Dixie's Baked French Toast

My sweet friend, Dixie, made this delicious concoction for a youth activity which one of my daughters was attending.  She came home absolutely in love with this casserole and I had to ask Dixie for the recipe.  She was very kind and shared it with me.  I sure am glad because this has become a family favorite. We all love it!  It's packed with so much yumminess.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

-1/2 loaf of day old bread (1/2 of 20 oz loaf)

-8 large eggs

-2 cups milk (at least 2%)

-1/2 cup heavy cream

-3/4cup sugar

-2 Tbs vanilla extract

For topping:

-1/2 cup flour

-1/2 cup packed brown sugar

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1/4 tsp salt

-1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

For buttermilk syrup:

-1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

-1/2 cup buttermilk

-1 cup sugar

-1 Tbs light corn syrup

-1/2 tsp baking soda

-1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Coat bottom and sides of 9x13 casserole dish with butter flavored cooking spray.

Break the bread into pieces and place in prepared dish (it's ok to have multiple layers).

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, cream, sugar and vanilla.  Mix very well.  Pour over bread.

In a separate bowl, mix together the topping ingredients.  Spread over egg mixture.

Bake in preheated oven for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let it sit for a couple of minutes.

While the casserole is baking, let's make the syrup.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter.  Add the buttermilk, sugar and syrup.  Bring to a boil and cook for one extra minute.

Add the baking soda-this will make the mixture foam quite a bit.  Mix well and add the vanilla.  Give it a final stir and remove from stove.

Cut a generous portion of the French toast and drench it with that delicious syrup. YUM!  Enjoy!