Baked Blueberry French Toast with Blueberry Maple Syrup

This is perfect for making the night before so that you can just wake up, preheat oven, pop in and bake all while still going on with your day. Maybe it's Christmas morning and you want an easy but yummy breakfast for the family, this would be a great idea.

FOR THE FRENCH TOAST, PROCESS:
1  pkg cream cheese, softened (8 oz)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp minced orange zest
10 slices thin-sliced cinnamon swirl bread

WHISK:
3 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp pure almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

FOR THE TOPPING, SPRINKLE:
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup slivered almonds
MELT:
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

FOR THE SYRUP, COMBINE:
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 tbsp fresh orange juice

1. Coast a 9x5x3-inch deep baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. For the French toast, process cream cheese, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and zest in a food processor until smooth.
3. Line bottom of baking dish with bread slices, cutting pieces to fit, Spread half cream cheese mixture over bread. Continue layering bread and cream cheese, ending with bread.
4. Whisk together eggs, milk, almond extract, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg; pour over top of bread, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or over night.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove plastic wrap from dish.
6. For the topping, sprinkle 1 cup blueberries and almonds over top of french toast.
7. Melt together butter and 1/4 cup brown sugar; drizzle over french toast, then bake until bubbly and set, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes.
8. For the syrup, combine 1 cup blueberries, maple syrup, and orange juice in a small saucepan. Simmer syrup until heated through, about 10 minutes, then serve over french toast.

CuisineAtHome