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Skillet French Toast for Slow Mornings

Heart-shaped bread slices filled with pockets of cream cheese, mini chocolate chips, and tart raspberry jam create Instagram-worthy breakfast magic. Dipped in a custard coating infused with vanilla and almond extract, then pan-fried to golden perfection, this indulgent yet surprisingly simple French toast transforms weekend breakfast into a fancy brunch experience.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 3
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 6 slices bread
  • 3 tablespoons softened cream cheese
  • 3 teaspoons raspberry jam
  • 1-2 teaspoons mini chocolate chips
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon oil
  • Confectioners’ sugar for garnish
  • Syrup for serving

Method
 

  1. Begin by preparing your bread and filling. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut 6 slices of bread into heart shapes.
  2. Spread 1 tablespoon of softened cream cheese onto 3 of the heart-shaped bread slices, then sprinkle 1/3 teaspoon of mini chocolate chips onto each cream cheese layer, pressing them in lightly. On the remaining 3 bread slices, spread 1 teaspoon of raspberry jam.
  3. Press the jam-covered slices onto the cream cheese slices to create sandwiches, pressing gently together to guarantee they adhere.
  4. Create the custard coating by whisking together 2 lightly beaten eggs, 1/3 cup milk, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 pinch of salt in a shallow bowl.
  5. Submerge each assembled sandwich into this mixture, flipping to ensure all sides are thoroughly saturated and the egg mixture is fully absorbed into the bread.
  6. Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon oil in a hot pan over medium-high heat. Fry the custard-coated sandwiches until golden brown, then carefully flip them to brown the other side.
  7. Continue cooking on the stovetop or transfer to a 350-degree oven if preferred, cooking until you reach your desired level of doneness. Serve the finished French toast warm, garnished with confectioners' sugar, syrup, and fresh berries if desired.

Notes

French Toast Substitutions and Variations

Once I’ve got the basic technique down, I can’t help but wonder what happens when I swap things around. I could trade raspberries for strawberries or blackberries without breaking anything. Different jams work beautifully too—nutella, apricot, or even peanut butter. For the chocolate chips, I might try white chocolate or swap them entirely for chopped nuts. The bread itself offers flexibility: brioche instead of regular bread creates richness, while sourdough adds tanginess. I could substitute almond extract with orange zest or skip it altogether. Even the fillings shift—cream cheese could become mascarpone or ricotta. What matters is balancing flavors you actually enjoy.