Sticky Toffee Sauce over Apple Strata

Sticky Toffee Sauce over Apple Strata

                                         

Sticky Toffee Sauce over anything is worth eating.  The Apple Strata provides a well-textured base for the sauce and can be made ahead and baked at your convenience.

Sticky Toffee Sauce:

1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar

½ cup heavy cream or half & half

¼ cup unsweetened butter

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan, bring the sugar, cream and butter to a boil, stirring constantly for 3 minutes.  Remove the sauce from the heat and add the vanilla.  The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated; let it stand at room temperature for proper consistently or gently re-heat in a sauce pan.

Apple Strata

5 slices cinnamon bread, cubed

4 ounces cream cheese, diced

1 apple, peeled, cored, diced

1/2 cup raisins

4 eggs

1 1/4 cup half & half

3 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons maple syrup or corn syrup

Mist an 8 X 8 dish with cooking spray.  Arrange half of the cubed cinnamon bread in the bottom of the dish; evenly sprinkle the diced cream cheese, top with the apple and raisins. Top off the dish with the remaining bread cubes.  In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, butter and the syrup.  Pour the egg mixture over the bread mixture.  Press down the bread to soak all the pieces.  Refrigerate for 2 hours or over night. Bake at 325 for 45 minutes or until brown on the edges and set in the center; stand for 10 minutes before spooning into serving dishes. The strata can be served warm or at room temperature. Serves 6