Fruit Pocket French Toast

By cheeserohan

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 chop chopped pecans, optional
• 1 loaf sliced bread
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 2 cups canned or fresh fruit, (any kind except melon or grapes)
• 8 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 stick butter, melted
• powdered sugar

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

If using canned fruit, dump it in a strainer.

Heat 1 stick of butter with the brown sugar and the maple syrup in a microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 2 1/2 minutes or in a pan on the stove, stirring constantly, until the butter is melted. Spray a 9 x 13-inch cake pan with cooking spray and pour the syrup mixture in the bottom. Sprinkle with the copped pecans, if you decide to use them.

Lay out 12 slices of bread to make fruit sandwiches.

Spread softened butter on one slice of bread. Top it with well-drained fruit cut in very thin slices. (Berries or pineapple can be crushed.)

Spread butter on a second slice of bread and use it to cover the bread with the fruit. Cut this fruit sandwich in half and place it in the pan on top of the syrup mixture. Make 5 more sandwiches, cut them in half and put them in the pan. You can crowd them a bit, but do not overlap the bread.

Press the sandwiches down with a flat metal spatula. Squish that bread!

Beat the eggs with the sugar and the cinnamon. Add the cream and the vanilla, mixing thoroughly. Pour this mixture over the bread in the pan.

Cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil and let it stand out on the counter for a minimum of 20 minutes. (You can also make this the night before and keep it in the refrigerator until it's time to bake it.)

Preheat oven to 350F. Rack in the center position.

Take off covering. Melt the third stick of butter. Drizzle it over the top of the sandwiches.

Bake the Fruit Pocket French Toast uncovered, for approximately 45 minutes, or until top has browned. Let the pan cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes.

Serve with powdered sugar.