Apricot French Toast
This indulgent breakfast dish transforms a loaf of French bread into a special meal. Slices are filled with a fluffy mixture of cream cheese, walnuts and vanilla. After being dipped in a custard of eggs, cream and nutmeg, they are griddled until golden and finished in the oven. A simple warm sauce made from apricot preserves and orange juice provides the final, fruity drizzle. The entire process takes about 60 minutes to complete and yields eight generous servings.
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1 1/2 lbs loaf French bread
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 (12 ounce) jar apricot preserves
- 1/2 cup orange juice
Method
- Beat the softened cream cheese with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a bowl until light and fluffy.
- Mix the finely chopped walnuts into the cream cheese blend and set this filling aside.
- Slice the French bread loaf into pieces that are 1 1/2 inches thick, then cut a pocket into the top of every slice.
- Spoon roughly 2 tablespoons of the prepared cream cheese mixture into the pocket of each bread slice.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy whipping cream, ground nutmeg and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Carefully dip both sides of each filled bread slice into the egg mixture, taking care not to press out the filling.
- Cook the dipped slices on a lightly greased griddle until each side turns a golden brown colour.
- Transfer the griddled slices to an ungreased baking sheet and bake them at 300 for 20 minutes.
- While the toast bakes, combine the apricot preserves and orange juice in a small saucepan and warm the mixture through.
- Pour the warm apricot sauce over the hot French toast just before serving.
Nutrition (per serving)
Sodium672600 mg
Recipe details
CategoryBreakfast
Authorpinkie
