Overnight Orange French Toast - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
2 cups fresh orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons triple sec
6 large eggs
1/2 cup half-and-half
8 slices challah or 8 slices dense bakery bread, 1 inch thick,cut on the diagonal
3 tablespoons butter, melted
Sauce
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
1 tablespoon triple sec
Accompaniment
pure maple syrup

Preparation

Whisk together zest, juice, sugar, vanilla, triple sec, eggs, half-and-half, and a pinch of salt.
Arrange bread slices in one layer in a 13 X 9 inch glass baking dish.
Pour mixture over bread, turning slices to coat, and chill, covered, overnight.
Preheat oven to 400F and brush a large baking pan with butter.
Using a slotted spatula arrange bread in one layer on baking pan, leaving atleast 2 inches between each slice and bake in middle of oven 5 minutes.
Rotate pan and bake 5 minutes more.
Rotate pan again and bake until bread is puffed and golden, about 5 minutes more.
Make sauce while bread is baking: Cook butter, marmalade and triple sec over low heat, stirring, until butter is melted.
Drizzle French toast with sauce and serve with syrup, if desired.