Cherry Strata - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Cherry Strata
12 cups day-old italian bread cubes (approx 1/2 inch cubes)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup dried cherries or 1/2 cup cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
4 whole eggs
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cherry Syrup
1 (14 ounce) can cherries, chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Preparation

.::|| Cherry Strata ||::.
Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F Grease 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.
Place 8 cups of the bread cubes in prepared pan.
In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and extract until smooth. Stir in pecans and cherries (or cranberries). Spoon over bread and top with remaining bread cubes.
In mixing bowl, whisk eggs, cream, cinnamon and remaining sugar. Pour over bread.
Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes 350\u00b0F, or until browned.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Top individual servings with Cherry Syrup.
.::|| Cherry Syrup ||::.
Combine cherries, sugar and corn syrup in small saucepan.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in extract. Serve warm over strata.