The Best Strawberry French Toast Recipe for the Weekend

There's something undeniably charming about a plate of warm, fluffy French toast, and when you add the enticing aroma of roasted strawberries, you have a simply irresistible brunch dish. Let's explore my latest breakfast obsession; Strawberry French Toast made easy in the oven. I serve this stunning brunch recipe with basil-infused honey, a simple Roasted Strawberry Syrup, and Sparkling Wine from California.

{{ Our post and the Roasted Strawberry French Toast recipe that goes with it were made in partnership with California Wines! We received compensation in exchange for it. Opinions are always our own. If we don’t love it, you don’t hear about it. Thanks for your continued support! }}

A Brunch Classic with a Berry Twist: Strawberry French Toast.

Picture this: A lazy Sunday morning, the sun gently streaming through the window, and the aroma of freshly made Strawberry French Toast with Roasted Strawberry Syrup filling your home. This, my friends, is the stuff brunch dreams are made of!

The inspiration behind this Baked Strawberry French Toast recipe:

Inspired by the delightful simplicity of the Strawberry Shortcake Orange Blossom Stack recipe I created for California Wines, this brunch-inspired twist is truly memorable. I highly suggest you make this when you are looking for a next-level dessert recipe.

A Simple Strawberry Shortcake Orange Blossom Stack

Behold, the Strawberry Shortcake Orange Blossom Stack - a delightful twist on the classic Strawberry Shortcake, famously served at the one and only Boccali's restaurant in Ojai, California. Since 1986, the Boccali clan has been dishing out their sky-high, delectable Strawberry Shortcake, leaving taste buds dancing and rave reviews trailing in their wake.

The spin on this iconic recipe I created for California Wines infuses every mouthwatering layer with a burst of sunny California citrus, delivering a fresh and zesty experience that'll leave you craving more.

What Does Sustainability in Wine Making Mean?

April is 'Down to Earth Month,' and we are celebrating with winetails made with sustainable wine from California. But what does 'sustainability' actually mean?

Sustainability is all about finding ways to make things we need or enjoy, like wine, without causing harm to our planet or using up too many resources. In the case of wine production, it means growing grapes and making wine in a way that's friendly to the environment, fair to the people who work in the vineyards and wineries and makes sure the business can keep going for a long time.

To make wine more sustainable, wineries can do a few things. First, they can use less water and energy when growing grapes and making wine. This helps to save precious resources like water and also reduces pollution. Second, they can use natural ways to keep pests away from their grapes instead of using harmful chemicals that can hurt the environment and the people who work there.

Wineries can also care for their workers by providing good working conditions, fair pay, and training opportunities to further their education.

Finally, sustainable wineries need to think about the long-term success of their business. This means they should plan for the future, be smart with their money, and keep improving their sustainability efforts.

So, when you hear about sustainability in wine production, remember it's all about making wine in a way that's good for the Earth, the people, and the business.

It's super easy to know if the California wine that you are drinking is SIP certified, simply look for the logo or seal on the bottle of wine.

Step-by-step How to Make the Best Strawberry French Toast.

When it comes to enhancing flavors and textures, roasting strawberries takes the cake. By roasting them in the oven, you'll unlock a deeper, richer taste that's bound to elevate your French toast.

Tossing strawberries with freshly squeezed orange juice and honey enhances their flavor while roasting draws out all of their luscious juices. I'm telling you - if this isn't the sexiest bite of French toast you've ever had, I'll be shocked!

While the strawberries roast in the oven under the broiler, prep the orange zest-laced French toast batter and the sheet pan for cooking the French toast.

Picking the Perfect Bread for Strawberry French Toast

You can use any type of bread you have on hand to make this recipe for Strawberry French Toast. However, a brioche-style bread would be my number one choice. Recently, I purchased a bread maker for myself, and those are the extra large slices you see here.

I make bread almost daily with my favorite Caputo flour and absolutely LOVE it! I set the timer to have the bread ready when we wake up - the house smells heavenly, and we feast like Kings. No more lackluster gluten-free bread in my kitchen folks!

Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker

This bread machine was a gift to myself at the beginning of the year and, I have absolutely loved it. Honestly. so has everyone else too. It bakes up perfect two-pound loaves of bread with minimal effort from me. Plus, the house smells like a bakery! Total win.

Click here to shop this breadmaker.

Caputo Gluten Free Flour

Caputo products have totally changed my life. This product really performs incredibly well and is delicious too.

Click here to shop this gluten-free flour.

What to serve with Strawberry French Toast.

There are a few really delicious toppings that I like to serve with this French toast. Along with the Roasted Strawberry Syrup, I like to serve my Basil-infused honey, toasted almonds and pistachios, and fresh basil leaves with this epic French toast recipe.

