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Tiramisu french toast is what happens when your favorite Italian dessert crashes brunch, thick slices of coffee soaked bread cooked golden and piled with a sweet mascarpone cream and a dusting of cocoa. I made this for the girls on a slow *Saturday morning* and Maddie declared it, quote, better than cake for breakfast. It comes together in about 20 minutes with pantry basics. If you love tiramisu, our creamy tiramisu pie is the no bake dessert version of this same dreamy combo.
This tiramisu french toast turns a classic Italian dessert into an easy, coffee kissed breakfast the whole family will ask for again.
Tiramisu French Toast Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 6 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 352kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Rich coffee soaked french toast with sweet mascarpone cream and cocoa
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, about as simple as our baked chocolate chip cake donuts
Quick Answer
Whip cold heavy cream with sugar until soft peaks form, then fold in softened mascarpone and coffee liqueur and set the cream aside. In another bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, brewed coffee, cocoa powder, vanilla, and sugar to make a coffee custard. Melt butter in a pan over low heat, dip each slice of thick white bread into the custard, and cook until golden brown on both sides. Stack 2 or 3 slices on a plate, spoon the mascarpone cream over the top, and finish with a generous dusting of cocoa powder before serving.
Jump to:
- Tiramisu French Toast Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Tiramisu French Toast
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Tiramisu French Toast FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Breakfast Recipes
- Tiramisu French Toast
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Tiramisu flavor for breakfast. Coffee soaked bread and sweet mascarpone cream give you all the tiramisu flavor you love in an easy morning form.
- Just 20 minutes. There is no baking or chilling, so this french toast is ready to eat in about 20 minutes start to finish.
- Real mascarpone cream. Whipping mascarpone into the cream makes a rich, cheesecake style topping just like classic tiramisu.
- A coffee custard, not plain. Brewed coffee and cocoa in the egg mixture soak into the bread so every bite tastes like tiramisu.
- Pantry friendly. Simple ingredients like white bread, eggs, milk, and coffee do most of the work.
- Easy to make boozy or not. The coffee liqueur is optional, so you can make it kid friendly or keep it grown up.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes like tiramisu but comes together in about 20 minutes for breakfast or brunch.
- The coffee custard soaks into thick white bread so every bite is rich and flavorful.
- A whipped mascarpone cream on top makes it feel like a special occasion dessert.
- It is a fun way to switch up brunch alongside our overnight breakfast casserole.
- It delivers that same everyone asks for seconds energy as our overnight french toast casserole.
- It delivers that same everyone asks for seconds energy as our strawberry cheesecake stuffed french toast.
- It earns a spot in the rotation right next to our french toast.
Key Ingredients
Here is everything you need to make this tiramisu french toast.
- Mascarpone: This soft Italian cheese is whipped into the cream for that signature tiramisu topping. Let it soften at room temperature so it blends smooth.
- Heavy cream: Whipped cold with a little sugar, it lightens the mascarpone into a fluffy, spoonable cream.
- Coffee and coffee liqueur: Brewed coffee flavors the custard and the optional coffee liqueur adds that classic tiramisu depth. Leave the liqueur out to keep it kid friendly.
- Cocoa powder: Whisked into the custard and dusted on top, it gives the toast its true tiramisu look and flavor.
- Thick white bread and eggs: Sturdy thick cut slices soak up the coffee custard without falling apart, and eggs give it that classic french toast set.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This tiramisu french toast is easy to make your own. Here are a few ideas.
- Leave out the coffee liqueur for a kid friendly version and use a splash of extra coffee instead.
- Use challah or brioche in place of white bread for an even richer, custardy toast.
- Swap the mascarpone for cream cheese if that is what you have on hand.
- Add a spoonful of espresso powder to the cream for an extra strong coffee kick.
- Finish with chocolate shavings or a drizzle of chocolate syrup for a more dessert like plate, similar to our layered trifle.
- If you want to switch things up, our stuffed nutella french toast sticks plays on similar flavors in a whole new way.
- If you want to switch things up, our easy eggnog french toast plays on similar flavors in a whole new way.
- In the mood for something different? Our blueberry croissant french toast scratches a similar itch.
How to Make Tiramisu French Toast
- For the cream, place the cold heavy cream and sugar in a bowl. Whip until soft peaks form.
- Add the softened mascarpone cheese and coffee liqueur to the whipped cream. Gently fold to combine, then set the cream aside.
