| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 day 1 hr 40 min |
| Prep: | 20 min |
| Inactive: | 1 day |
| Cook: | 1 hr 20 min |
| Yield: | 6 to 8 servings |
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 day 1 hr 40 min |
| Prep: | 20 min |
| Inactive: | 1 day |
| Cook: | 1 hr 20 min |
| Yield: | 6 to 8 servings |
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (about 1/2 cup)
- 4 ounces ricotta cheese, room temperature (about 1/2 cup)
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and drained (about 10 ounces)
- 1/2 cup honey, warmed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 (12 to 16-inch) ciabatta loaf, crust removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
Instructions
- Place the cheeses in a large bowl and stir together with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing until completely incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the milk, strawberries, honey, cinnamon, and bread. Pour into an 8 by 10 by 2-inch casserole dish. If freezing, cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1 day and up to 1 month.
- To bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove the foil and continue baking for 30 to 35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 8 servings |
| Calories | 361 |
| Total Fat | 14 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 23 g |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Cholesterol | 190 mg |
| Sodium | 400 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 8 servings |
| Calories | 361 |
| Total Fat | 14 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 23 g |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Cholesterol | 190 mg |
| Sodium | 400 mg |
Reviews
I was really dissapointed. However, I knew before I baked the dish that the reviews were not so good. I listened to everyone’s tips, I added 1 cup of heated honey, 3 cups sugared strawberries, 1 cup of milk, 4 medium eggs and I added a little bit of vanilla extract. I shop at walmart, I couldn’t find any ciabatta bread so I had to use French Bread. The mixture was a lot less liquidy than Giada’s recipe, yet the bread was still so soggy. I don’t know how to make the bread not soggy, if anyone can figure that out then the recipe would be really good. I heard reviews of it being really bland after adding extra ingredients in, I did not have that problem. I think it would turn out better if the bread was slightly cripsy throught the whole dish. I don’t know how much more I can eat, I think vanilla ice cream or cool-whip would be good topping to make it edible. It looked really good, but the taste is not so good.
I have made this several times and it has always come out to perfection. I plan on making again for Easter and my family and friends who have tasted this at my home before are VERY excited this is in the plan for one of the deserts. LOVE it!
When I saw it on the show I wanted a piece of it so bad that I went out shopping for the ingredients. It came out mushy, wet, weird sponge texture and not sweet. Thank goodness I saved the ciabata crust and was able to eat that with blueberry preserves n butter! The strata is not edible to me. Very disappointed. Please I want a reeimbursement. PS: usually my dishes do not come out like the recipes but always good enough to eat. This one, no way!
Loved it, we are a huge strawberry loving family. I have loved the result of all my Giada recipes. And some spinoffs I concocted based from her shows. @connieconsumer Giada is brilliant and quite educated. Not every recipe is for everyone but since you challenge her abilities you must be a culinary GOD – good for you.
Not worth the effort. Very disappointing. Ended up throwing most of it away.:-(
And the baking temp is not right. Increasing the heat to 400 degrees, after 25 or 30 minutes. The dish came out BURNT on top!
this really didnt tast good at all. it was like muddle strawberrys and lumpy bread no sweetness to it unless your pouring in sugar and your own spices.
Has Giada actually ever attended some sort of cooking school? How on earth you can bake a custard type of dish for as long as she has specified in this recipe is beyond me. Unfortunately, I did not read the reviews before completing this recipe, I relied on what I thought would be Giada’s expertise. I agree with most all the reviews – this recipe could use a little more sweetening and flavor. I added nutmeg to the recipe because I can’t image using ricotta in a dish without nutmeg. I dotted the strata with butter and sprinkled cinnamon sugar on top before the “final” baking. In addition, I agree with “mandi”, this recipe could use more strawberries and with “whsuechef” in that the baking time should be A LOT LESS. Probably 35-45 minutes covered at 350, then uncovered under the broiler for a minute or two of browning.
From every perspective, this was dreadful, You cannot bake a custard for this long without ruining it and ESPECIALLY not at 450! I don’t know what she was trying to do.
I luckaly read the comments before making the dish. I did soak the strawberries in sugar, I did add sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla to mixture, and I added cinnamon, sugar, and honey to the top of the dish. It still came out very bland. I mixed it and sprinkled with topping again. It still didn’t taste that great so I added butter on top and melted it, it came out a little better. I don’t think I will make this again, but if I did then I would change a couple of things like maybe a sweeter bread and some more spices. I think I would also add different kinds of berries, blueberries would be nice. It looked great, but taste needs a little more zing.