Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake

Ingredients

1 16-ounce loaf of French bread or sourdough bread cut into 1-inch cubes with the ends discarded. 
1/2 cup cream cheese softened (optional - leave out if preferred)
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey divided 
1 1/2 to 2 cups sliced strawberries divided
6 large eggs
1 1/4 cups milk or almond milk
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar (optional - add if you like your French toast sweet)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup all-purpose flour can substitute with gluten free 1-1 flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar or coconut sugar 
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter cold and cubed

Optional Toppings:
maple syrup
more fresh berries
whipped cream
powdered sugar

Instructions
Make the Streusel Topping:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together. Cut in the cubed butter with a pastry blender or two forks. Set aside in the fridge.

Make the Casserole:

1. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch square baking dish or 2.5-quart casserole dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup. Arrange half of the bread cubes in the bottom of the baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of the softened cream cheese over the bread and top with half of the berries.
3. Layer with remaining bread cubes on top.
4. In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, maple syrup (add brown sugar here if using) and vanilla.
5. Pour evenly over bread cubes. Press the bread cubes slightly down to absorb the milk/egg mixture.
6. Top evenly with remaining berries. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the berries. Cover pan with foil. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for an hour or overnight.
7. When ready to bake, remove French toast from the fridge. Preheat oven to 350° F. Bake covered with foil for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 23-26 minutes or until fluffy and golden.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm with syrup and additional toppings if desired.

Notes: Another tasty French toast casserole. I believe this is at least the 7th such recipe we've got on the blog, and we've tried a few that never got posted. I would put this somewhere in the middle of the bunch for how much I liked it.

Source: Life Made Sweeter