Upside-Down Orange French Toast

By kddozier

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 12 slices French bread (3/4 inch thick)
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 8 eggs
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring

Preparation

Step 1

Place butter in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine the sugar, pecans, orange peel and cinnamon; sprinkle over butter. Arrange bread in dish. Dot with cream cheese. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, orange juice, orange liqueur if desired and butter flavoring; pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. To serve, invert slices onto plates. Yield: 6 servings.