Heart-Shaped French Toast: 4 Ways

Valentine’s Day is coming up! Do you have that special meal planned for your family or significant other? Here’s an idea: plan a delicious Valentine’s Day brunch with heart-shaped French toast stacks filled with a variety of your favorite toppings! Start by preparing your basic French toast recipe, using heart-shaped cut-outs for the bread. Then, choose your favorite toppings like: homemade raspberry sauce, chocolate-hazelnut spread with strawberries, chocolate and marshmallow, or cream cheese glaze.

Watch this video to see how to make French Toast: 4 Ways, then get the recipes below!

Basic French Toast Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 12-16 Slices Butter Bread
• 3 Large Eggs
• 2/3 Cup Milk
• 4-8 Tablespoons Butter
• ½ Teaspoon Vanilla
• ¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon
• Pinch of Salt
• Pinch of Nutmeg (optional)

Directions:

1. In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg until well combined.
2. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat with 1-2 tablespoons butter.
3. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter or a knife, cut a heart out of each piece of bread.
4. Dip each piece of heart-shaped bread into the egg/milk mixture, being sure to coat both sides.
5. Cook the bread (as many slices as will fit in the pan) for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden.
6. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining bread slices, adding more butter to the pan as necessary.

French Toast with Raspberry Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients

• Basic French Toast, prepared (see first recipe above)
• 2 Cups Raspberries, divided
• 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Water, plus 2 tablespoons
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 Teaspoons Cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoon Butter

Directions

1. Prepare Basic French Toast
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, mix together 1 1/2 cups raspberries, sugar, and ½ cup water until sugar is dissolved. Heat the mixture to boiling, stirring often. Reduce heat and add vanilla.
3. In a small cup, combine the cornstarch and two tablespoons of water. Mix well.
4. Stir this into raspberry mixture. Simmer over medium-low heat for 4 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly.
5. Remove from heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and mix until the butter has completely melted.
6. Allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes, then stir in the remaining raspberries (if desired).
7. Layer ½-1 tablespoon of raspberry sauce between each layer of prepared French toast (we did 4 layers). Repeat with each stack of French toast.
8. Decorate and serve with side of fresh berries, if desired.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Strawberry French Toast

Serves 4

Ingredients

• Basic French Toast, prepared (see first recipe above)
• 1/2 Cup Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread
• 8-10 Strawberries, stemmed and sliced
• Powdered Sugar, to taste
• Whipped Cream (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare Basic French Toast
2. Spread ½-1 tablespoon chocolate-hazelnut spread on one slice of Basic French Toast. Top with sliced strawberries.
3. Spread chocolate-hazelnut spread on another slice of bread and place spread-side-up on top of the strawberries.
4. Top with another layer of sliced strawberries and a final piece of French toast. Repeat this step for as many layers as you would like (we did 4 layers).
5. Top finished French toast with powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream (if desired).
6. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Marshmallow French Toast

Serves 4

Ingredients

• Basic French Toast, prepared (see first recipe above)
• 6-8 Tablespoons Marshmallow Fluff
• Chocolate Syrup
• Mini Chocolate Chips, for garnish

Directions

1. Prepare Basic French Toast
2. Spread ½-1 tablespoon marshmallow fluff on one slice of Basic French Toast. Tip: you could also use mini marshmallows in place of or in addition to the marshmallow fluff, and start this step while your French toast is still in the pan, to allow the marshmallows to melt.
3. Drizzle chocolate syrup on top of marshmallow fluff and add another slice of French toast.
4. Top with more marshmallow fluff, chocolate sauce, and a final piece of French toast. Repeat for as many layers as you would like (we did 4 layers).
5. Sprinkle with a handful of mini chocolate chips, drizzle with chocolate syrup, and serve immediately.

French Toast with Cream Cheese Glaze

Serves 4

Ingredients

• Basic French Toast, prepared (see first recipe above)
• 4 Ounces Cream Cheese, softened
• 4 Tablespoons Butter, softened
• 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 6 Tablespoons Milk (more or less to reach desired consistency)
• Red Food Coloring
• Heart Candies or Sprinkles, if desired

Directions

1. Prepare Basic French Toast
2. Combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth. Gradually mix in milk until glaze reaches desired consistency.
3. When fully combined, transfer half of the glaze to a separate bowl and add in a few drops of red food coloring. Mix to combine, adding more drops as necessary to reach desired color.
4. Alternating colors, spread cream cheese filling in between each layer of prepared French toast (we did 4 layers). Repeat with each stack of French toast.
5. Drizzle more cream cheese glaze on tops of finished French toast stacks and top with heart candies and sprinkles, if desired.
6. Serve immediately.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

For more Valentine’s resources and recipes, check out these related posts:

• https://potatorolls.com/blog/make-it-with-love
• https://potatorolls.com/blog/valentines-day-resources
• https://potatorolls.com/blog/happy-valentines-day