apple & pear french toast bake

serves up to 6

ingredients:

2 pears, chopped

2 apples, chopped

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, optional

8 slices of thick sliced bread, chopped into cubes

4 eggs

1/2 cup of heavy cream (milk is fine)

1/2 tbsp of vanilla

1/4 tsp of salt

topping:

2 tbsps of butter, softened

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

supplies:

8x8 baking dish

non stick spray

3 mixing bowls

whisk

directions:

in a mixing bowl, toss the chopped apples and pears with lemon juice. set aside. next, spray a baking dish with non-stick spray and add the cubed bread in. add the apples and pears, along with the chopped walnuts (if using) to the baking dish with the bread and toss together well. in a bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream/milk, vanilla, and salt. pour the egg mixture over the bread mixture and press into the bread, ensuring it is soaked with the egg mixture. cover and chill for at least an hour, but up to overnight.

when ready to bake, remove the baking dish from the fridge, and preheat the oven to 350.

in a bowl, mix the ingredients for the topping. it should come together like a crumble. sprinkle the topping over the bread/apple/pear mix, and cover with aluminum foil. bake covered for about 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden on top.

once baked through, let cool for a couple minutes before cutting and serving. serve with powdered sugar and/or maple syrup.