Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Strawberry Topping

French Toast

1 loaf French bread (about 18 in. long), cut into 24 (¾ in.) slices

1 (8 oz.) container strawberry cream cheese

4 eggs

1 C. milk

¼ C. sugar

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. cinnamon

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Topping

4 C. fresh strawberries

½ C. sugar

2 Tbsp. amaretto, optional

Spray 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.  Spread about 1 Tbsp. cream cheese on 12 bread slices.  Top with remaining bread slices to form sandwiches.  Place in sprayed baking dish to cover bottom.  Beat eggs in medium bowl.  Add milk, ¼ C. sugar, salt, and cinnamon; beat well.  Pour over bread in baking dish.  Let stand at room temperature for 5 min.  Turn bread slices over.  Cover; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.  Chop 1 C. of the strawberries.  (Refrigerate the remaining berries.)  In a nonmetal bowl, combine chopped strawberries, ½ C. sugar, and amaretto; stir gently to mix.  Cover refrigerate 8 hours or over night. 

           

To serve heat oven to 400º.  Uncover baking dish; drizzle bread slices with melted butter.  Bake for 25-30 min. or until golden brown.  Meanwhile slice remaining strawberries and add to chilled strawberry mixture; mix lightly.  Serve French toast worm with strawberry topping.