Blueberry-Stuffed French Toast

A fruity French toast becomes light and lovely company fare when you fill it with blueberries and top it with an orangey sweet sauce.

Ingreadient

• 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 3 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 8 slices Italian bread (1-1/4 inches thick)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• Dash salt
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups orange sections
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Step by step

1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, toss blueberries with 2 tablespoons sugar. Cut a pocket horizontally in each slice of bread. Fill with blueberries.
2. In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs, orange zest, orange juice, salt and remaining sugar. Dip both sides of bread in egg mixture, being careful to not squeeze out berries. Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 14-17 minutes or until golden brown, carefully turning once.
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, whisk the first five sauce ingredients until smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in fruit and heat through. Serve with French toast; sprinkle with almonds.