What I mean by that is your probably only familiar with one kind of Monte Cristo, the sandwich.

This is a recipe that will take a bit more time then drenching bread in eggs and milk and slapping it into a sauté pan.

Ingrediends:

• 1 1/3 loaves of French bread, cubed 8 egg yolks
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 qt heavy cream
• 2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Butter

Method:

1. Wisk the eggs, cream, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until well blended. Set to the side.
2. Layer the cubed French bread in a charlotte pan
3. Pour the liquid mixture over the top of the French bread
4. Cover pan with parchment and place weights on the bread so that it absorbs the cream mixture
5. Soak for 1 ½ hours
6. Preheat oven to 350º
7. Remove weights
8. Place pan in a water bath and bake for 1-½ hours
9. Remove from oven and let chill completely before removing it from the pan
10. After completely chilled, remove from pan and cut into slices
11. Using a pastry brush, brush both sides with butter
12. Place the slices back in the oven at 350º till golden brown. You can also sauté them if that’s easier.
13. Serve with whipped cream, strawberries, and maple syrup