Recipe | French Toast Bake

Last weekend we had our first coating of snow, but it didn't last that long. By the time we woke up it the freezing rain was falling. This quickly turned the white pretty snow to a sloppy, sludgy, wet mess. It was not fun for Charger either who took a fall off the sun room step due to the ice. Side note.. he's okay and I think he liked it.  Going for our usual Saturday morning bagels was not happening instead all we wanted to do was stay snuggled on the couch. Thinking about making breakfast, I had some bread I wanted to use up instead of wasting it. I didn't feel like standing over a frying pan, so I looked in making a french toast bake. Most recipes called for french loaves or texas toast, which we didn't have. But by adjusting the bake time, I knew it could be done! This was so delicious and I might actually make it again on Christmas morning at my mother in laws house. 

Ingredients:
1 loaf of french bread or texas toast or 1/2 loaf of regular slice bread 1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick) 4 eggs 1 1/2 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup brown sugar powdered sugar for sprinkling  Cinnamon for sprinkling optional (warm maple syrup)

Directions:
Melt the butter in the microwave and add in the brown sugar, mix well. In a 9 x 13 pan, pour your butter/ brown sugar mixture and cover using a spoon. Cut your bread into sticks or cubes (whatever your little heart desires!) and lay layer into the coated pan. Beat the eggs, milk and vanilla together. Pour 1/3 of mixture over first layer of your bread. Continue with layers and mixture until finished. Sprinkle on cinnamon. I chose to go light on the cinnamon, but you can put on as much as you like. If you are making this the night before. You can put it in the refrigerator over night.  
For the french loaf and texas toast, bake at 350 degrees covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for 15. For regular slice bread, bake at 450 degrees covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for 20. Sprinkle on powdered sugar and let set for 10 minutes. Add warm maple syrup is desired!