Hasselback Baked French Toast

Ingredients

• 1 baguette / french stick, 60 cm1/2 feet long (Note 1)
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/3 cup milk(preferably whole fat but low fat works just fine)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extra ct or essence(optional)
• Icing sugar(confectionary sugar)
• Maple syrup

Instructions

1. Cut the french stick loaf into 3 equal pieces.
2. Cut slices into each piece around 1.5cm / 0.5" thick almost through to the base (like hasselback potatoes / classic garlic bread).
3. Place the Egg Mixture into a bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Place the Egg Mixture and bread into a ziplock bag or plastic bag. Remove as much air as you can and seal. Set aside for at least 1 hour (or overnight), turning once or twice, or until most of the Egg Mixture has been soaked up by the bread. (Note 1)
5. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
6. Place the bread into a baking dish (22 x 22 cm / 8 x 8"), cut side up.
7. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
8. Place the Butter Mixture into a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until melted and combined, stirring occasionally. You could do this in the microwave too around 2 x 30 second bursts, stirring in between.
9. Remove the french toast from the oven. Pour the butter mixture over the french toast and return to oven. Bake for a further 5 to 10 minutes or until golden and crispy on top.
10. Remove from oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
11. Sift over icing sugar (confectioners sugar) and serve with maple syrup.