Strawberry Toast

The recipe uses simple ingredients but calls for roasting fresh strawberries with lemon juice.  Roasting softens the strawberries and concentrates the delightful strawberry flavor.  Enjoy the toast as a fun special breakfast, for brunch, or as an appetizer by using a sliced baguette.

For more recipes with strawberries, try dairy-free strawberry overnight oats, strawberry spinach avocado salad, or strawberry salad dressing.  For more breakfast toast recipes, try vegan toast ideas, avocado tomato on toast, or avocado toast ideas.

Recipe features

• An easy recipe that uses simple ingredients!
• Combines the tanginess and creaminess of cream cheese with sweet ripe strawberries and fresh bright lemon.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The recipe uses simple ingredients, but please see the recipe card below for a full list and the exact measurements. 

Dairy-free cream cheese - I use Miyoko’s (Plant Milk Cream Cheese - Classic plain).  As of writing this post, it is oil-free.  Companies change their recipe, so always check the ingredients of the dairy-free cream cheese if you need an oil-free option.

Lemon - Fresh lemons are best for strawberry toast.  Zest the lemon first before juicing it.  The lemon zest will be sprinkled on top of the roasted strawberries to add pops of lemon flavor.  Balsamic vinegar can also be used instead of fresh lemon juice.

Strawberries - Wash and pat dry your fresh strawberries.  Hull the strawberries, removing the green tops.  Half the strawberries, and if you have any large ones, quarter them. For more recipes with strawberries, try strawberry chia pudding or strawberry blackberry smoothie.

Bread - I prefer sourdough, but I’m sure most types of bread or bagels will work fine.  Just make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold toppings.  Of course, slices of bread vary in size. If your slices are much larger than the loaves I tested, you may need fewer slices.

Tips

• Make sure the baking dish is rimmed, you don’t want to lose the liquid that the strawberries release.
• I only tested the strawberries in a glass baking dish, not a metal-rimmed sheet pan, so I can’t say for sure if the strawberries will stick.  If you use a metal tray, the time for the strawberries to roast will probably need to be altered. 

How to hull strawberries

Using a small sharp knife at an angle, cut around the green leafy top of a strawberry while cutting into the white flesh underneath.  Remove the cone and discard.

How to roast strawberries

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

2. Wash and hull the strawberries, slice them in half, and quarter larger ones.

3. Add the strawberries to a glass baking dish and toss them with lemon juice.

4. Roast the strawberries for 12-18 minutes or until they have softened and released some liquid.  The time needed to roast the strawberries will vary depending on what pan you use and how soft you want your berries.

5. When the strawberries are done, toss them in any liquid released and let them cool.

Strawberry toast variations

• Use a sliced baguette and use the recipe as an appetizer.
• Instead of roasting the strawberries, hull them and slice them thinly before adding them to the toast, then sprinkle on a little lemon zest.  Roasted strawberries reduce in volume so if use fresh ones you won't need so many.
• Instead of cream cheese and roasted strawberries, try almond butter or hazelnut butter, thinly sliced fresh strawberries, and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
• If roasted strawberries are not sweet enough for you, feel free to add a sprinkle of sugar or maple syrup with lemon juice to roast them.

Storage

The strawberries can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.  The toast with cream cheese shouldn’t be made in advance, it’s best served immediately.

Related recipes

• Strawberry blackberry smoothie
• Strawberry dressing
• Strawberry avocado salad

I hope you enjoy the recipe!  If you did feel free to rate it and leave a comment.