For Sunday Brunch: Apple Toffee French Toast with Apple Syrup

Apple Toffee French Toast with Apple Syrup

Servings: 8

French Toast:
8 cups French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
3 tart apples, peeled, chopped
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup Tree Top Apple Juice
¾ cup milk
2 tsp vanilla, divided
½ cup English toffee bits
5 eggs

Prep Day: Place half the bread cubes in a greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan; top with apples. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugars, Tree Top apple juice and 1 tsp vanilla until smooth; stir in toffee bits. Spread over apples. Top with remaining bread cubes. In another large bowl, beat the eggs, milk and vanilla until well blended; pour over bread. Cover with foil and freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

While baking French toast prepare syrup.

Apple Syrup:
1 cup sugar
2 TBSP cornstarch
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
2 cups* Tree Top Apple Juice
2 TBSP lemon juice
5 TBSP butter

* For thicker syrup, try reducing Apple Juice to 1 cup.

Optional: whipped cream

Apple Syrup: In a medium size saucepan whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, Tree Top apple juice and lemon juice; heat to a boil; whisk constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Add butter and stir together. Serve over warm Apple Toffee French toast. Spoon warm syrup over French toast.

For real decadence, dollop a spoonful of whipped cream on top.