Ingredients
Scale
- 2-4 slices thick-cut bread (brioche, white bread, sourdough, or whole wheat)
- 4 oz cream cheese (half a standard package), softened to room temperature
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup (optional, for drizzling)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
- Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (mixed into cream cheese)
- Optional: pinch of lemon zest (for brightness)
- Optional: fresh mint leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
- Soften the Cream Cheese – Remove cream cheese from refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes until soft and spreadable. If you’re in a hurry, microwave it for 10-15 seconds (remove foil wrapper first!). For extra flavor, mix in ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or a tiny bit of lemon zest with a fork until smooth and creamy.
- Toast the Bread – While cream cheese softens, toast your bread slices until golden brown and lightly crispy on the outside but still tender inside. If using a toaster, use medium-high setting. If using an oven, toast at 375°F for 4-5 minutes per side. If using brioche, watch carefully as it browns faster than regular bread due to its butter and egg content. The toast should be golden and smell amazing!
- Prepare the Strawberries – While bread toasts, wash and dry your strawberries thoroughly. Remove the green hulls and slice strawberries into thin rounds or lengthwise slices, about ¼ inch thick. Thin slices are easier to eat and more attractive than thick chunks. Pat strawberries gently with a paper towel if they’re very wet to prevent the toast from getting soggy.
- Spread the Cream Cheese – Once bread is toasted and still warm, generously spread softened cream cheese over each slice – about 2 tablespoons per piece of toast, or more if you’re feeling indulgent! Spread all the way to the edges. The warmth of the toast will make the cream cheese slightly melty and extra delicious. Some people like a thick layer (½ inch!), others prefer thinner – it’s your choice!
- Arrange the Strawberries – Artfully arrange strawberry slices over the cream cheese. You can create neat rows, overlap them in a shingled pattern, create a pretty fan design, or just scatter them naturally. Make sure each bite will have strawberry! If using round slices, slightly overlap them for full coverage. This is where you can get creative and make it Pinterest-pretty!
- Add Optional Sweetener – If desired, drizzle honey or maple syrup lightly over the strawberries (about 1 teaspoon per toast). Use a light hand – the strawberries and cream cheese are already quite sweet! Alternatively, dust with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sieve for a pretty, snow-dusted look.
- Garnish and Serve – If using, add final touches: a few fresh mint leaves, a sprinkle of lemon zest, or even a few graham cracker crumbs for “cheesecake” vibes. Serve immediately on a pretty plate while the toast is still slightly warm. The contrast of warm toast with cool cream cheese and fresh strawberries is perfection!
- Enjoy – Eat with a fork and knife for neater eating, or pick it up and enjoy like an open-faced sandwich. These toasts are best eaten within 10 minutes of assembly while the bread is still crispy and hasn’t absorbed moisture from the cream cheese and strawberries.
Notes
- Cream Cheese Texture: Room temperature cream cheese spreads smoothly without tearing the bread.
- Bread Choice: Brioche creates the most dessert-like toast, but any sturdy bread works!
- Strawberry Prep: Slice strawberries just before assembly to prevent them from releasing too much juice.
- Timing: Assemble just before eating to keep toast crispy – don’t let assembled toasts sit!
- Sweetness: Taste your strawberries first – if they’re very sweet, you may not need added sweetener.
- Scaling: Recipe easily doubles or triples for a crowd!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Toasting
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 toast with toppings
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 35mg