STUFFED FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until dry and lighthly browned, about 20 minutes.
• Cool,.
• Spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with non-stick spray.
• Mix crystallized ginger into the apricot preserves.
• Spread the cream cheese on one side of half of the slices of french bread.
• Place the cream cheese topped slices in the baking dish, cream cheese side up.
• Spoon apricot preserves over bread and top each slice with a plain slice of french bread (forming sandwiches).
• Mix together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon.
• Pour mixture over the bread slices.
• Place plastic wrap over the top and refrigerate overnight.
• (Note: To keep the bread submerged, place a weighted plate or saucer on top of the plastic wrap).
• Next Morning:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and maple syrup until smooth.
• Stir in the walnuts.
• Evenly drop the topping mixture over the casserole.
• Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and set.
• Cool for 10 minutes before serving.