Baked Cherry De-Lite French Toast

Pre-heat oven to 350°

Ingredients:

• 12 oz French baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes, about 5 cups
• 8 oz package cream cheese, cut into 20 cubes
• 1 27 oz Cherry De-Lite Pie Fill
• 6 large eggs
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup half and half
• ¼ cup maple syrup (the real stuff!)
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Spray an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Place half of the bread on the bottom of the dish.
3. Place the cream cheese cubes on top of the bread.
4. Spoon half of the cherry pie filling on top of the cream cheese.
5. Top with the remaining half of the bread cubes.
6. Whisk together remaining ingredients (eggs, milk, half and half, syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla).
7. Pour over the top of the bread layer.
8. Spoon the remaining pie filling over the top and cover with foil.
9. Preheat oven to 350F. Let french toast sit while the oven is preheating, allowing the bread to absorb some of the egg mixture.
10. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes covered. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
11. Let cool slightly before serving with additional cherry syrup if desired.