Baked Pecan-stuffed French Toast

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• french bread, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
• 1/2 lb cooked ham, finely chopped (2 cups)
• 6 large eggs, beaten
• 1 2/3 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• maple syrup, for serving

Recipe

• 1 combine the brown sugar, butter, and honey in a small saucepan.
• 2 cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, 2-3 minutes.
• 3 pour into an ungreased 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
• 4 sprinkle with the pecans.
• 5 top with half of the bread slices, and scatter the ham on top.
• 6 combine the eggs, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl and beat until well mixed.
• 7 dip the remaining bread slices in the egg mixture on one side only.
• 8 place over the ham, dipped side down.
• 9 pour the remaining egg mixture over the bread slices.
• 10 combine the sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl and sprinkle over the top.
• 11 cover the baking dish and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
• 12 remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before baking.
• 13 preheat the oven to 350°.
• 14 uncover the french toast and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• 15 let stand for 10 minutes.
• 16 cut into 8 servings; serve with warm maple syrup.