Roasted Strawberry Syrup

When you make the roasted strawberries for this French toast recipe, you will be blessed with a super saucy strawberry syrup that is divine drizzled over French toast, pancakes, in cocktails, or even over ice cream.

Click here to make a winetail with this Roasted Strawberry Syrup.

Basil-infused honey or maple syrup: Heat ½ cup honey or syrup over medium-low heat until warm. Remove the pan from the heat and add a large sprig of fresh basil leaves. Stir and slightly muddle the basil leaves, then leave them in the honey or syrup until completely cool. Remove and discard the basil leaf before serving.

Which side dish pairs best with Strawberry French Toast?

How To Cook Perfect, Crispy Bacon in the Oven

Perhaps you've heard tales of delicious, crispy oven-baked bacon that doesn't cover your stove in grease splatter? f you've ever wondered how to cook bacon in your oven, you're in the right place. And let me tell you, it is a game-changer!

Click here to try baking bacon.

Crispy Eggplant Bacon

I have professed my love for coconut bacon on so many occasions that I cannot even begin to count them all, but when it comes to satisfying a craving for an epic BLT or just fulfilling the urge to hold a crispy baconesque strip in your hands first thing Saturday morning nothing can compare to this eggplant bacon - NOTHING!

Click here to make eggplant bacon. 

Looking for more delicious recipes for French toast?

I have made French toast more times over the years than I care to admit. My kids absolutely love it! When you make it as often as I have, you develop a few ideas around what a recipe for French toast really needs to stand out.

Click on any of the images to see the three variations I have created for our website and our friends at California Grown over the years.

If you’ve given our Strawberry French Toast recipe a try, I would be so grateful if you would rate the recipe with a star rating and let me know what you think in the comments below! 

Strawberry French Toast Recipe

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

• Author: This Mess is Ours
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 23 minutes
• Total Time: 33 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Baked
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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For the Basil-infused Honey or Maple Syrup

½ cup maple syrup or honey

1 large sprig fresh basil

For the Roasted Strawberries and Roasted Strawberry Syrup

6 cups strawberries, quartered if large

¼ cup honey 

juice of ½ a Cara Cara or Naval orange, approximately ⅓ cup, zest reserved

For the Sheet Pan French Toast 

1 ½ tablespoons melted butter

2 eggs

¾ cup milk

reserved zest of 1 orange

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

6 slices Brioche bread gluten-free if necessary, see note.

Optional to serve: fresh basil leaves, toasted slivered almonds and pistachios. 

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Instructions

To make the Basil-Infused Honey or Maple Syrup

Combine the honey or maple and basil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a slow simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the basil to steep while cooling. Once cooled, discard the basil.

This will make more syrup than you will need for 1 batch of Sheet Pan French Toast, store extra syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

For the roasted strawberries and roasted strawberry syrup:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F

In a large bowl, mix the strawberries, honey, and orange juice together. Spread the strawberries evenly onto a large baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

Separate the roasted berries from the roasted syrup in the pan, set both aside for serving. 

For the Sheet Pan French Toast 

Heat the broiler to high and position the rack 6-inches from the heating element. Wrap a sheet pan or large jelly roll pan in aluminum foil for easy clean-up, if desired.

Use a pastry brush to "paint" the melted butter across the pan covering all of the surface areas of the pan.

Beat the eggs, milk, orange zest, and vanilla together in a shallow dish. One by one, dip the bread slices into the egg mixture until the centers of the bread slices are soaked through. Allow any excess egg mixture to drip off each slice before placing the slice on the prepared pan.

Repeat the process with all of the slices of bread, nestling the slices close to each other. 

Broil until the bread is toasted and starting to turn golden brown, about 4 minutes. Flip the bread slices and place them back in the oven for another 3-4 minutes until completely toasted.

To serve Strawberry French Toast

Stack a few slices of prepared French toast onto a plate, pile it with roasted strawberries, drizzle with Roasted Strawberry Syrup, Basil-infused honey if using, and garnish with toasted nuts and fresh basil. Serve immediately.

Notes

A note about types of bread:

You can use any type of bread you like for this recipe, just note that the cooking time may vary.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2 large pieces
• Calories: 342
• Sugar: 35 g
• Sodium: 259.7 mg
• Fat: 8.4 g
• Carbohydrates: 58.6 g
• Protein: 11 g
• Cholesterol: 105.4 mg

Keywords: Strawberry French Toast, strawberry, strawberry syrup, basil, honey, breakfast, sheet pan french toast, breakfast, roasted starwberries, brunch

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