Decadent Strawberry Nutella French Toast

There are few breakfast delights as universally cherished as French toast. It’s that perfect harmony of soft, custardy interior and golden, slightly crisp exterior, often bathed in a sweet syrup. But what if we told you that this classic could be elevated to an even more extraordinary level with just a couple of magical ingredients? Prepare to embark on a culinary journey that transforms your morning routine into a decadent escape with this irresistible recipe for Strawberry Nutella French Toast. It’s a dish that promises pure bliss, combining the rich, creamy indulgence of Nutella with the vibrant, fresh sweetness of strawberries, all nestled within perfectly cooked brioche.

The pairing of Nutella and fresh strawberries is nothing short of a culinary dream team. Like a classic symphony, these two ingredients play off each other beautifully – the deep, roasted hazelnut and cocoa notes of Nutella providing a luxurious backdrop for the bright, slightly tart burst of ripe strawberries. It’s a combination that evokes memories of elegant European patisseries and the joy of simple, delicious pleasures. This Strawberry Nutella French Toast captures that very essence, reminiscent of the delightful Nutella and Strawberry crepes found in charming cafes. It’s a sweet indulgence that feels gourmet, yet is surprisingly simple to create in your own kitchen.

Whether you’re looking to impress brunch guests, treat your family to a special weekend breakfast, or simply satisfy a profound sweet craving, this recipe delivers on all fronts. Its inviting aroma alone is enough to draw everyone to the table, eager for a taste of this extraordinary breakfast creation. If you’re passionate about sweet treats and looking for more inspiration, be sure to also try my Strawberry Crisp for a fruity delight and my Quick No-Bake Chocolate Cake for an effortless chocolate fix!

Why You’ll Absolutely Adore This Strawberry Nutella French Toast

• Decadently Loaded with Nutella! Each thick slice of brioche is generously filled with an abundance of ooey, gooey, melting chocolate hazelnut spread. This isn’t just a hint of Nutella; it’s a rich, creamy core that makes every bite an absolute dream. The warmth of the cooked toast transforms the Nutella into a soft, flowing delight that will have you savoring every moment.
• A Match Made in Heaven: Strawberries and Chocolate. There’s a reason this classic duo stands the test of time. The natural sweetness and subtle tang of fresh strawberries cut through the richness of the chocolate hazelnut spread, creating a perfectly balanced flavor profile. The vibrant red berries add both a burst of color and a refreshing counterpoint to the deep cocoa notes.
• Unforgettable Textural Perfection. Imagine sinking your teeth into a piece of French toast that’s crisp and golden on the outside, giving way to a wonderfully soft and custardy interior, and then revealing that molten, luscious Nutella filling perfectly complemented by tender, warm strawberry slices. This recipe promises a multi-layered textural experience that is utterly delightful.
• An Effortless and Indulgent Breakfast Treat. Despite its decadent appearance and gourmet taste, this Strawberry Nutella French Toast comes together remarkably quickly. With just about 10 minutes of prep time and another 10 minutes to cook, you can whip up this luxurious breakfast or brunch in no time, making it perfect for busy mornings or spontaneous cravings.

Essential Ingredients You’ll Need

Crafting this incredible French toast requires a handful of simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll gather:

• Brioche Bread: The star foundation! Its rich, buttery, and slightly sweet nature is ideal for French toast, providing a superior texture and flavor compared to regular bread.
• Nutella: The beloved chocolate hazelnut spread, providing that signature gooey, indulgent filling.
• Eggs: Essential for the custard base, giving the French toast its classic rich texture and golden crust.
• Milk: Thins out the egg mixture and adds moisture, contributing to the custardy interior.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla enhances the overall sweetness and adds a beautiful aromatic depth to the egg wash.
• Cinnamon Powder: A warm, inviting spice that beautifully complements the sweet flavors of the Nutella and brioche.
• Butter: For cooking the French toast to a perfect golden-brown crisp, adding another layer of rich flavor.
• Fresh Strawberries: Sliced and ready to add a burst of fruity freshness and color to the filling.

Crafting Your Strawberry Nutella French Toast: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making this delightful French toast is straightforward and rewarding. Follow these simple steps for a truly memorable breakfast:

• Prepare Your Ingredients: Begin by washing and thinly slicing your fresh strawberries. This ensures they cook evenly within the toast and don’t overwhelm the sandwich structure. Lay out your brioche slices on a clean surface or baking sheet.
• Assemble Your French Toast Sandwiches: Take half of your brioche slices. On each of these slices, generously spread approximately 1.5 tablespoons of Nutella, reaching close to the edges. Then, arrange about four thin slices of fresh strawberries over the Nutella on each piece of brioche. This layer creates the luscious filling. Top these loaded slices with the remaining brioche slices, forming delightful Nutella and strawberry sandwiches.

