French Toast Apple-Maple Brunch Strata

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

Perfect for a weekend brunch, you can chill 2 hours or up to 24 hours! Use either French or Italian if possible day-old bread (for easier slicing) for this. You can increase the apples to 3 if desired, roughly half a loaf of bread should be enough for this recipe!

• Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 medium apples , peeled and coarsely chopped
• ¾ cup raisins
• ½ cup finely chopped walnuts
• ¼-1⁄3; cup sugar (or to taste)
• ½-1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼-½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup sour cream , divided
• 6 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups half-and-half , 10% cream (or use full-fat milk)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 French bread (use only half a loaf, cut into 1/2-inch slices, NOT cubes!)

Directions:

1. Butter a 9-inch baking dish.
2. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add in apples and saute until just softened (about 3 minutes) remove from heat.
4. Stir in the raisins, walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/2 cup sour cream.
5. In a medium bowl beat eggs, half and half, maple syrup and remaining 1/2 cup sour cream.
6. Layer HALF of the sliced bread in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
7. Spread the apple/sour cream mixture over the bread slices, then top with remaining bread slices.
8. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the bread.
9. Cover and refrigerate from 2-24 hours.
10. Set oven to 325 degrees.
11. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until set and lightly browned.
12. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Reviews

[Recipe Reader]

This is a delicious breakfast. I chose this for my Christmas brunch menu and everyone loved it. It was easy to make the day before, and it took no effort in the morning. I followed the recipe exactly using the higher portions of ingredients. I did cut the slices into smaller pieces(not quite cubes) to fit into the shape of the pan and it was great.

[WI Cheesehead]

I made this last night for Christmas morning and I was glad to be able to make it ahead. Easy to make, light, yet filling. Left out the raisins, used 2 T margarine, light sour cream, 4 eggs and 1/4 C Egg Beaters. Sig. reduced the sat. fat to 7.5 grams, yet still tasted good. Used the whole french bread bcz it was thinner. Made it easy to portion off servings! Two slices were one serving. Will keep this for future Christmas mornings.