1loaf day-old bread cut into cubes (about 10 packed cups of bread)french bread or brioche or a baguette
1/2cupchopped almonds, toasted
2ripe pears, sliced
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
7 large eggs
2 ½ cups milk
¼ cup maple syrup
1tspvanilla extract
1½ tsp cinnamon
Pinch salt
butter for the dish and serving, maple syrup for serving
Instructions
Turn your oven to low broil, place 1/2 cup sliced almonds on a baking sheet and toast 3-4 minutes until golden. Set aside.
Generously grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter and turn your oven to 350F.
In a bowl whisk the eggs, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt. Set aside.
To make the spiced pears, melt the butter in a bowl and mix in the pears, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar.
In your baking dish, spread about half of the bread cubes on the bottom and then spread half of the spiced pears, half of the almonds.
Next, spread out the rest of the bread cubes to make your final layer. Then, top with the rest of the pears and almonds
Pour the milk mixture evenly over the bread cubes to cover everything evenly. Use a spatula to gently press down on the bread to make sure the milk mixture gets in all the crevices.
Let sit for 10 minutes before baking OR overnight in the fridge.
Bake the french toast covered with foil for 30 minutes. Then, uncover and bake for the remaining 15-20 minutes until golden on top. It should be firm and puffed up when it's fully baked and there should be no liquid left. (If you've let this sit overnight, take out of the fridge while the oven is pre-heating and it might require 10-15 more minutes baking time).
Let the french toast stand for 5 minutes before serving. When you’re ready to serve top with butter and drizzle with maple syrup.
Notes
If the bread is fresh, cut into cubes and then toast in the oven at 200F for about 10 minutes to dry it out.