Stuffed French Toast Strata with Apple Cider Syrup

My stepmom found this recipe many years ago.  It's super easy to make and sooo yummy (works great for a dessert too).   It's now a tradition to make it every year for Christmas morning.  Yum!

Stuffed French Toast Strata

1 1-pound loaf unsliced French bread

1 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed

8 eggs

2½ c. milk, light cream or half & half

6 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted

¼ c. maple syrup

• Cut French bread loaf into cubes. (You should have about 12 cups of bread cubes.)
• Grease a 13x9x2 inch baking dish.
• To assemble, in the prepared baking dish place half of the bread cubes.  Top with cream cheese cubes, and then with the remaining bread cubes.
• In a blender container or a mixing bowl with a rotary beater, mix together the eggs, milk, melted butter or margarine, and maple syrup until well combined.
• Pour egg mixture evenly over bread and cheese cubes.  Using a spatula, slightly press layers down to moisten.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
• Remove plastic wrap from baking dish.  Bake in 325° oven for 35-40 minutes or till the center appears set and the edges are lightly golden.  Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.  Serve with Apple Cider Syrup.

Apple Cider Syrup

½ c. sugar

4 tsp cornstarch

½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 c apple cider or apple juice

1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp butter or margarine

• In a small saucepan stir together the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon.  Then stir in the apple cider/juice and lemon juice.
• Cook and stir the mixture of medium heat till mixture is thickened and bubbly. 
• Then cook and stir for 2 minutes more.
• Remove saucepan from heat and stir in the butter or margarine till melted.