CHRISTMAS FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

This French Toast recipe is one of my favorites.   It is SO easy and ideal to serve Christmas morning!  This is definitely an alternative to traditional french toast, as it is baked instead of pan-seared.  As a result, it's as easy as a casserole and still tastes like traditional french toast, the best of both worlds!  I prepare it on Christmas Eve and refrigerate overnight so when I wake up Christmas Day all I have to do is pop it in the oven.  The cinnamon, vanilla, fruit and sugar fill the house with sweet smells of Christmas while we are opening our gifts.  The best part is when the gift unwrapping is finished, I pull it piping hot out of the oven and we are ready to eat!

                                                            INGREDIENTS

                                                            1/2  Cup Butter
                                                     1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
                                                       4 Tablespoons Sugar
                                               5 Teaspoons Cinnamon (Ground)
                                                     3 Apples (Granny Smith)
                                                  1/2 Cup Cranberries (Dried)
                                                        1 Loaf French Bread
                                                  1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
                                                           1 1/2 Cups Milk
                                                            6 Eggs (Large)

Makes 6-8 servings

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1:  Melt 1/2 Cup Butter.  In a 13 x 9 inch baking dish, mix melted butter with 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar and 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon. 

STEP 2:  Peel, core and slice 2 Apples (Granny Smith).  Add sliced apples and 1/2 Cup Cranberries to mixture in baking dish stirring well.  Then evenly distribute mixture over bottom of baking dish.

STEP 3:  Cut French Bread into 1 inch slices and place evenly on top of mixture in baking dish. 

STEP 4:  Stir together, 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract, 1 1/2 Cups Milk, 6 Eggs and 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon.  Pour mixture on top of bread.  Once top of bread is soaked with mixture,  turn each slice of bread over so both sides will be soaked with mixture. 

STEP 5:  Cover and refrigerate 4-24 hours.

STEP 6:  Right before placing in oven to bake mix together 4 Tablespoons Sugar and 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon and sprinkle on top of bread.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS:  Preheat oven at 375 degrees.  Bake 40 minutes covered with aluminum foil.  Then remove aluminum foil and bake an additional 5 minutes. Total baking time is 45 minutes.

SERVE WITH FAVORITE TOPPINGS - Powdered Sugar, Syrup, Fruit, Whipped Cream

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                                                              ~ Debbie ~