Cream Cheese-Stuffed Lemon French Toast with Strawberries

Here's another great recipe to whip up on Christmas Eve while sugar plums are dancing in your children's heads.

Recipe by Our Best Bites

French Toast

• 6 large, stale butter croissants
• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, divided
• 2 lemons
• 1 1/4 teaspoons lemon extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk

Strawberry Sauce

• 1 pint fresh strawberries, washed, stemmed, and chopped
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Sweetened Whipped Cream 
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar

Slice the croissants in half lengthwise. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, zest of one lemon, strained juice of one lemon, and 3/4 cup powdered sugar. Mix with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Spread the lemon cream cheese mixture over the bottoms of the croissants and then replace the tops, pressing down to flatten. Cut into halves (or even fourths if necessary) and arrange the pieces evenly in a 9×13″ pan lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk together the milk, eggs, lemon extract, zest from the second lemon, and remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Pour evenly over the croissants and cover with aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 8-10 hours.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350. Bake covered for 30 minutes and then remove the foil and bake for another 20-30 minutes or until the croissants are golden brown and the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the oven and allow it to stand for 5-10 minutes. Cut into squares and top individual servings with Strawberry Sauce, fresh sliced strawberries, and, if desired, sweetened whipped cream. 

For the sauce: Wash strawberries and remove stems. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can roughly chop the berries, but I say you’re already feeling ambitious enough by making your own strawberry sauce. So don’t sweat it.

For the whipped cream: Combine whipping cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl. With an electric hand mixer, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Serve immediately with pie, cake, ice cream sundaes, etc.

December Calendar

December Presidency Message

Love Beyond Measure 

Love is a feeling of deep devotion, concern, and affection. The greatest example of God's love for His children is found in the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ.

John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

C. Max Caldwell   “Love of Christ”

Speaking to the Lord, Moroni declared: “Thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world. …

“This love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity.” (Ether 12:33–34.)

Through his compliance with the severe requirements of the Atonement, the Savior offered the ultimate expression of love. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13.) And by permitting his Son to make such a selfless and suffering sacrifice, the Father provided us with an ultimate expression of his love as his gift to the rest of his children.

John 15:9-12- As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

President Thomas S. Monson   “Be of Good Cheer”

I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.

Have I Done Any Good? Hymn 223

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

-Tiffany DeHart