Honey Ricotta Stuffed French Toast

French toast is good, but this Honey Ricotta Stuffed French Toast is even better! It only looks and sounds fancy—you can whip this up in less than a half hour.

How to Make Stuffed French Toast
Nick Evans

I grew up on French toast: thin slices of white bread, soaked in custard, cooked in butter, and served in stacks. I know this French toast well—and maybe you do, too—but I don’t make that version of French toast very often these days. (I find it to be too sweet.)

This Stuffed French Toast is the real deal, though, and it's the ideal breakfast for someone who likes good flavors and just a touch of sweetness.

While it is admittedly more work to stuff the toasts, this mix of mild ricotta cheese, honey, and lemon is one of the best flavor combos out there. And you don’t have to make a huge stack of slices to be satisfied. One big stuffed slice per person is plenty.

Stuffed French Toast Recipe slice the bread
Nick Evans
How to Make Stuffed French Toast at Home make a slit in the bread
Nick Evans

The Best Bread for Stuffed French Toast

For starters, if you are stuffing your French toast, you must buy a full loaf of French bread and cut it into thick slices. This means you can get a nice crust on both sides of the bread and you won’t have any flimsy business going on. Cutting it thicker makes it much easier to work with!

There are many different options when it comes to French bread. You might see some artisan loaves or long thin baguettes. In my experience, the best loaf is a thick, long loaf with a very soft interior and a pale, soft crust (not an artisan loaf with a crispy crust). It’s the kind of loaf you might use for a huge sub sandwich for a party.

How to Make Stuffed French Toast mix the honey, ricotta, and lemon zest
Nick Evans

The Honey Ricotta Filling

The best part is the filling. The ricotta, lemon, and honey create a semi-sweet, semi-savory filling that is creamy, rich, and perfect when paired with a few tart berries.

You’re going to love this dish!

Easy Stuffed French Toast Recipe
Nick Evans

How to Make Stuffed French Toast

Stuffing French toast might seem like an advanced technique, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll realize that it’s more flexible than it seems.

The key is to make sure you cut your slices thick enough—about 1 1/2 inches thick. Then use a thin serrated knife, like a steak knife, to cut a slit in the bread. It should be a nice clean pocket and try not to tear up the bread too much. (But if there are a few holes, it’s okay. They will seal shut during cooking.)

Once your toast is stuffed, dip it in the custard mixture (which is just eggs and milk) and then put it into a medium heat skillet or griddle. You want to cook these slices at a lower heat than you would normally with French toast. They are super thick. If you sear them when the pan is too hot, they will just cook on the outside and not all the way through. So err on the side of lower heat.

One of these huge slices is enough for one person, easily, especially with a handful of berries, some powdered sugar, and syrup. Dig in!

More Great French Toast Recipes!

Honey Ricotta Stuffed French Toast

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup ricotta cheese

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • Zest from 1 medium lemon

  • 2 large eggs

  • 3/4 cup whole milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons butter, for cooking

  • 1 loaf French bread

  • 1 pint fresh berries, such as blueberries or raspberries, for serving

  • Syrup or honey, for serving

  • Powdered sugar, for serving

Method

  1. Prepare the filling:

    In a small bowl stir together the ricotta cheese, honey, and lemon zest. Set aside.

    How to Make Stuffed French Toast mix the honey, ricotta, and lemon zest
    Nick Evans
  2. Prepare the custard:

    In a wide dish, stir together eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt. Set aside.

    Stuffed French Toast Recipe prepare the custard
    Nick Evans
  3. Slice the bread:

    Use a serrated knife to slice 4 large pieces (at least 1 1/2-inches thick) from the middle of the loaf of French bread, where the slices will be larger. Cut the loaf at an angle to make larger pieces. Don’t use the ends of the loaf, as they are too small.

    When you have your four thick pieces of bread, use a small serrated knife (such as a steak knife) to make a deep slit right in the middle of each slice to form a pocket going almost the full length of the slice. Try to avoid tearing holes in the bread, but it's ok if you do.

    Stuffed French Toast Recipe slice the bread
    Nick Evans
    How to Make Stuffed French Toast at Home make a slit in the bread
    Nick Evans
  4. Stuff the slices:

    Divide the ricotta filling among the four pieces of bread. You should be able to get about 1/4 cup of filling in each piece. It’s okay if some overflows. Use a small spoon to help fill the slices without making too much of a mess.

  5. Make the French toast:

    In a large griddle or flat-bottomed skillet, melt butter over medium heat. When pan is ready, dip each piece of stuffed French toast into the custard mixture and coat well on all sides.

    Move the bread straight to the hot griddle or skillet. Cook the French toast for 3 to 4 minutes per side until both are nicely browned and have a firm crust. Sear the edges of the French toast as well to make sure they are cooked.

    Stuffed French Toast with Ricotta make the French toast
    Nick Evans
  6. Serving the French toast:

    Cut each piece of stuffed French toast in half and serve each person two halves drizzled with syrup or honey and dusted with powdered sugar. I like a big handful of berries on each piece as well. Serve while warm.

    Leftovers don’t keep well. The pieces get soggy. So only make as many as you plan to serve!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
401 Calories
11g Fat
63g Carbs
15g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 401
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 5g 27%
Cholesterol 84mg 28%
Sodium 655mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 63g 23%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 22g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 6mg 31%
Calcium 166mg 13%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 239mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.