad you enjoyed it. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
This is absolutely amazing! So much so I can’t believe my tastebuds. Only this is my bottom croissant layer was soggy and I’m not sure what happened. My cheese and strawberry mixture was a bit runny I think because I smashed up the fresh strawberries instead of slicing them. Even so this is hands down one of the best things I’ve tasted as far as this type of food goes.
Yay! This is amazing, we are so glad you loved this recipe! xo, Alia and Radwa