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IHOP Stuffed French Toast
Thick brioche bread stuffed with sweet cream cheese filling, dipped in cinnamon batter, and griddled until golden. IHOP's most indulgent breakfast, now yours to make at home.
breakfast · ihop · french-toast · brunch
🕑Prep15 min
🍳Cook15 min
⏱Total30 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyMedium
Ingredients
- 8 thick slices brioche or challah bread
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter for the griddle
Instructions
- 1.Make the cream cheese filling. In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable. This is the sweet, tangy filling that makes IHOP's version different from regular French toast.
- 2.Assemble the stuffed slices. Spread a thick layer of the cream cheese filling on one slice of bread. Top with a second slice to make a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining bread and filling to make 4 stuffed sandwiches. Press the edges lightly to seal.
- 3.Make the egg batter. In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth and uniform.
- 4.Dip and cook. Melt butter on a griddle over medium heat. Dip each stuffed sandwich into the egg batter, letting it soak for about 10 seconds per side. Place on the griddle and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and the filling is warm throughout.
- 5.Serve with toppings. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries, whipped cream, and warm maple syrup. Slice each stuffed piece diagonally for presentation.
IHOP Stuffed French Toast
IHOP’s Stuffed French Toast is their most indulgent breakfast item, and that is saying something on a menu full of pancakes and crepes. Two thick slices of bread are filled with sweet cream cheese, dipped in cinnamon egg batter, and griddled until golden and crispy on the outside. Cut it open and the warm cream cheese filling oozes out.
At IHOP, an order of Stuffed French Toast costs about $13-15. At home, the ingredients cost about $6 and serve four people.
Why Make It at Home?
The IHOP version is good, but it is often made with standard white bread that gets soggy quickly. Using thick brioche or challah at home gives you a sturdier, richer French toast that holds its structure and has a more buttery flavor. You also control the cream cheese to bread ratio — and you can be generous.
Tips & Variations
- Use day-old bread. Fresh brioche is too soft and falls apart when dipped. Day-old bread is firmer and absorbs the egg batter without disintegrating.
- Do not oversoak. Ten seconds per side is plenty. The batter should coat the outside, not saturate the entire bread. Oversoaked French toast turns mushy in the center.
- Add fruit to the filling. Mix sliced strawberries or blueberries into the cream cheese filling before assembling. The fruit warms up during cooking and adds pockets of sweetness.
- Make it the night before. Assemble the stuffed sandwiches and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, dip in batter and cook. The bread firms up in the fridge, which actually makes better French toast.
