Baked French Toast with Cherry Topping
1-1/2 cups milk
6 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 slices French bread (4-1/2x3-1/2x1/2-inch)
4 cups pitted fresh sweet cherries, halved
1/2 cup orange juice
Vanilla yogurt
Combine milk, eggs, maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, orange peel and
salt. Pour half of the mixture into each of two 9-inch square baking dishes. Dip
both sides of each slice of bread in milk mixture. Arrange in the same baking
dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Marinate halved cherries in orange juice and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar
overnight in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature for best flavor next
day, an hour before serving.
About a half-hour before ready to serve, preheat oven to 400 degrees, rack set
in center. Carefully transfer the soaked French bread slices to a nonstick,
buttered baking sheet using a large spatula. Allow excess liquid to drip into
pan used for soaking. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 15-18 minutes.
Turn slices over halfway through baking time. Top each slice with 1/2 cup of the
orange-marinated cherries and a dollop of vanilla yogurt.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings |