Baked French Toast

Of all the things I have ever made, this is the most requested recipe I have. I am not kidding when I say that this is CRAZY good!! It will become your new favorite breakfast splurge!

This recipe is great to make up Christmas Eve and bake Christmas morning while you are opening gifts! The aromas make the whole house smell so good!!

Baked French Toast

1 ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
10 (1 3/4-inch-thick) slices French bread (avoid bread with hard crust)
(or about 16 slices of the smaller diameter loaf)
4 eggs, beaten
2 ½ cups milk or half-and-half
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is bubbly. Pour syrup evenly into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish.

Arrange bread slices over syrup.

Combine eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt; stir well. Gradually pour mixture over bread slices. Cover and chill at least 8 hours or overnight. Right before baking, combine 3 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon; stir well and sprinkle evenly over soaked bread. Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over bread. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Serve immediately.

Yield 10 large/16 small servings.