7- Grain French Toast with Maple Cinnamon Yogurt

7- Grain French Toast with Maple Cinnamon Yogurt
Here’s a luscious version you can actually precook and freeze ahead of time—it will taste great reheated. In the morning, just thaw for 15 minutes and warm in the oven. Baking is a major calorie reducer over frying, and the seven-grain bread has fiber and is packed with vitamins. For a cozy fall touch, pour on the cinnamon-spiced maple syrup or serve with fresh seasonal fruit.


Ingredients
1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
8 slices seven-grain bread or an 8-ounce loaf cut into 8 slices
4 large eggs or egg-substitute equivalent
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted and divided
1/2 cup whole-wheat cereal flakes, crushed
Sliced fresh fruit (optional)

Directions
step 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
step 2. Combine yogurt, maple syrup and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl; cover and chill until ready to bake the French Toast. (If you would like the flavors to combine even more, chill overnight.)
step 3. Place the bread slices in two layers in a baking dish measuring 11-by-9-by-2 inches. Set aside.
step 4. In a large mixing bowl whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, brown sugar, nutmeg and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
step 5. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread slices, turning each slice with a fork so it is thoroughly coated.
step 6. Line two baking sheets with foil and brush each with 1 Tablespoon of melted butter. With a flat spatula, transfer the bread slices to the baking sheets, arranging them in a single layer.
step 7. Combine the ground cereal flakes with the 2 remaining Tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle over the bread slices. Bake until bread slices puff up and are golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serve immediately with cinnamon maple yogurt and sliced fruit.
step 8. If you make ahead of time and want to freeze, transfer the baked French Toast to a cooling rack until completely cool, about 10 minutes. Tightly wrap the slices, either individually or no more than two slices together, with Saran™ Premium Wrap. To organize these individually wrapped slices in your freezer, place them together in a Ziploc® Brand Double Guard® Freezer Bags with the Double Zipper Seal and then freeze. When ready to eat, thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes (or overnight in the refrigerator the night before). Reheat on a nonstick or greased baking sheet in a preheated 425 degree F oven for 10 minutes until crisp and hot.


Variations
Substitute honey for the maple syrup.

Use one percent or fat-free milk for reduced fat. Or prepare with egg substitutes or egg whites for even fewer calories and fat, although not as rich a taste.

You can also pre-prep the bread by soaking it in the egg mixture and then storing it overnight in the fridge, in a baking dish covered with Saran™ Premium Wrap. When ready, follow the directions for baking.

source : rightathome