Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with strawberry Topping

By á-3974

Ingredients

• FRENCH TOAST BAKE
• 1 (16-oz.) loaf French bread
• (about 18 inches long), cut into
• 24 (3/4-inch-thick) slices
• 1 (8-oz.) container cream cheese
• with pineapple
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• TOPPING
• 1 quart (4 cups) fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons amaretto, if desired

Preparation

Step 1

1. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking
dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread
about 1 tablespoon cream cheese on 12 bread
slices. Top with remaining bread slices to form
12 sandwiches. Place sandwiches In sprayed
baking dish to cover bottom.
2. Beat eggs in medium bowl. Add milk, 1 1/4 cup
sugar, salt and cinnamon; beat well. Pour over
bread in baking dish. Let stand at room temper-
ature for 5 minutes. Turn bread slices over.
Cover; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
3. Chop 1 cup of the strawberries. (Refrigerate
remaining berries.) In nonmetal bowl, combine
chopped strawberries, 1/2 cup sugar and
amaretto; stir gently to mix. Cover; refrigerate
8 hours or overnight.
4. To serve, heat oven to 400°F. Uncover
baking dish; drizzle bread slices with melted
butter. Bake at 400°F. for 25 to 30 minutes or
until golden brown.
5. Meanwhile, slice remaining strawberries and
add to chilled strawberry.mixture.mix.Lightly :
Serve French toast with strawberry topping.