Prepare the Bread

• You’ll need a loaf of uncut bread to make stuffed French toast. Look for a loaf with a soft crust that will absorb the egg mixture, but enough structure to hold a filling. Challah, soft Italian and soft French breads are all good choices. They have enough of a crumb structure to soak up the egg filling without getting soggy, even if you make the dish the night before. White or wheat sandwich bread is too airy for this recipe and will fall apart.

  Slice the bread into 1 1/2- to 2-inch slices. Use a sharp knife to cut a slit into the middle of the bread, creating a pocket. Be careful not to slice all the way through the bottom or sides of the bread.

Stuff the French Toast

• Bananas or strawberries and cream cheese comprise a classic French toast filling, but you can let your imagination run wild. Stuff your French toast with anything you love, such as chocolate hazelnut spread and bananas; peanut butter and jelly; or even cream cheese frosting.

  As a general rule, try to avoid fillings that are loose or runny. They will ooze out of the bread during cooking. Firmer fillings with the consistency of cream cheese or peanut butter are best.

  Fill each bread pocket with about 2 tablespoons of filling. Resist the temptation to overfill the French toast. The extra filling will ooze out and burn when you cook the bread.

  Dip the filled bread into a mixture of egg and milk, just as you would for basic French toast. If you are making the dish ahead of time, set the dipped French toast upright in a baking dish, then cover tightly with foil and refrigerate.

Fry, Then Bake for Best Results

• French toast is traditionally cooked in a frying pan or on a griddle. These moderately high heat, direct methods work because the bread is relatively thin and can be heated through before the outside burns. To ensure that stuffed French toast cooks thoroughly, you’ll need to pan- or griddle-fry both sides, then bake in the oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Serving Suggestions

• Stuffed French toast is delicious on its own, or served simply with a dusting of powdered sugar. If you want to take it to an even higher level, serve with a syrup or glaze that complements the filling, such as blueberry or strawberry syrup with a banana filling, or chocolate syrup with a chocolate-hazelnut spread filling. Whipped cream and fresh fruit are always delicious accompaniments to stuffed French toast.