Each time I go to my sister, like I did a couple of days in the past, dinnertime is a wealthy, if chaotic affair. There’s my household of 4, her household of 5, an assortment of her three children’ buddies, their grownup buddies, a favourite neighbor and his two children, usually my dad and mom and my brother and his household, and naturally, an assortment of pups ready patiently underfoot for scraps. The cooking begins within the early afternoon, and in some unspecified time in the future, panic will set in about whether or not or not we’ll have sufficient meals, and somebody will jet off on yet one more journey to the shop. If it feels like I’m complaining, I’m completely not. The meals are boisterous and loud and scrumptious, and when one is within the calendar, I look ahead to all of it month lengthy.

However come breakfast? I don’t wish to begin the entire cycle over once more. Which is the place this stunning baked French toast is available in. It takes only some minutes to assemble at night time, after which within the morning, all it’s important to do is shove it within the oven, then watch because it will get golden and puffy and crispy-custardy. This previous weekend, I made it with a stale challah (it’s a terrific use for outdated bread!) and topped it with strawberries, powdered sugar, and syrup, however you should use brioche or good white bread, and prime it with toasted nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds), whipped cream, honey, you title it. Might we now have simply picked up a dozen bagels or set out a couple of containers of Corn Flakes? Certain. However the place’s the enjoyable in that?

In a single day Baked French Toast
Serves 6-8

2 tablespoons unsalted butter for greasing pan, plus extra for serving
1 loaf challah, ideally stale (sufficient for about 8 3/4-inch thick slices)
1 1/2 cups complete milk
3 giant eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
kosher salt, to style
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
maple syrup
Elective toppings: crushed toasted pecans or walnuts, contemporary berries, powdered sugar

Wedge bread slices into one layer on the underside of a buttered 13-by-9-inch baking dish. (You may rip or minimize up the slices as much as make every little thing match if it’s important to.) In a medium bowl or giant measuring cup, whisk collectively the milk, eggs, vanilla, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Pour the combination over the bread, then cowl with plastic wrap and chill in a single day (or as much as 24 hours).

When it’s time to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and take away the baking dish from the fridge to deliver to room temperature. Combine collectively remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle excessive. Bake uncovered till puffy and golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Serve heat with butter, syrup, and elective toppings.

P.S. A Dealer Joe’s breakfast hack to feed a crowd and some throw-together breakfasts.