French Toast Casserole with Maple Glaze

This is the lazy person's way to make French toast. It really is a lot quicker and much much easier, especially if you're making it for a large crowd, as opposed to soaking and cooking the individual toast one by one. It tasted just like French toast too! Add the glaze over the top and you're set.

Ingredients:

1/2 loaf of French bread (cubed- about 5 cups)
6 eggs
1 cup half and half
1 tsp ground cinnamon (plus more for topping after assembling)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
2/3 cup Z sweet (replacement for white table sugar that measures the same)
2 tbsp. butter
pinch of salt

Set your oven to 350 degrees. Next begin by cubing the bread into chunks. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, half and half, cinnamon, nutmeg, Z sweet, salt and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously to combine all of the ingredients well. Add the bread to the mixture and allow it to soak for about 15-20 minutes. Transfer to a buttered baking dish (you should melt the butter and let it coat the bottom of the pan and sides- allowing the excess to stay on the bottom. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and bake for about 35-40 minutes.

A little of this goes a long way. You just want to lightly drizzle this over the top. It makes a huge difference.

For the topping:
4 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. real maple syrup
1/2 cup Z sweet
1 tsp. Molasses
1/3 cup half and half

In a saucepan, melt the butter and add the z sweet until the mixture dissolves and begins to bubble. Add the half and half, molasses, and maple syrup. Blend well and allow the sauce to bubble and reduce until it coats a spoon.