• Prepare the Egg Wash and Coat the Sandwiches: In a shallow dish or wide bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon powder until well combined and slightly frothy. Gently dip each prepared brioche sandwich into the egg wash, ensuring both sides are thoroughly coated but not overly saturated. The goal is to absorb enough liquid for a custardy interior without making the bread soggy and prone to falling apart.
• Cook to Golden Perfection: Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Once hot, add a tablespoon or two of butter and let it melt and sizzle. Carefully place your coated French toast sandwiches into the pan, making sure not to overcrowd it. Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until each side is beautifully golden brown and crispy, and the Nutella inside is warm and melted. You might need to add more butter for subsequent batches.
• Serve Immediately and Enjoy! Once cooked, transfer the Strawberry Nutella French Toast to plates. These are best served hot, allowing you to fully appreciate the melted Nutella and warm strawberries. Garnish with additional fresh berries, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a drizzle of maple syrup for an extra touch of sweetness.

Expert Recipe Notes and Tips for Success

To ensure your Strawberry Nutella French Toast turns out perfectly every time, keep these valuable tips in mind:

• Always Preheat Your Pan: A properly preheated pan is crucial for achieving that desirable golden-brown crust and ensuring even cooking. If the pan isn’t hot enough, the toast will absorb too much butter and become greasy; if it’s too hot, it will burn before the inside is cooked through.
• Slice Strawberries Thinly: Thinly sliced strawberries are key. Thicker slices can make the French toast difficult to handle and might cause the sandwich to fall apart, especially during dipping and flipping. Thin slices also cook through more gently and meld better with the Nutella.
• Don’t Be Shy with the Nutella! This is a treat, so embrace the indulgence. A generous layer of Nutella ensures that irresistible oozy chocolate goodness flows out as you cut into the French toast. It’s what makes this recipe truly special, so don’t skimp!
• Avoid Over-Soaking the Bread: While you want the bread to absorb the eggy custard, soaking it for too long will make it excessively soggy and difficult to manage in the pan. A quick dip, just enough for both sides to be coated, is all that’s needed to achieve a perfectly custardy interior without risking structural integrity.
• Use Your Largest Skillet (and Don’t Overcrowd): For best results, use the biggest skillet or griddle you have available. This allows for ample space between each piece of French toast, promoting even cooking and browning. Overcrowding the pan lowers the temperature and can lead to steaming instead of crisping.
• No Strawberries? No Problem!: If fresh strawberries aren’t available or if you simply prefer another fruit, sliced bananas are an excellent substitute. Their creamy texture and sweet flavor pair wonderfully with Nutella. Other berry varieties like raspberries or blueberries could also be delicious.
• Enhance with Toppings: While delicious on its own, a dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of elegance and extra sweetness. For even more indulgence, serve with a side of warm maple syrup, a dollop of whipped cream, or a sprinkle of toasted nuts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Nutella French Toast

What’s the best bread for Nutella French Toast?

For an unparalleled experience, I highly recommend using brioche bread instead of regular toast bread. Brioche is an enriched bread, made with eggs, butter, and milk, which gives it a naturally sweet, rich, and tender crumb that soaks up the egg custard beautifully without becoming mushy. It fries up to a gorgeous golden brown, providing a luxurious base for the Nutella and strawberries. You can typically find brioche loaves or pre-sliced brioche toasts at most bakeries and well-stocked grocery stores, such as Sprouts, where I often source mine. Its pre-sliced nature is a convenient bonus.

Furthermore, the drier the bread, the better it performs. While a day-old brioche works perfectly fine, bread that is 2-3 days old is even better. Dry bread is ideal because it absorbs the egg wash more evenly and thoroughly, leading to a consistently custardy interior without becoming overly soggy and falling apart in the pan. This slight dryness helps create that perfect balance of crisp exterior and tender, moist inside.

What delightful toppings can I add?

This Nutella French Toast is truly at its best when served immediately, while the Nutella is warm and gooey. When it comes to toppings, feel free to get creative and customize your experience! A simple sprinkle of powdered sugar adds a touch of elegance and extra sweetness. For a classic touch, drizzle on some rich golden maple syrup or a lighter pancake syrup. If you’re aiming for ultimate decadence, a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream can take this treat over the top.

Beyond the basics, fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries, or extra sliced strawberries are always a welcome addition, providing a fresh contrast. Miniature chocolate chips, a sprinkle of cocoa powder, or toasted nuts such as chopped hazelnuts or almonds can also add wonderful texture and complementary flavors. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your favorite combination!

Can I prepare these ahead of time?

