Apple Strudel French Toast

By cooksalot

Ingredients

• Topping:
• 9-12 thick slices day-old, white bread
• 4 eggs
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pats and chilled
• 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 6 fuji/gala/granny smith apples, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preparation

Step 1

[When ready, preheat oven to 350º F.]
Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
Start by prepping topping ingredients: melt butter in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat and stir in brown sugar.
Add chopped apples to skillet, and season with cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until softened and tender.
In a separate bowl, whisk cornstarch into 2 tablespoons warm water until smooth and combined. Pour slurry into apple mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until thickened.
For the french toast ingredients: combine brown sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl, and mix well.
Cut bread slices into strips that fit your loaf pan or baking dish and lay down a layer of bread strips inside pan.
Sprinkle 1/3 of brown sugar mixture over the layer of bread, then add a layer of butter pats over the sugar, using 1/3 third of the butter. Pour 1/4 apple mixture over the butter.
Repeat with another 2 layers of bread, sugar, butter and apples. Press down on bread with your hand to make sure it’s compacted.
In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, heavy cream, vanilla, remaining cinnamon, and allspice.
Pour batter slowly over the loaf, making sure to allow time for the bread to absorb all the liquid. Pay attention to the corners of the pan.
Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-4 hours, or overnight.
Remove plastic wrap, cover pan with aluminum foil, and bake (on a rimmed baking sheet) for 40 minutes.
Uncover and top with remaining apple mixture (optional), then return to oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes.
Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes, then slice, serve and enjoy!