Name: Cranberry Cream Cheese French Toast
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 12 cups cubed French bread (about 12 ounces); 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, cubed; 1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce; 12 large eggs, lightly beaten; 2 cups 2% milk; 1/3 cup maple syrup; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; Dash ground nutmeg; Additional maple syrup, optional

My friend makes this French toast bake with blueberries, but I make mine with cranberry sauce. Either way, it’s divine. It makes a great brunch dish for Christmas morning. —Sandie Heindel, Liberty, Missouri

Ingredients

12 cups cubed French bread (about 12 ounces)

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, cubed

1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce

12 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups 2% milk

1/3 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Dash ground nutmeg

Additional maple syrup, optional

Instructions

1 Arrange half the bread in a single layer in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; top with cream cheese and spoonfuls of cranberry sauce. Top with remaining bread.

2 In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, 1/3 cup syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg until blended. Pour over casserole. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.

3 Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. If desired, serve with additional maple syrup.