Lorilyn's Baked Strawberry French Toast

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation 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
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 16 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed and quartered
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine

Recipe

• 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. pour egg & milk mixture over french bread slices.
• 7 mix melted butter, brown sugar, corn syrup & pecans and spread over french bread slices. cover tightly & refrigerate overnight.
• 8 remove from refrigerator & let stand 20-30 minutes before baking. preheat oven to 350°. bake uncovered 50-60 minutes. let sit 10 minutes before slicing.
• 9 for syrup (can be made fresh or in advance, refrigerated, and reheated for serving):.
• 10 in a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; add water.
• 11 bring to boil over medium heat and boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
• 12 stir in strawberries and reduce heat. simmer for 8-10 minutes or until thickened. stir in butter and serve over french toast.