Overnight Baked French Toast

1 cup heavy whipping cream OR half-and-half OR whole milk

6 large eggs

Pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 slices white OR egg bread

Sliced fresh fruit


In an 8x8-inch baking dish, whisk together cream, eggs, 1/4 cup maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Trim crusts from bread. One slice at a time, turn bread over in egg mixture to coat it, then fit coated bread into the baking dish in a double layer. Very gently press bread with back of a fork to compress slices slightly. Cover with plastic wrap and press on plastic to help the bread soak up the egg mixture. Refrigerate overnight.

Lightly butter a baking sheet, lift bread, slice by slice, out of soaking mixture, allowing excess liquid to drip back into dish and place on baking sheet. Bake in preheated 400-degree oven 12 to 15 minutes, until puffed and golden, turning slices over halfway through baking. Serve immediately with maple syrup and sliced fruit. Makes 8 servings.