Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks

Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks are an easy homemade breakfast filled with maple vanilla cream cheese and walnuts, then coated in more walnuts and cooked until golden brown and crispy. Serve these sweet and crunchy stuffed French toast sticks with warm maple syrup, fresh fruit, caramel, or powdered sugar for an extra-special breakfast or brunch.

French toast is already pretty great. Stuff it with maple cheesecake filling, cut it into sticks, roll it in crunchy walnuts, and suddenly breakfast gets a LOT more interesting. These Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks are crispy and golden brown on the outside with soft bread and a sweet cream cheese filling hiding inside.

I created this recipe with Mother’s Day brunch in mind, but these homemade French toast sticks are perfect for birthdays, holidays, weekend breakfasts, bridal showers, baby showers, or anytime you want breakfast to feel a little extra special.

Serve them with warm maple syrup for dipping, fresh strawberries or raspberries, or even a little caramel sauce.

You can use your favorite bread too. White, Italian, French, brioche, challah, and even cinnamon raisin bread can all work. And if you don’t want sticks? Leave the stuffed French toast sandwiches whole. Easy!

What I Love About This Recipe

• The cheesecake filling is a delicious surprise. Softened cream cheese gets mixed with maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and chopped walnuts to make an easy sweet filling. When you bite through the crunchy walnut coating and soft French toast, you get that creamy cheesecake center. It’s a fun upgrade from traditional French toast without requiring a complicated filling.
• You get crunch on the outside and softness inside. Instead of a plain egg coating, these homemade French toast sticks are rolled in finely chopped walnuts before cooking. The walnuts toast as the French toast cooks in butter, creating a golden, crunchy exterior. Inside, the bread stays soft with that creamy maple vanilla filling.
• They’re made for dipping. Cutting stuffed French toast into sticks isn’t just cute. The shape is perfect for dipping into warm maple syrup, caramel sauce, or your favorite breakfast syrup. Kids and adults can pick them up and dip away, which also makes them a fun addition to a brunch buffet.
• You can use your favorite bread. White, Italian, French, brioche, challah, or cinnamon raisin bread can all work, although the size of your bread will affect the final number of sticks. A good-quality day-old bread is especially helpful because it tends to hold up better to the filling and egg mixture.
• There are SO many ways to customize them. Add orange zest to the cheesecake filling, serve the sticks with strawberries or bananas, or experiment with another flavored syrup or liqueur. You can also use the basic stuffed French toast idea as inspiration for blueberry, apple, pumpkin, pecan, or cinnamon variations.

Equipment You May Need

• Large Mixing Bowl – Use this for mixing the cream cheese, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and chopped walnuts into the cheesecake filling.
• Whisk – Helpful for making the cream cheese mixture smooth and whisking together the eggs, milk, and salt.
• Two Large Shallow Bowls – One holds the egg mixture and the other holds the finely chopped walnuts. Pie plates work really well because they’re wide enough for dipping the French toast sticks.
• Large Skillet or Griddle – Gives you plenty of room to cook several stuffed French toast sticks at once.
• Sharp Knife – You’ll need it to remove the bread crusts if desired and cut each stuffed sandwich into sticks.
• Cutting Board – Provides a sturdy surface for assembling and slicing the stuffed French toast sandwiches.
• Large Baking Sheet – Gives you a place to hold the walnut-coated French toast sticks before they go onto the griddle.
• Silicone Baking Mat – Optional, but handy for lining a baking sheet while you prepare all the sticks.

Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks Ingredients

For the Cheesecake Filling

• Cream Cheese – Four ounces of softened cream cheese create the creamy cheesecake filling. Regular or low-fat cream cheese can work, but make sure it’s softened to room temperature so the filling isn’t lumpy.
• Maple Syrup – Sweetens the cream cheese while adding classic maple breakfast flavor.
• Vanilla Extract – Adds warm vanilla flavor to the cheesecake filling.
• Salt – Just 1/8 teaspoon helps balance the sweetness.
• Walnuts – Chopped walnuts go directly into the cream cheese filling for nutty flavor and texture. You can toast them first if you have extra time, but you don’t have to.

