Berry Strata Recipes

BLUEBERRY STRATA

Steps:

• Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place 1/2 of the bread cubes in dish; top with 1 1/2 cups blueberries. Scatter cream cheese over berries. Cover with remaining bread cubes. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, maple syrup, and milk. Pour egg mixture over bread in pan. Cover, and chill overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake strata, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove cover, and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
• While the strata is baking, prepare the blueberry syrup. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; cook for 5 minutes. Pour in remaining 1 1/2 cups blueberries; continue cooking for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in butter. Serve warm over slices of the strata.

BERRY STRATA

Steps:

• Place the cheeses in a large bowl and stir together with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing until completely incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the milk, strawberries, honey, cinnamon, and bread. Pour into an 8 by 10 by 2-inch casserole dish. If freezing, cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1 day and up to 1 month.
• To bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove the foil and continue baking for 30 to 35 minutes.

BERRY FRENCH TOAST STRATAS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, mix fruit and granulated sugar; set aside.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12 regular-size muffin cups generously with cooking spray. Divide bread cubes evenly among muffin cups.
• In large bowl, beat remaining ingredients, except powdered sugar, with fork or wire whisk until well mixed. Pour egg mixture over bread cubes, pushing down lightly with spoon to soak bread cubes. (If all egg mixture doesn't fit into cups, let cups stand up to 10 minutes, gradually adding remaining egg mixture as bread cubes soak it up.)
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until centers are set. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups, placing 2 stratas on each of 6 plates. Divide fruit mixture evenly over stratas; sprinkle with powdered sugar.

BERRY STRATA (ITALIAN BERRY BREAD PUDDING)

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Turn off the heat, add the honey, and stir to combine. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the eggs, ricotta, and sugar. Using a fork, mix to combine and beat the eggs. Add the milk, orange juice, butter and honey mixture, and bread. Stir to combine. Gently fold in the berries. Place the ingredients in a 10-inch round (2-quart) baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the strata until golden on top and baked through, about 40 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon into dishes and serve.