Berry Good French Toast Bake

The Inn at Lonesome Hollow near Soldiers’ Grove in Wisconsin is one of the most popular bed & breakfasts in the state. If you’re going to make a name for yourself in the B&B business, you’d better have a dynamite breakfast. And this twist on French toast certainly fits the bill. Oh, and this is another one that tastes better when you make it the night before. Serves 8.

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup flour

1½ cups milk

1 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

6 eggs

10 slices (1-inch-thick) French bread cut into 1-inch cubes

3 ounces cream cheese (1 small package) cut into ½-inch cubes

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries or raspberries

½ cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

1. Grease 9x13 baking pan. 

2. Place flour, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and eggs in large bowl, and beat with a hand mixer until smooth. 

3. Add bread cubes and stir until coated.

4. Pour bread mixture into pan. 

5. Top evenly with cream cheese, berries, and pecans. 

6. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.

7. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake bread mixture, uncovered, 30 minutes or until golden brown.

8. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Serve with maple syrup.

THANK YOU TO: The Inn at Lonesome Hollow Bed & Breakfast, (608) 624-3429, www.lonesomehollow.com.