Stuffed French Toast

Ingredients:

Sweet Bread - 8 slices

Eggs - 2

Milk - 1cup (I used 2% milk)

Light Brown sugar - 3tbsp (can be substituted with white sugar)

Unsalted Butter - 2tbsp melted + more for cooking

Salt - a pinch

Vanilla extract - 2tsp

Cinnamon - ½tsp



For the Filling/ Stuffing:

Cream cheese - ¼cup

Strawberries - 2 cups, hulled & chopped

Sugar - 3-4tbsp (depending on the sweetness of the fruit)



Method:

Make the Strawberry Compote: Mix Strawberries and sugar in a medium sauce pan and bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until thickens, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. This can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to use.

To make French Toast: First make the custard: Whisk warm milk, eggs, sugar, melted butter, salt, vanilla and cinnamon in a pie plate or any other wide & deep container.

Prepare the Bread: Spread 4 slices of bread with cream cheese and the other 4 slices with the strawberry jam. Place the cream cheese topped slice on the strawberry topped slice and press lightly.

Soak the sandwiched bread slices in the custard until saturated but not falling apart, about 20 seconds each side. Remove using a slotted spoon to make sure that all the extra custard drips off. Place these soaked bread on another plate or baking sheet.

Heat a griddle/ tawa on medium-low flame and melt ½tbsp butter, cook the soaked bread until golden brown on both sides. Repeat with the rest of the bread.

Serve hot with some maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar.