Lost Bread with California Golden Raisins (Pain Perdu)

Exciting California flavor gives a new twist to a New Orleans classic French toast, Lost Bread.

Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 1/2 cups sliced bananas (about 2 bananas)
• 6 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4 inch dice and cooked crisp
• 1 cup California golden raisins
• 5 eggs
• 2 cups Half-and-Half
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pure maple syrup, as needed

Instructions

1. In very large mixing bowl combine bread cubes, cream cheese cubes, banana slices, cooked bacon pieces and golden raisins; mix together well. Spread evenly in 9 x 13 inch nonreactive baking pan.
2. In same mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, Half-and-Half, sugar, butter and 1/4 cup maple syrup to combine well. Pour over bread mixture in pan, pressing bread mixture into egg mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
3. Heat oven to 350 degrees F (300 degrees F for convection oven). Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle top of bread mixture with cinnamon. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes; then, uncover and bake 45 minutes more, until lightly browned and set.
4. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes. Cut into 12 squares and serve warm with warm syrup to pour on top.

Nutrition

Per serving: Calories 680 (45% from fat); Total Fat 34g (sat 19g, mono 11g, poly 2g, trans 0g); Cholesterol 265mg; Protein 17g; Carbohydrate 76g; (Dietary Fiber 3g; Sugars 49g); Iron 3mg; Sodium 530mg; Calcium 190mg; Potassium 698mg

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: California Raisins

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