Cherry Strata Recipe

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Caterer Carrie Sherrill of Forestville, Wisconsin relates, "This dressed-up French toast always gets rave reviews!"

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Cherry Strata Recipe

Prep: 35 min. Bake: 35 min.

Yield: 6-8 Servings

35 35 70

Ingredients

12 cups day-old Italian bread cubes (1/2-inch cubes)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
4 eggs
1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
CHERRY SYRUP:
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) sour cherries, chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Place 8 cups of the bread cubes in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and extract until smooth. Stir in cherries and pecans; spoon over bread. Top with remaining bread cubes.
In a bowl, whisk eggs, cream, cinnamon and remaining sugar; pour over bread. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until browned. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
For syrup, combine cherries, sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in extract. Serve warm over strata. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 each) equals 716 calories, 24 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 160 mg cholesterol, 474 mg sodium, 115 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 12 g protein.

Originally published as Cherry Strata in Taste of Home February/March 1998, p18