Cherry Valentines

'French Toast' by Donna Kelly

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  cup heavy cream, whipped
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 8  ounces  whipped cream cheese
• 1  cup milk
• 3  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon  almond extract
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
•  red food coloring, a few drops if desired
• 8  slices  day-old firm  white bread

• Chunky Cherry Syrup

• 1 (14 ounce) can sour pitted cherries, drained and diced
• 1  cup corn syrup
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
•  red food coloring (optional)

Directions

1. Using a hand mixer, mix the whipped cream, sugar, vanilla, and cream cheese together in a bowl; chill.
2. In a pie plate or other shallow pan, whisk together the milk, eggs, almond extract, and salt.
3. Add a few drops of red food coloring to make mixture pink, if desired.
4. Cut bread slices into large heart shapes with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.
5. Soak bread slices in egg mixture for 10 seconds on each side.
6. Heat a frying pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray over medium heat.
7. Cover and cook soaked bread in pan 2-3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned.
8. Let each slice cool to room temperature.
9. Place 1/4 of the chilled cream filling between two French toast slices.
10. Ladle generously with Chunky Cherry Syrup and serve sprinkled with powdered sugar as a garnish.
11. Make Cherry Syrup: add cherries to a saucepan; add in corn syrup and sugar.
12. Bring to a full rolling boil.
13. Decrease heat and let simmer 25-30 minutes, or until thickened.
14. Turn off heat and add a few drops of red food coloring, if desired.
15. Let cool to warm and serve; may store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.