Overnight Oven-Baked French Toast

This is a great dish to serve your overnight guests or your family for a lazy weekend breakfast!

• 1 loaf thick French or Italian bread, cut into 1/2" slices
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk or half-n-half
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur or orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, optional
• Cinnamon, sugar and butter, optional

1. Spray lightly a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish or 15x10x2-inch jelly roll pan with cooking spray first and place bread in single layer in pan. Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar,orange flavoring, vanilla, nutmeg and salt. Pour over bread, turning once to coat evenly. Refrigerate, covered, several hours or overnight.

2. Remove pan from refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake, uncovered, about 25 minutes or until firm and golden brown.

3. Optional topping tips: Before baking, dot bread with pats of butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar (ratio of 3 tbsp sugar to 2 tsp cinnamon). Serve with maple syrup and sliced strawberries.