Baked FrenchToast Casserole

We love french toast at our house.  I love to make it even easier for my family of 5 by making it in a casserole form.  Easy and let the oven do all the work.... You can use whatever kind of bread that you like, I use either white or wheat regular old sliced bread and I always throw in about a 1/4 of a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread to jazz it up, use what you like.  You can always add fruit to this, or raisins mixed in with the bread, lots and lots of variations.  I serve this with sliced polish sausage sauteed until browned in a skillet;(my 6 year old calls these "silver dollar" sausages cause they look like their the size of silver dollar coins...LOL anyway I like the contrast of some meat with french toast, it can be whatever you like, bacon, ham, sausage.  I serve this with maple syrup.  Enjoy


Baked French Toast Casserole

1 loaf sliced bread, crust removed, torn into pieces
1/4 loaf cinnamon raisin bread, crust removed, torn into pieces
2 cups milk
6 eggs
1/2 t cinnamon (plus more for sprinkling on top of casserole)
1/3 cup EACH brown & white sugar (plus a little more brown sugar for sprinkling on top of casserole)
1 stick of cold, butter, thinly sliced
pinch of salt
1 t vanilla
maple syrup

Heat oven to 350.  Spray a 13 x 9 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place torn bread pieces into pan, mixing to distribute the raisin bread throughout the pan.  In a large mixing bowl add eggs, both sugars, salt  & vanilla whisk very well until mixed.  Whisk in milk, mixing well.  Drizzle mixture over the bread.  Push down on the bread to completely cover with egg mixture.  Wash hands.  Sprinkle a little additional cinnamon & couple of tablespoonfuls of brown sugar over top.  Place slices of cold butter over the top of the casserole.  Bake for 50-55 minutes until slightly puffed and light brown (the center will be like custard).  Remove from oven and serve.  Drizzle each serving with maple syrup. Serve with meat of your choice.  Enjoy