Food and Recipes Dish Casserole Overnight French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup 4.5 (2) 2 Reviews This indulgent brunch casserole is ideal for entertaining because it must be assembled and chilled eight hours in advance. In the morning, all you have to do is pop the dish in the oven and let it perfume your whole house as it bakes. A splash of bourbon enhances the maple syrup's caramel sweetness, but you can omit the alcohol if you prefer. Whether you add bourbon or not, be sure to choose the good stuff: 100% pure maple syrup. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on March 8, 2019 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Active Time: 15 mins Chill Time: 8 hrs Total Time: 60 mins Yield: 6 serves Ingredients 1 cup packed light brown sugar 6 tablespoons butter, melted 1 cup pure maple syrup, divided 1 cup chopped toasted pecans, divided 12 (1-inch-thick) baguette slices (from 1 baguette, ends discarded) 5 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/4 cups whole milk 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 teaspoon orange zest plus 1 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 orange) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided 2 tablespoons (1 oz.) bourbon Powdered sugar, for serving Directions Stir together brown sugar, melted butter, and 1⁄4 cup of the maple syrup. Spread mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 3⁄4 cup of the pecans. Arrange baguette slices evenly on top. Whisk together next 5 ingredients and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla. Pour over baguette slices. Cover; chill 8 hours. Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove baking dish from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown and set, about 35 minutes. During final 10 minutes of baking, combine bourbon and remaining 3⁄4 cup maple syrup and 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla in a saucepan. Cook over low, stirring, until warm, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cover pan. Sprinkle casserole with powdered sugar and remaining 1⁄4 cup pecans. Serve with Bourbon-Maple Syrup. Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Print