French Toast Casserole

French toast is great for breakfast, but can be a bit time consuming to make, especially when feeding a group. This french toast casserole is the best of both worlds in that regard. It would be great with fresh berries on top! Sadly, I didn't have any berries this morning, but I promise you, it still tasted amazing! I hope you enjoy this french toast casserole as much as my family has this winter!

Ingredients:

• About 3/4 loaf of French or Italian bread

• 1/2 cup butter

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 6 eggs

• 2 cups milk

• 2 tsp. vanilla

• 1 Tb. cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Melt butter in the microwave at 30 second intervals (or over stovetop), then add brown sugar, continuing to heat until brown sugar is fully dissolved and smooth.

Pour butter/sugar mixture into a 9x13 pan, making sure it covers the bottom evenly.

Slice bread into roughly 1-inch cubes. Add bread cubes to pan.

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, and 1 tsp. cinnamon together. Pour the liquid mixture over the bread layer, making sure to cover the bread as evenly as possible.

Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and brown sugar before placing in the oven. Bake for 28-30 minutes.

Dust with powdered sugar if desired. You could also add fresh berries and a side of yogurt for a healthier alternative. Enjoy!