Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and put into the cold oven.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. This will dry out the bread, making it perfect for French toast!
In a large bowl beat together the eggs, 1/4 cup sugar, milk, cream, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Set aside.
Once the oven reaches 350 degrees F check the bread to ensure it's dried out, and then remove from oven. Turn the oven to WARM, or 200 degrees F.
Take half of the bread slices, and spread a layer of cream cheese on one side. Leave the remaining slices plain.
In a small bowl, mash the berries with 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Place a large skillet over medium-low heat and grease with cooking spray or butter.
Dip a piece of bread with cream cheese and a piece without cream cheese into the egg mixture. Place the slice with cream cheese into the pan first, cream cheese side up.
Spoon 2 teaspoons of the mashed berries onto the cream cheese and spread evenly. Top with the other slice of bread.
Cook until golden brown on both sides. Transfer the cooked french toast back to the baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Continue with the remaining bread slices and blackberries.
Once all the french toast is cooked, remove the baking sheet from the oven and serve warm. Sometimes I top our french toast with a little whipped cream and a fresh blackberry.
Notes
Serving size is 2 french toasts per person. I usually get about 18 slices of bread from the loaf.