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Cinnamon Mornings and Chocolate Dreams

Whether you're hosting a formal get-together or need a quick brunch idea, this book will spark your imagination and your appetite.

Baked French Toast Bread Pudding with Spiced Pear Compote Recipe

Brought to you by Linden Tree Inn

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Cook Time: 50 min

Ingredients:

French Bread:
1-2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 loaf unsliced bread, I use a either a wide french baguette or italian loaf,
but you can use a cinnamon loaf, challah bread, or brioche.
6 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons (1/2 cup) butter
Spiced Pear Compote:
1 large can sliced pears in heavy syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
freshly grated nutmeg
maple syrup

Instructions:

The night before, make french toast. Rub 1 tablespoon of butter on bottom and
sides of a 13x9x2 baking dish, or other shallow 2 quart baking dish. Tear
bread into pieces and scatter in the dish.

In a bowl whisk the eggs and sugar until light. Add the milk and vanilla and
whisk well. Pour over the bread evenly making sure that all the bread pieces
are soaked by the milk mixture. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and
place in the fridge overnight.

The next morning remove the dish from the fridge, and take off the wrappings.
Melt the 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar together until bubbly. Pour
over top of bread pudding. Place in a cold over set the temperature at 350
degrees F. Bake 40-50 minutes, time will vary based on size of dish and your
own oven’s idiosyncrisity. The center should be like a soft custard
consistency when checked in the center with a knife.

While the french toast is baking, drain the pears reserving the juice. Place
the juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat so that it
simmers slowly. This is to reduce liquid and concentrate the flavor. Cut the
pear slices in chunks. Melt the butter in a large non-stick frying pan. Add
the pears and sugar and cinnamon and coat well in the butter. Add a scoop of
the pear juice. simmer the pears in pear juice, adding more pear juice as the
liquid reduces. Add the nutmeg when all the pear juice is added to the pears.
Add 1/4-1/2 cup maple syrup just before serving, bring back to a bubble after
adding the maple syrup, then remove from the heat.

To serve, spoon the french toast onto a plate, and put a spoonful or two of
the spicy pears on top. Additional maple syrup may be used according to your
taste. Enjoy!