Brown Sugar-Crusted Baked French Toast

• 1 stale French loaf, cut into 1-inch slices
• 6 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1-3/4 c. milk (or half & half if you don't mind the extra fat)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 c. packed brown sugar
• 1/2 c. butter, melted
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• confectioner's sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Position your oven rack one notch down from the middle. Cover a large baking pan with parchment or aluminum foil for easy clean-up. Spray lightly with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, and vanilla until well blended.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon until well blended.

Place a few bread slices in the egg/milk mixture and soak for a couple minutes, turning once. Remove each one with a slotted spoon and place on greased baking pan. Using a rubber spatula, spread some of the brown sugar mixture on one side of each soaked bread slice. Then turn each slice over, so the brown sugar side is facing down. Repeat until all the bread is used.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees, for 25 to 30 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes, then serve brown sugar-side up. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Recipe from mrbreakfast.com.