For the French Toast

• Eggs – Four large eggs form the base of the French toast custard.
• Milk – Combines with the eggs to coat the stuffed bread.
• Salt – A small amount seasons the egg mixture.
• Walnuts – Two cups of finely chopped walnuts create the crunchy coating on the outside of the French toast sticks.
• Bread – You’ll need 10 slices. The crust can be removed if desired. White, Italian, French, brioche, challah, or cinnamon raisin bread are all possibilities, but the size and thickness of the bread can affect the yield and cooking time.
• Butter – Used for cooking the French toast sticks and helping the walnut coating become golden brown and crispy.

How to Store Walnuts

If you buy walnuts in larger quantities, keeping them cold helps maintain their fresh flavor. After opening the package, transfer the walnuts to an airtight container.

If you’re planning to use them fairly soon, store them in the refrigerator. For longer storage, keep them in the freezer.

This is especially handy if you bake or cook with walnuts regularly. I like having walnuts around for cookies, salads, snacks, and recipes like this one. Cold is good!

How to Make Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks

Step One: Make the Walnut Cheesecake Filling
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese, maple syrup, vanilla, and 1/8 teaspoon salt until well combined. Stir in the 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts. Set aside.

Step Two: Make the Egg Mixture
In a large shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and 1/8 teaspoon salt until well combined. Set aside.

Step Three: Prepare the Walnut Coating
Place 2 cups finely chopped walnuts into a large shallow bowl.

Step Four: Stuff and Cut the Bread
Spread the cream cheese filling on half of the bread slices, then top with the remaining bread slices to make stuffed French toast sandwiches. Cut into long sticks, about 3 sticks per sandwich, to make 15 sticks.

Step Five: Coat the French Toast Sticks
Dip each French toast stick into the egg mixture on all sides, then roll it in the finely chopped walnuts. Place the coated sticks on a large plate or lined baking sheet.

Step Six: Cook Until Golden Brown
Place about 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and the pan is hot, cook the French toast sticks about 2-4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Cook in batches as necessary.

(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)

Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Variations

Once you have the basic stuffed French toast method down, there are lots of ways to use it as inspiration.

Cinnamon French Toast Sticks: Use cinnamon raisin bread or experiment with a little cinnamon in the egg mixture or filling.

Banana Cheesecake French Toast: Add thin banana slices to the cream cheese filling for a banana cheesecake-inspired variation.

Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast: Serve with fresh strawberries or add finely chopped strawberries to inspire a strawberry cheesecake version.

Blueberry Cheesecake French Toast: Fresh blueberries are another natural match for cream cheese and maple.

Apple French Toast: Serve with sautéed cinnamon apples or apple compote for a fall-inspired breakfast.

Pumpkin French Toast: Pumpkin and warm spices could turn the basic stuffed French toast concept into a fall brunch recipe.

Pecan French Toast: Pecans can inspire a different nutty variation in place of the walnuts.

Orange Cheesecake French Toast: Add a little fresh orange zest to the filling. The citrus cuts through the rich cream cheese and adds fresh flavor.

Caramel French Toast: Serve the finished sticks with warm caramel sauce instead of maple syrup for a dessert-like brunch.

