Stuffed French Toast

As if French Toast needed to get any better. 

I went to Charleston a few months back with a couple girlfriends for the first time. Talk about food lover’s paradise. Between 82 Queen’s fried sweet potato cake and gumbo served with practically a whole chicken, and Taco Boy’s a la cart taco menu, I don’t think I consumed a bite of nutrition that weekend. Our one attempt to eat healthy was breakfast at a cute little cafe called Three Little Birds, which quickly failed after reading they had a Peanut Butter & Banana Stuffed French Toast. Sold. 

What kind of food blogger would I be without recreating this holy goodness? 

So that’s how I bring to you my version of the Stuffed French Toast.

In my opinion, the key to a delicious French Toast starts with the bread. Nothing makes it better like a fresh loaf of Challah bread. This sweet buttery braided bread can be found at most grocery stores in the bakery, I’ve even found it for sale at Einstein’s Bagels! You could always make your own too. I actually tried that not too long ago and experienced the top kitchen fail of all times. I’d tell you what it came out of the oven looking like but it’s a little inappropriate. Let your mind wander with that one. 

Oh and before you go on, Challah is pronounced Holla. Just saying because I wish somebody told me the C is silent before I asked the baker if he had any CHA LAH bread my first trip making French Toast. Kinda like I wish someone told me the D in Django is silent. That’s a story for another time, let’s just say I’ll never forget that trip to the movies. 

To stuff the bread all you have to do is cut a pocket, almost as if you’re butterflying a chicken breast. I added my peanut butter and bruised bananas to my mixer with a little cream cheese. I thought that mixing all of that together to form a creamy spread would help it spread easier on the delicate bread. I was kinda right. Kinda. 

The mix did spread much easier and still tasted great, but I didn’t like the texture after it cooked. I think next time I’ll just spread in the peanut butter and stuff in thin slices of banana, in fact that’s how I will write this recipe. You know if you’re not a fan of peanut butter or bananas, you can spread cream cheese and strawberries, blueberries, or whatever you’re feelin’. 

The other key to an awesome French Toast is the dip. I dip mine in a combination of non-fat milk, vanilla, eggs, and cinnamon. I find simple is best but there’s so many tricks in making it even better. Instead of the milk, use heavy cream or half and half. Before cooking, steep a vanilla pod in the cream to bump up some flavor. You could also grate in some fresh nutmeg, lemon, or orange zest! 

Whatever you stuff inside your French Toast will be delicious because in the end, anything covered in honey or maple syrup and topped with a scoop of ice-cream is drool worthy. 

 Oh yes I did. Ice-cream on my French Toast because I suck at nutrition. Enjoy!