Simple Baked French Toast - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 loaf soft supermarket Italian bread (13- to 14-inch-long)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 2/3 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
Topping
pure maple syrup

Preparation

Butter a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish.
Cut twelve 1-inch-thick diagonal slices from bread (reserve ends for another use).
Generously butter one side of each slice and arrange slices buttered sides up in one layer in buttered dish, squeezing them slightly to fit if necessary.
Whisk together eggs, milk, and salt in a bowl until well combined, then pour evenly over bread.
Refrigerate, covered, until bread has absorbed all of custard, at least 1 hour (time may vary depending on bread).
Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 425\u00b0F
Bring soaked bread to room temperature.
Sprinkle bread with sugar.
Bake until bread is puffed and top is golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
Serve immediately, with maple syrup.
Cook's Note:.
The soaked bread can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
**Cook time does not include refrigeration or bringing the bread back to room temperature before cooking.