Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast

Ingredients

• 12 slices home-style white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes, divided
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cold cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 12 large eggs
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• Sauce:
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Arrange half the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Evenly distribute cream cheese cubes over the bread cube layer; sprinkle 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries atop cream cheese layer. Layer the remaining bread cubes over strawberry layer.

Pour half-and-half into a blender; pulse for a few seconds. Blend eggs into half-and-half until fully incorporated. Add maple syrup and blend until smooth. Pour mixture evenly over bread mixture. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Remove baking dish from refrigerator 45 minutes before baking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Bake the covered casserole in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and continue baking until French toast is puffed and golden brown, about 30 more minutes.

Stir sugar, water, and cornstarch together in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until mixture has thickened, about 5 minutes. Mix 1 cup sliced strawberries into the sugar mixture; cook and stir until strawberries are softened, about 10 minutes. Add butter and stir sauce until butter is melted.