Make-ahead One-dish Blackberry French Toast

Total Time: 25 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 cup blackberry jam
• 1 (12 ounce) french bread, loaf cut into 1-1/2 in cubes
• 1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese (i like 1/3-less fat)
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• maple syrup
• whipped cream

Recipe

• 1 cook jam in a small saucepan over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes or until it is melted and smooth, stirring once.
• 2 place half of the bread cubes in the bottom of a lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish.
• 3 top with cream cheese cubes, and drizzle with melted jam.
• 4 top with remaining bread cubes.
• 5 whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients. pour over bread in the baking dish.
• 6 sprinkle the casserole with brown sugar.
• 7 chill for 8 to 24 hours.
• 8 the next morning, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• 9 bake covered for 20 minutes. uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes more or until bread is golden brown and mixture is set. serve with desired toppings.