French Toast Bread Pudding

Making French toast is not hard, just a little time consuming.  Making French toast bread pudding is neither hard nor time consuming.  It’s a great make-ahead dish and is an impressive breakfast to serve for company.

Start by cubing 1 baguette.  The baguette should be about the length of your arm, if your baguette comes two to a bag, you will need to cube both of them.  Place cubes in a greased 9 X 13-inch baking dish.  The cubes will fill the dish. 

In a large bowl, mix together 1½ cups milk (I use skim), 1½ cups half and half, 3 large eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoons sugar, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. 

Pour milk mixture over the bread and push the bread down to soak up milk mixture.  The bread will look really flat, but will puff up when it bakes.  Cover and refrigerate overnight. 

When ready to bake, remove the pan from the refrigerator and take off the cover.  Allow to set at room temperature for 30 minutes.  Sprinkle a mixture of 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 3 tablespoons sugar over the top of the bread.  Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

Serve with syrup, powdered sugar, or maple butter.

*Some optional stir in ideas – raisins, nuts, chocolate chips.

**Can top with 3 tablespoons brown sugar instead of 3 tablespoons sugar.