HOLIDAY MORNING FRENCH TOAST

If you love the overnight baked french toast recipes, this is a great one from Auntie Fran. It's got apples and craisins and it's so delicious!

8/3/06

FRAN GIRARDI


INGREDIENTS:

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup butter, melted

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 tart apples (e.g., Granny Smith), peeled, cored and thinly sliced

½ cup dried cranberries (craisins) or raisins

1 loaf Italian or French bread, cut into 1” slices

6 large eggs

1 ½ cup milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine brown sugar, butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a large bowl. Add apples and dried cranberries (craisins) or raisins; toss to coat well. Spray a 9” x 13” baking dish with non-stick spray (e.g., Pam). Spread apple mixture evenly over bottom of the baking dish. Arrange slices of bread on top.

2. Mix eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining 2 teaspoons of cinnamon until well blended. (This can be done with a wire whisk.) Pour mixture over bread, soaking bread completely. Cover and refrigerate 4 – 24 hours.

3. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 375 oven for 40 minutes. Then uncover and bake another 5 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Serve warm.