French Toast 2.0

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 loaf unsliced bread or 1 loaf brioche bread or 1 loaf challah
• 6 eggs
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1/3 cup honey, warmed
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 5/8 ounces chocolate candy bars
• butter (optional)
• syrup (optional)
• powdered sugar (optional)

Recipe

• 1 combine cream cheese and sugar until creamy.
• 2 add the vanilla extract.
• 3 in a bowl, whisk the eggs, half & half, vanilla, salt and honey until combined.
• 4 preheat the oven to 375°f.
• 5 cut the bread into 1" thick slices.
• 6 cut each slice along the crust on two sides, making a pocket.
• 7 spoon the filling into the pockets being careful not to overfill.
• 8 slide a couple chocolate pieces into the center of the pocket and press slightly to seal.
• 9 soak each slice into the mixture for 30 seconds per side.
• 10 set on a cooling rack for 2 minutes to allow full absorption.
• 11 add butter to a skillet and melt until foamy.
• 12 cook slices briefly until golden on each side.
• 13 return to cooling rack.
• 14 slide cooling rack into the oven for 10-15 minutes to bake the centers. (put a cookie sheet underneath to catch the drippings for a less messy oven!).
• 15 serve warm plain or with toppings such as syrup or powdered sugar.