Overnight Apple French Toast Strata

By jeaninemg

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (about 3 medium apples)
• 5 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 10 pieces of whole-grain bread (gluten-free can be used), cut into small cubes
• 3/4 cup sliced almonds, divided
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg
• Pinch of salt

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 10mins
Cooking time 40mins
Adapted from cooking.com

Preparation

Step 1

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar to pan; saute 8 minutes or until apple is tender and lightly browned. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes.

Coat a 10" springform pan or 11x17" glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange half of bread in dish. Top with apple mixture; top with 1/4 C almonds. Arrange remaining bread over almonds.

Combine the eggs, remaining 4 T. granulated sugar, milk, half-and-half, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Pour milk mixture over bread, pressing down to submerge. Cover and chill for 4 hours, up to overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Uncover dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 C almonds evenly over bread. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 30 minutes, until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cut pieces and plate, then drizzle with maple syrup.

Tip: Pears can be used instead of apples if you have them on hand.