baked french toast

Christmas morning breakfast with fresh squeezed orange juice from our orange tree, maple syrup and blackberries.  Easy and perfect!

Baked French Toast
slightly adapted from Dash and Bela

1 baguette, a bit stale cute into 3" inch pieces
3 tablespoons butter
3 eggs

2 cups whole milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange juice
pinch of kosher salt
3 tablespoons vanilla sugar
powdered sugar for the top

Place bread cut-side up in an ovenproof dish and butter the top of each piece. Don't overlap the pieces.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs. Add 1 1/2 cups milk, vanilla extract, orange juice and salt. Whisk until foamy. Pour over bread.

Place in refrigerator overnight

In the morning add 1/2 cup of milk.  Sprinkle vanilla sugar all over the top. Bake at 375 until the bread is puffed up and golden (30-40 minutes). Place under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes until crisp.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.