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The Gateways Inn

"If you’re longing for a quiet, romantic place, a lovely guest room, great food and live entertainment, you’ll find it at The Gateways Inn." This is but one of many reviews from satisfied guests.

The Innkeepers are delighted to share this most popular breakfast recipe from their kitchen.

Challah French Toast Soufflé with
Fresh Berries and Crème Fraiche

A very special soufflé, prepared the night before and baked in the morning, for a sumptuous meal as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate!

Preparation time: About 30 minutes
Baking time: About 1 hour 15 minutes

10 cups (approx.) of cubed Challah bread, crusts removed
5 Tbsp. butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
8 extra-large or jumbo eggs
fresh blueberries and raspberries
slivered almonds
Crème Fraiche

Generously butter a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Put the cubed bread in a very large mixing bowl and set aside. Beat the butter, cream cheese and maple together until it is smooth and uniform. Add the half and half and the extracts and beat to aerate and combine. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition to incorporate. Pour this mixture over the cubed bread and toss to coat fully. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then toss again. Pour bread mixture into prepared pan, sprinkle with berries, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove prepared pan from the fridge, remove plastic wrap and sprinkle with slivered almonds. Place the baking pan in a larger pan and add water to the larger pan about 1/3 of the way up the glass pan (water bath). Dot the top with butter and bake for about 50-60 minutes. Remove the pan from the water bath and continue to bake about another 15-20 minutes until you see the bottom and sides of the soufflé begin to brown. Soufflé is done when a small deep slit with a sharp knife made in the center does not come out wet. It should be moist, not wet.

Allow to cool a few minutes, slice and serve with Crème Fraiche drizzled over the top and warmed maple on the side.

Variations: This is a very versatile recipe that can be adjusted for seasonal availability of fruits and to different tastes. If making with apples, omit almond extract and almonds and replace with peeled, cored and sliced apples sautéed in butter and sprinkled with raisins and cinnamon. Put half the bread mixture in the prepared pan, add the apples and top with remaining bread mixture. Refrigerate overnight. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and dot with butter and bake as usual in the morning. This is also good with fresh peaches pitted, peeled and sliced.

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