Cinnamon-Raisin Overnight French Toast

Filling:

2 Tbsp butter

5 golden delicious apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

¼ cup packed light brown sugar

3 Tbsp apple juice

French Toast:

1 loaf sliced cinnamon-raisin bread

3 cups whole milk

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground cinnamon

10 large eggs

1 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp sugar

Melt butter over medium heat. Add apples and sugar, cook 20 minutes until apples are deep golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in apple juice and cook 1 minute longer.

Grease shallow ceramic casserole glass baking dish. Arrange half of bread slices, overlapping slightly, in casserole.

Whisk milk, salt, cinnamon and eggs until well mixed. Pour half of egg mixture over bread in casserole. Spread ¾ of apple filling over bread in even layer. Arrange remaining bread slices over apple layer. Pour remaining egg mixture over bread, pressing bread down with spatula so it absorbs maximum amount of egg mixture. Dot bread with butter, sprinkle with sugar. Cover casserole and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Uncover casserole and bake 50 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean. Reheat remaining ¼ apple filling in microwave and spoon on top of French toast to serve.

E-mail:  Paula Duchesne