Melted chocolate and roasted cherries tucked between two slices of perfectly golden French toast.
French toast is already a breakfast favorite, but turning it into a sandwich takes it to a whole new level. Instead of serving one slice with toppings, this recipe layers rich dark chocolate and sweet roasted cherries between two thick slices of brioche French toast. The result is crisp and buttery on the outside, soft in the middle, and filled with warm, melty chocolate and juicy cherries.
This chocolate and cherry French toast sandwich is ideal for a special breakfast, weekend brunch, or a sweet treat when you want something indulgent without making the method complicated. The cherries roast in maple syrup until sticky and syrupy, while the chocolate melts quickly inside the hot French toast. It is simple, satisfying, and full of flavor.
Roasted Cherries
Cherries are naturally sweet and slightly tart, which makes them perfect for this French toast sandwich. Roasting them deepens their flavor and helps draw out their juices. As they bake, the cherries soften and release a glossy syrup that works beautifully with the buttery brioche and melted chocolate.
For this recipe, the cherries are tossed with a little maple syrup before roasting. The maple syrup complements the French toast and helps create a rich, sticky sauce. You do not want the cherries to dry out completely; they should be slightly wilted but still juicy and plump.
How to Pit Cherries
The only slightly time-consuming part of preparing cherries is removing the stones. You can use a cherry pitter if you have one, but a metal straw or a thin pastry tip also works well. Push through the center of each cherry to remove the stone. Ripe cherries are usually easier to pit, so choose fruit that is sweet, fresh, and ready to eat.
How to Roast Cherries
Once the cherries are pitted, halve them and place them in a small baking dish. Toss them with maple syrup, then roast until they soften and the juices become syrupy. Keep an eye on them near the end of cooking, as syrup can catch quickly if the oven is too hot. If needed, slightly reduce the heat and continue roasting until the cherries are sticky and glossy.
Dark Chocolate
Chocolate and cherries are a classic pairing, and they work especially well inside warm French toast. Because the roasted cherries and maple syrup bring plenty of sweetness, dark chocolate is the best choice for balance. A 70% dark chocolate gives the sandwich a rich flavor without making it overly sweet.
If you prefer a sweeter filling, you can use milk chocolate or white chocolate, but the final sandwich will be much richer and sweeter. For the best texture, break the chocolate into small pieces before adding it to the sandwich. Smaller shards melt more evenly and prevent a thick, solid block of chocolate from sitting in the middle.
You can chop the chocolate with a knife, or place it in a zip-lock bag and gently break it into shards with a rolling pin. Either method works, as long as the pieces are small enough to melt quickly once they touch the hot French toast.
Process shots: place the chocolate in a zip-lock bag, seal it, then break it into small shards.
Preparing French Toast
Brioche is the best bread for this sweet French toast sandwich. It has a soft, fluffy texture and a gentle sweetness that works perfectly with cherries and chocolate. Thick slices are important because they help the sandwich stay sturdy while cooking. Slices around 1 inch thick are ideal.
Slightly stale brioche is even better than very fresh bread because it absorbs the egg mixture without falling apart too easily. If your brioche is fresh, you can lightly dry it in the oven for a few minutes before using it.
To make the French toast mixture, you will need:
- Whole milk – Whole milk gives the mixture a fuller flavor and better texture than lower-fat milk.
- Eggs – Two large eggs are enough to coat the brioche slices.
- Vanilla and cinnamon – These add warmth and sweetness to the French toast and pair well with the chocolate cherry filling.
Can I Use Cream Instead of Milk?
Cream can make French toast too rich and slightly greasy because of its higher fat content. Whole milk gives the best balance of flavor, texture, and richness for this recipe.
Process shots: slice the brioche, whisk the milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon, then dip the brioche into the mixture.
French Toast Sandwiches
Making the sandwich is similar to making a grilled cheese, but both sides of the brioche are dipped in the egg mixture and cooked until golden. The key is to work fairly quickly, because French toast cooks fast and the chocolate melts almost immediately once it is added.
Cook the sandwiches in batches so there is enough space in the pan to flip them carefully. Start by frying two dipped slices of brioche in butter. Once the first side is golden, flip one slice, add the chocolate and roasted cherries, then place the second slice on top with the uncooked side facing upward. Continue cooking until both sides are golden and the filling is warm and melted.
Process shots: add dipped brioche to melted butter, flip one slice, add chocolate, add cherries, top with the second slice, then flip the sandwich.
Serving French Toast Sandwiches
Serve these chocolate and cherry French toast sandwiches while they are hot, so the chocolate is still melted and the cherries are warm and syrupy. Slice each sandwich in half and dust with powdered sugar or icing sugar for a simple finishing touch.
They are rich enough to serve on their own for breakfast or brunch, but they also work well with fresh fruit on the side if you want to balance the sweetness.
Now let’s get into the full recipe for these chocolate and cherry French toast sandwiches.
How to Make French Toast Sandwiches (Full Recipe)
Chocolate & Cherry French Toast Sandwiches
Equipment
- Pastry tip, metal straw, or cherry pitter for pitting cherries
- Small baking dish for roasting cherries
- Large shallow dish and whisk for preparing the French toast mixture
- Large non-stick pan and spatula for cooking
- Zip-lock bag and rolling pin for breaking the chocolate, optional
- Sharp knife and chopping board
Ingredients
- 6 thick slices of brioche, sliced around 1 inch thick
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup / 120ml whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2lb / 250g fresh cherries, stems removed
- 3.5oz / 100g dark chocolate, preferably 70%
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Powdered sugar or icing sugar, to serve, optional
Instructions
- Roast the cherries: Pit the cherries, halve them, and place them in a small baking dish with the maple syrup. Toss to coat. Roast at 190C/375F for about 25 minutes, or until the cherries are sticky, slightly wilted, and still juicy. Watch closely near the end, as the syrup can burn quickly.
- Prepare the chocolate: Place the chocolate in a zip-lock bag and gently pound it with a rolling pin until it breaks into small shards. You can also chop it with a knife.
- Make the French toast mixture: In a large shallow dish, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Cook the sandwiches: Dip both sides of one slice of brioche into the egg mixture and place it in the pan. Repeat with a second slice. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden, then flip one slice. Add chocolate and roasted cherries, then place the second slice on top with the uncooked side facing upward. Cook until the bottom is golden, then carefully flip and cook the other side until golden and the chocolate is melted. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches, adding more butter between batches.
- Serve: Dust with powdered sugar or icing sugar, slice in half, and serve immediately.
Notes
a) Brioche: Brioche is the best choice for this sweet French toast sandwich because it is soft, rich, and slightly sweet. Slightly stale brioche is easier to work with because it holds its shape better after dipping. If your bread is fresh, lightly dry it in the oven for 4 to 5 minutes at 180C/350F, just until it begins to firm up.
b) Chocolate: Dark chocolate balances the sweetness of the roasted cherries. A 70% dark chocolate works especially well, but milk chocolate or white chocolate can be used if you prefer a sweeter sandwich.
c) Timing: The sandwiches cook quickly, so have the chocolate and cherries ready before you start frying. The chocolate melts fast once it touches the warm French toast, so focus on getting both sides evenly golden.
d) Calories: Nutrition is estimated per sandwich.
Nutrition:
For more similar recipes, try these sweet sandwich ideas:
Sweet Sandwiches
- Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Raspberry White Chocolate Sandwiches
- Nutella Peanut Butter Sandwiches
- Cheesecake Sandwiches
- More Sweet Sandwiches
If you loved this French toast sandwich recipe, save it for later and make it again for your next breakfast or brunch.