Baked Cherry French Toast

Every time I leave the house, I pass by cherry stands. These stands are basically a card table covered with cherry baskets, but the fruit is fresh and sweet and juicy. Cherries. Yum. 

One year, Mom lived in a place with 3 cherry trees. Sarah, my daughter, and I would sit down to eat a mixing bowl full while we watched TV in the evening.  We were so spoiled.  I developed a real hunger for fresh cherries that Spring/Summer and I’ve never been able to get my fill since, as they are pretty pricey in the grocery store. 

Here’s a recipe, from the White Lace Inn, in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, that uses frozen cherries, a more economical choice, but if you’ve got access to fresh, use them.

Baked Cherry French Toast
Ingredients:
1 loaf of white bread
1/2 loaf of French bread
4 c. of frozen Door County cherries (rinsed
and drained)
7 eggs
1 1/2 c. of milk
1 1/2 c. of half & half
2 teas. vanilla extract
1/2 teas. nutmeg
1/2 teas. cinnamon
1/2 c. of sugar

Topping:
1/2 c. butter, soft or melted
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tab. dark corn syrup
1 cup chopped walnut
  
Directions:

Directions:
Cut the loaf of white bread into cubes. Place the cubes into a greased 9×13 pan. Spread the cherries over the bread. Cut ten 1 inch slices of French bread, place the slices over the cherries. Beat the eggs well, add the milk, cream, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and beat again. Pour the egg and milk mixture over the French bread slices. Melt the butter, then add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and walnuts. Spread this topping on the bread. cover and refrigerate overnight. Preheat the oven to 350°. Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes. Can cover with tinfoil for the last 15 minutes to keep it from getting too brown. Let set for about 10 minutes before slicing into 10 servings. Enjoy.

Image credit: All Posters.com

Recipe credit: White Lace Inn and Bnbfinder.com