Serving Suggestions

• With Warm Maple Syrup: Put a small bowl of syrup on each plate and let everyone dip the French toast sticks.
• With Strawberries: Fresh strawberries add color and a sweet-tart contrast to the rich cheesecake filling.
• With Bananas: Sliced bananas and walnuts are always a tasty combination.
• With Blueberries: Sprinkle fresh blueberries around the plate for an easy brunch presentation.
• With Caramel: Drizzle caramel sauce over the top or serve it on the side for dipping.
• With Bacon: Add crispy bacon for that sweet and salty breakfast combination.
• With Powdered Sugar: A light dusting gives the finished French toast a pretty bakery-style look.
• For Mother’s Day: Serve with fresh berries, coffee, and a few other easy brunch dishes for a special breakfast.
• For a Brunch Buffet: Keep the sticks whole and arrange them on a platter with several dipping sauces and fruit.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Soften the cream cheese first. Room-temperature cream cheese blends more smoothly with the maple syrup and vanilla.
• Use day-old bread if possible. Slightly firmer bread is easier to stuff, dip, coat, and cook without falling apart.
• Try brioche or challah for a richer French toast. Both are sturdy enough for stuffing and have great flavor.
• Remove the crust if you’d like. It’s optional and mostly comes down to your preferred texture and appearance.
• Finely chop the coating walnuts. Small pieces stick to the egg-coated bread much better than large chunks.
• Chop the filling walnuts however you like. The walnuts inside can be finer or coarser depending on how much texture you want.
• Toast the filling walnuts if you have time. It’s optional, but toasting can deepen their flavor.
• Don’t overfill the sandwiches. Too much cream cheese filling can squeeze out while you’re cutting, dipping, or cooking.
• Use a shallow bowl for dipping. A pie plate works particularly well.
• Coat every side in egg. This helps the walnut coating adhere and gives the bread an even French toast texture.
• Keep the heat at medium. High heat can burn the walnuts before the center is heated.
• Add more butter between batches as needed. The recipe uses 1-3 tablespoons total depending on the size of your pan and number of batches.
• Watch the walnuts carefully. Nuts can go from beautifully toasted to burnt quickly.
• Serve warm. The contrast between the warm cheesecake center and crunchy exterior is best right after cooking.
• Add orange zest for an easy flavor boost. It works really well with maple, vanilla, and walnuts.

Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks FAQ

How should I store Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks?
Store leftover French toast sticks in a covered container in the refrigerator because they contain a cream cheese filling. For the best texture, let them cool before storing so excess steam doesn’t make the walnut coating unnecessarily soft.

Can I freeze Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks?
You can try freezing cooked French toast sticks once they’re completely cool. Arrange them so they don’t stick together, then transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container. Keep in mind that the walnut coating may not be quite as crisp after freezing and reheating.

How long will Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks last?
They’re best freshly cooked when the exterior is warm and crispy. Store leftovers promptly in the refrigerator and use normal food-safety guidelines for cooked egg and cream cheese dishes.

Substitutions?
You can use any kind or size of bread, although your yield may vary. White, Italian, French, brioche, challah, or cinnamon raisin bread are all possibilities. You can also leave the crust on if you prefer.

Can I use low-fat ingredients?
Regular or low-fat cream cheese can be used. Make sure either one is fully softened before mixing so your cheesecake filling is smooth rather than lumpy.

What else can I add to this recipe?
You can add fresh orange zest or flavored liqueur in the filling. You could also serve the finished sticks with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, caramel, cinnamon apples, or other fruit. For a sweet and salty breakfast, add bacon on the side.

Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Always check individual ingredient brands if you’re following a specific diet or have dietary restrictions or allergies.

Vegan – This would be a tough recipe to make vegan and would require a lot of substitutes.

Vegetarian – The recipe is vegetarian as written.

Low-Carb – You can try a low-carb bread and sugar substitute for a little less carbs.

Gluten-Free – You can try a gluten-free bread.

Other Recipes You May Enjoy

• Banana Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts – Another tasty way to use walnuts with banana and chocolate.
• Cannoli French Toast – All the delicious flavors of the Italian pastry with a homemade cannoli bread.
• Mushroom Herb Stuffed French Toast -A savory twist to French Toast.
• Overnight Ice Cream French Toast – Use your favorite ice cream flavor for this fun treat.
• Cannoli Overnight French Toast Casserole – Great make-ahead breakfast or brunch dish!

Hope you enjoy these Walnut Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Sticks!