Lorilyn's Baked Strawberry French Toast

**Tinkerbell**'s Note:

A culmination of several recipes over the years, this is another delicious breakfast that is made the night before; sparing the chef from getting up early or messing up the kitchen first thing. Serving size is listed as 6-8, but I serve with bacon or sausage & possibly scrambled eggs so we usually get 10 servings out of it. Can also be halved & made in a 9x9 brownie pan to serve a family of 3-4.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 loaf bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (buttermilk or potato recommended)
• 4 cups strawberries, quartered (fresh or frozen)
• 1 (4 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 7 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup half-and-half cream
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 loaf French bread, sliced into 1-inch thick slices
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 1 cup pecans, chopped

Directions:

1. Spray a 13x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Sprinkle bread cubes over bottom of dish.
3. Sprinkle berries over bread cubes.
4. Sprinkle cream cheese over berries.
5. In large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half & half, almond extract, nutmeg & cinnamon.
6. Arrange French bread slices over the surface of the berries & cream cheese, creating a flat surface of bread rounds & getting in as many as possible without them popping up.
7. Pour egg & milk mixture over French bread slices.
8. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, corn syrup & pecans & spread over french bread slices.
9. Cover tightly & refrigerate overnight.
10. Remove from refrigerator & let stand 20-30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°.
11. Bake uncovered 50-60 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before slicing.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

With 3 houseguests for several days this recipe was a real saver & A GREAT BREAKFAST TREAT for all of us! I did use frozen berries, but definitely want to make this again when strawberries are in season around here! I used a potato bread base for this dish & it all came together so nicely ~ AN ABSOLUTELY GREAT TASTING FRENCH TOAST DISH! Thanks, much, for sharing the recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed as a thank you for one of the great hosts during the current round of PAC]