Yes, you can certainly make this Nutella French Toast ahead of time, which makes it a fantastic option for meal prep or entertaining. You can cook the French toast the night before and then simply reheat it when you’re ready to serve. The best methods for reheating are in the oven or on a skillet. For oven reheating, place the French toast on a baking sheet and warm it at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes, or until heated through and slightly re-crisped. Alternatively, you can reheat them gently in a skillet over medium-low heat until warm. I strongly advise against reheating these in a toaster, as the delicious Nutella filling will melt and drip, creating a messy situation and potentially damaging your appliance!

Explore More Delicious Breakfast Recipes

If you loved this indulgent French toast, you might also enjoy these other breakfast favorites:

• Easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
• Best Orange French Toast

Strawberry Nutella French Toast Recipe

Upgrade your normal French toast with this incredibly delicious version! This recipe is loaded with rich Nutella and fresh strawberries, creating a breakfast that’s truly super delicious and a memorable treat.

By: Mariam Ezzeddine

Summary: Elevate your breakfast with these decadent Nutella and Strawberry French Toast sandwiches. Gooey Nutella and fresh strawberries are nestled between slices of buttery brioche, dipped in a cinnamon-vanilla egg wash, and cooked to golden perfection. An easy yet indulgent treat that’s ready in just 20 minutes!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 pieces of brioche toast bread (thick slices work best)
• 1 cup milk (whole milk or a dairy-free alternative)
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more for cooking if needed
• 12 tbsp. of Nutella spread (approximately 3 tbsp. per toast sandwich)
• 1 cup fresh sliced strawberries (thinly sliced)

Instructions

1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Begin by washing your fresh strawberries thoroughly and then slicing them thinly. Lay out your 8 pieces of brioche toast bread on a clean work surface.
2. Assemble the Nutella & Strawberry Filling: Take 4 of the brioche slices. On each of these 4 slices, generously spread about 1.5 tablespoons of Nutella, ensuring even coverage.
3. Add the Strawberries: Over the Nutella layer on each of the 4 brioche slices, carefully arrange 4 thin pieces of sliced strawberries. This creates the delightful filling. (Note: You only add strawberries to one side of the toast that will form the inside of the sandwich).
4. Form the Sandwiches: Place the remaining 4 plain brioche slices on top of the strawberry and Nutella-layered slices, gently pressing down to form four sandwiches.
5. Prepare the Egg Wash: In a shallow dish or a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture is smooth.
6. Preheat and Melt Butter: Place a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Once hot, add 2 tablespoons of butter and allow it to melt and coat the bottom of the pan evenly.
7. Dip the French Toast: Carefully dip each Nutella and strawberry brioche sandwich into the prepared egg wash. Ensure both sides are thoroughly coated but do not let them soak for too long to prevent sogginess.
8. Cook to Golden Perfection: Place the coated French toast sandwiches into the preheated skillet. Cook for approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until each side is beautifully golden brown and crispy, and the Nutella inside is warm and melted. You may need to cook in batches and add more butter to the pan as needed.
9. Serve and Garnish: Transfer the cooked Strawberry Nutella French Toast to plates. Serve immediately while warm. Garnish with fresh fruits, such as more sliced strawberries, and a drizzle of maple syrup or pancake syrup if desired. A dusting of powdered sugar also adds a lovely finish.

Recipe Notes

• Preheat the Pan: Always ensure your pan is properly preheated to medium heat before adding the French toast. This helps achieve a beautiful golden crust and even cooking without burning or making the toast greasy.
• Thinly Slice Strawberries: Slice your strawberries thinly. This prevents the French toast from becoming too bulky and ensures the slices cook through nicely, keeping the sandwich intact.
• Be Generous with Nutella: Don’t hold back on the Nutella! A good amount ensures a wonderful oozy, molten chocolate hazelnut center that makes every bite truly special.
• Avoid Over-Soaking: Dip the bread quickly into the egg wash. Over-soaking can lead to soggy French toast that may fall apart in the pan. You want it just enough to absorb the flavors and cook to a custardy texture.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cook the French toast in batches if necessary. Overcrowding cools down the pan and can result in steamed, rather than crisped, French toast.
• Alternative Fruit: If strawberries are not available, thinly sliced bananas are an excellent substitute that pairs wonderfully with Nutella.
• Serving Suggestions: Enhance your French toast with toppings like powdered sugar, maple syrup, whipped cream, or additional fresh berries.

Nutrition

(Please note that these values are approximate and can vary based on specific brands and ingredient measurements.)

• Calories: 724 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 91.1g
• Protein: 16.5g
• Fat: 33.3g
• Saturated Fat: 14.4g
• Sodium: 355mg
• Sugar: 54.6g

I genuinely hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, and especially this delightful Strawberry Nutella French Toast recipe. Please give it a try, savor every bite, and consider rating it and sharing your experience with your friends and family! Your feedback truly means a lot.

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