- For the toast, whisk together the milk, eggs, brewed coffee, cocoa powder, vanilla, and sugar in another bowl until smooth.
- In a pan, melt the butter and set the heat to low.
- Dip a slice of white bread into the prepared custard, coating both sides.
- Place the soaked slices in the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides. Serve 2 or 3 slices, top with the mascarpone cream, and dust with cocoa powder.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use cold cream so it whips up quickly into soft peaks before you fold in the mascarpone.
- Soften the mascarpone at room temperature so it blends smooth without lumps in the cream.
- Keep the heat low so the coffee custard cooks through and the bread turns golden without burning.
- Use thick cut bread, thin slices get soggy and fall apart in the custard.
- Do not over soak, a quick dip on each side is enough for sturdy white bread.
- Dust the cocoa last, right before serving, so it stays powdery on top of the cream.
- Plan the whole menu. This pairs effortlessly with our overnight french toast casserole when company is coming.
- Make it a full spread. Our boozy white hot chocolate rounds out the table.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Serve tiramisu french toast warm, stacked 2 or 3 slices high, with a big spoonful of the mascarpone cream and a heavy dusting of cocoa powder over the top. It is rich enough to feel like dessert but perfect for a slow weekend breakfast or a special brunch.
Still filling out the menu? Readers love pairing this one with our banana nut muffins, baked ham and cheese sliders, and lemon blueberry coffee cake.
Tiramisu French Toast FAQs
Store the cooked french toast and the mascarpone cream separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keeping them apart stops the toast from getting soggy under the cream. Reheat the toast in a warm pan or toaster oven, then add the cream and a fresh dusting of cocoa right before serving.
Yes, you can whisk the coffee custard and whip the mascarpone cream the night before and keep both covered in the refrigerator. In the morning, just dip and cook the bread while the cream comes to a spreadable temperature. This makes it a great option for a make ahead brunch without much morning work.
No, the coffee liqueur is completely optional. It adds the classic grown up tiramisu depth, but you can leave it out entirely for a kid friendly version. Add an extra splash of strong brewed coffee to the cream if you want more coffee flavor without the alcohol.
Thick cut white bread works great and is what this recipe calls for, but any sturdy bread that can soak up custard without falling apart is perfect. Challah, brioche, and Texas toast are all excellent choices because they are thick and slightly sweet. Avoid thin sandwich bread, which turns mushy.
Yes, softened cream cheese makes a good substitute if you cannot find mascarpone. It will be a little tangier and firmer, so whip it well with the cream to lighten it. Mascarpone gives you the most authentic, mellow tiramisu flavor, but cream cheese still tastes delicious.
It is best served warm, right after the bread comes out of the pan, topped with the cool mascarpone cream. The contrast of the warm coffee soaked toast and the cold, sweet cream is exactly what makes it feel like tiramisu. Dust the cocoa on at the very end so it stays powdery.
Craving more tiramisu? Make our creamy tiramisu pie next.
Tiramisu French Toast
Ingredients
Mascarpone whipped cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream cold
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup mascarpone softened
- 1 tablespoon coffee liquor
French toast
- 1 cup milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup Coffee
- 1 teaspoon Cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 slices thick-cut white bread
Instructions
- For the cream, place heavy cream and sugar in a bowl. Mix and whisk.1/2 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- Add the mascarpone cheese and coffee liqueur to the cream. Combine and set aside.1/2 cup mascarpone, 1 tablespoon coffee liquor
- Next, for the toast, mix together milk, 3 eggs, coffee, cocoa powder, vanilla, and sugar in another bowl. Mix and set aside.1 cup milk, 3 large eggs, 1/4 cup Coffee, 1 teaspoon Cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon sugar
- In a pan, melt butter and set the heat to low.2 tablespoons butter
- Meanwhile, dip a slice of white bread into the prepared mixture.6 slices thick-cut white bread
- Place the soaked slices in the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides.
- Remove, serve 2 or 3 slices, top with the prepared cream, and garnish with cocoa powder.
Notes
- Use Stale Bread: It absorbs the mixture better without getting too soggy.
- Don’t Soak Too Long: Dip the bread quickly to prevent it from falling apart.
- Medium Heat is Key: Cook on medium heat to achieve that perfect golden brown color.
- Whip the Cream Well: Beat until soft peaks form for the perfect topping.
- Add Butter to the Pan: Melt butter before adding bread for extra flavor.
- Serve Immediately: This French toast tastes best when served hot and fresh.
Nutrition
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