I like to make a big deal about weekend breakfasts. Making and eating the best meal of the day isn’t something we always have a ton of time for. But on the weekend, it can be a true event – especially when it involves a fun main course! This weekend, I was inspired by a fresh batch of strawberries, shipped up from Florida to make these pumpernickel stuffed french toast sticks with strawberry sauce.
I’ve always been a dipper. As a kid, my mom would make a lot of our meals more fun by including a sauce. The added activity just made eating more fun. Even as an adult, I prefer a meal where I can dip something in a sauce, whether that’s fries, veggies, or in this case – bread!
French toast sticks are a childhood favorite, and I wanted to elevate that a little bit, while still keeping their character. For these, I’m using a pumpernickel bread, which brings in a rich, robust flavor. The filling is a sweetened mascarpone, which just melts right into the bread.
Then, they are dipped in a traditional custard and rolled in cinnamon sugar. After being fried to perfection, the creamy strawberry sauce is the perfect complement for dipping. They seem like more work than they truly are, and the result is worth it.
Stuffed French Toast Sticks with Strawberry Sauce
Ingredients
Mascarpone Filling
- 2 Oz Mascarpone Cheese
- 1 Tbsp Milk divided
- 1 tsp Sugar
French Toast Sticks
- 6 Slices Pumpernickel Bread sliced thin
- 2 Eggs
- 1/4 Cup Milk
- 5 Tbsp Sugar
- 2.5 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Butter
Strawberry Sauce
- 1/2 cup Strawberries frozen or fresh
- 2 tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Mascarpone Cheese
Instructions
Make the French Toast Sticks
- Make the filling by mixing together the mascarpone and milk until combined and creamy. Then mix in the sugar until dissolved.
- Spread the filling on three sliced of the bread. Top each filled piece with another piece of bread. It's best to pair up the bread first, to make the best matches, so less filling overflows the edges.
- Slice each sandwich in the shorter dimension into 1-inch wide sticks. Press the sticks at the edges slightly, so they stay stuck together.
- In a medium bowl, mix the eggs and milk for the custard. In a small bowl, mix the cinnamon and sugar.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Quickly dip each stick into the custard, and let the excess drip off. Then roll the stick in the cinnamon sugar. Place the sugared sticks on the sheet pan until they are all ready.
- Heat a flat frying pan or griddle on medium heat, and melt half the butter. Add half of the sticks in a single layer, and fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side. These should be lightly browned, but be careful that the sugar doesn't burn.
- Melt the rest of the butter, and add the rest of the sticks to the pan, and cook in the same way.
Make the Strawberry Sauce
- While the French toast sticks are frying, heat a small pot on medium high, and add the strawberries and 1/4 cup of water. Cook covered for about 5 minutes.
- Uncover and stir frequently, and smashing the berries with the spoon. Add the sugar, and continue cooking for about 3 more minutes, until the sugar is dissolved, and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Turn off the heat, and stir in the mascarpone sauce. Serve 6 French toast sticks with half the strawberry sauce.
Notes
- If you're not into pumpernickel, any thinly sliced bread will work here. If you don't have mascarpone, cream cheese will work, but be a tangier flavor.
- If you use fresh strawberries, they do not need to be cooked covered for as long. Cook only about two minutes to soften, and then try smashing them.
- If you'd rather unstuffed sticks, use thick cut bread instead, and just skip the filling. The rest of the steps will work to make standard French toast sticks.
- If you don't have strawberries, you can use frozen raspberries. Add a bit more sugar to taste, as raspberries are more tart.
Ooo how lovely! These look delicious.
Thank you, they were super tasty!
This is such a unique take on french toast! I definitely want some!
Thanks! I love recreating old favorites with a twist.
Looks like a most try. Love a new take on a traditional favorite. And I love pumpernickel but would never have thought to make French toast out of it!
Thank you! Replacing white bread/flour has been an ongoing adventure for my cooking.
I am quite literally DROOLING while reading this. I’ve never used pumpernickel bread for French toast, but now I’m super intrigued! That sounds amazing. And strawberry sauce? Goodness, yes please!
Haha, thank you! The strawberry sauce is the real winner here. The french toast sticks are delicious, but that sauce was the best part.
I love pumpernickel bread, but never thought to make French toast with it. It looks so good.
Me too! It’s been my go-to lately, so I thought I’d try it out. It’s a different flavor, but good.
These look delicious! We have been on a breakfast for dinner kick, so I’ll add these to the menu!
I can always get behind a good breakfast for dinner kick, enjoy!
Oh my gosh, this looks delicious!! Love the idea of using pumpernickel for the French toast.
Thanks! I’m excited to try out the pumpernickel in some other french toast experiments soon.
This looks SO decadent — I want it now!!
Thank you! It was actually pretty quick and easy too.
Oh, I never had French toast like this.
There something about strawberries that scream “breakfast time”
Haha yes! I love them all day, but I always try to have a few with breakfast.
Wow! This looks really good. Both decadent and healthy. Love having fresh fruit with breakfast!
It is pretty sugary, but definitely a healthier alternative to regular french toast!
Yummy this looks like a fantastic weekend breakfast to me, can’t wait to try!!
Yes, it’s so great for a lazy Sunday, enjoy!
I love Pumpernickel bread! And, that strawberry sauce sounds delish. Saving this recipe to try.
Thanks so much! Let me know what you think.
This recipe looks amazing! I love the idea of pumpernickel for the french toast sticks! Awesome recipe…I can’t wait to try it!
Thank you! I have been loving pumpernickel lately, and it was a natural progression to experiment a little. Enjoy!
oh my goodness. this looks delicious. I need to try it out.