Stuffed Nutella French Toast with Strawberries
I didn’t think French toast could get any better, but then I filled it with chocolate hazelnut spread and this stuffed Nutella French toast was born. This is a decadent breakfast (that feels like dessert), perfect for Valentine’s Day or any other special occasion brunch.
Look, I know people have mixed feelings about Valentine’s Day, many saying it’s just a consumer driven holiday, etc. I still feel sort of meh about it, but I like making Valentine’s Day more than just a romantic holiday. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know how much I adore baking for friends. I’ll claim any holiday as a reason to share baked goods with them. Also, I will gladly use it as a reason to eat dessert for breakfast. We can call it pregnancy cravings, but I’ve always been this way. Though we will see how much I actually want loads of sweets after working my last shift slinging cupcakes at the shop on Valentine’s Day. All the more reason to enjoy them now!
This recipe is obviously for breakfast, but it could easily double as dessert. The French toast is blissfully decadent. Challah bread is delicious on its own, but turning it into stuffed Nutella French toast makes it truly spectacular.
This French toast doesn’t get soggy or overly eggy, a problem I’ve had with other recipes I’ve tried. It’s the perfect texture – golden and crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. Whether I’m filling it or not, this method of making French toast will be my go-to from now on.
If chocolate for breakfast isn’t your thing (I get it!), these spicy chipotle cheddar biscuits are delicious when slathered with honey butter. Looking for an over the top chocolaty dessert? You can’t go wrong with this triple chocolate mousse cake.
- YIELD: 4 servings
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 teaspoons sugar
Juice of half a lemon
4 thick slices (1½ to 2-inches) bread, such as challah or brioche
About ½ cup Nutella
1 large egg
¾ cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
Unsalted butter
Powdered sugar, for serving
This is a decadent breakfast, so feel free to use a little less Nutella in each slice. I used about 2 tablespoons the first time, but you can certainly use 1 tablespoon and add more when serving. It’s totally up to you!
- 1
Combine the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a bowl. Toss to coat and set aside to macerate at room temperature.
- 2
Cut a pocket into each slice of bread, taking care not to cut all the way through. Fill each slice of bread with 1-2 tablespoons of Nutella.
- 3
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. In a shallow dish or pie plate, whisk together the egg and milk. Whisk in the melted butter and vanilla. Add the flour, cinnamon and salt and whisk until smooth.
Working with one or two pieces at a time, place the filled slices into the egg mixture. Soak for 30-40 seconds per side, allow excess to drip off and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining slices.
- 4
Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the heated skillet and swirl to coat. Add the slices in a single layer, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until light golden brown. Flip and continue cooking an additional 1-2 minutes. Add more butter as needed and repeat with remaining slices.
Transfer to a plate, dust with powdered sugar, then top with macerated strawberries. Serve immediately.
You are a brilliant, brilliant woman.
This breakfast treat looks drool-worthy. I was so sad that I didn’t realize yesterday was World Nutella day until late in the afternoon. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures!
How perfect! Especially since World Nutella Day was yesterday.
These are absolutely gorgeous, and taste amazing too, I’m sure! I’ve made stuffed french toast by just putting two slices of bread together, but the pocket idea sounds much better! Thanks for the idea 🙂
I know what I am making for VDay breakfast! These look awesome!
Lovely. Very pretty pictures and that recipe…OMG.
I LOVE stuffed french toast and just recently came to enjoy Nutella so this looks amazing. And strawberries adds the perfect flavor combo! Yum!
Looks SO delicious! Love the photos.
I’ll have this for dinner AND dessert! We can never have enough Nutella, really. I wish you the very best in one month ! 😉
I haven’t made a stuffed French Toast in over a year. I MUST make your version 🙂
Just made this for valentines breakfast. The French toast turned out perfectly, I have never stuffed toast before, but it was easy if you’re careful. There was way too much chocolate for my taste, I actually squeezed out some from my piece so that it was less sweet. I’ll adjust the amount of nutella next time.
Did you all that tried this use pre-sliced bread or cut it yourself? I’m at the grocery store now and don’t see anything thick enough and I’m thinking if I slice up an Itslian loaf it won’t be sturdy enough to stuff?
Haley, I cut the bread myself. If you have them nearby, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s both carry challah bread that you can buy in whole loaves.
Ok thank you Courtney! I do have them both nearby so I’ll give them a try. Thanks!
Could you substitute raspberries? If so, Would you change anything else (e.g., nix the cinnamon)?
Sure, that would be fine! I wouldn’t omit the cinnamon. There’s really just enough to make it taste like French toast, if that makes sense.
I just tried these and they were delicious! Perfect start to my day…so thank you!! I’ve never made French toast before but I shall be making them again! I subsituted the strawberries for raspberries and added banana too. Perfection! Especially with the taste of cinnamon coming through too.
I can’t wait to try the Nutella French toast for brunch soon! Nutella goes great with everything: in a crepe, on a banana, or just by itself.
would stuffing the strawberries into the toast make it soggy, or was that just a personal choice?
Nathan, I don’t think the bread would get soggy if you put the strawberries in it. That was purely personal choice.
I made these this morning and they were delicious! I made a few changes, though: instead of plain nutella, I whipped 1/2 cup nutella with 4 ounces of cream cheese and used that on the bread instead…and I skipped the powdered sugar at the end, opting for an extra thin layer of nutella cream cheese on top before i piled on the strawberries. This was my first time making french toast, and my parents absolutely loved these! Thank you for posting this wonderful recipe! 😀
Why can’t sliced bread be used? Like Texas Toast? Is there something different to be done if I use that?
Kristie, you could certainly try it with that. I haven’t, though, so I can’t offer an opinion as to how it might turn out. If it works out, please let me know! 🙂