Overnight French Toast Casserole

 Breakfast is a food that I don't really ever do anything elaborate on.  Every year, Matt and I exchange our presents and do a "Christmas for two". This year, it worked out that we actually celebrated a few days after Christmas day.  We like to open presents in the morning, have a nice breakfast and then relax all day and then have a nice dinner.  This year, I made this overnight French toast casserole for breakfast.  I love French toast-it's one of my favorite breakfast foods.  This was perfect to make because we made it the night before-I prepared the bread mixture and Matt prepared the topping, put it in the refrigerator, then just baked it off the next morning while we opened gifts.

This made a ton-it was delicious so we didn't mind having it for a few days for breakfast.  I would love to make this in the future when we have overnight company or if we entertain for brunch (or just to have for a few days!).

Overnight French Toast Casserole

1 loaf French bread

• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup milk (I used skim)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Dash salt
• Praline Topping, recipe follows
• Maple syrup. for serving

Slice French bread into 20 1-inch slices. Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch baking dish, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (I used walnuts)
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until everything is incorporated.

Source: Paula Deen