Holiday Brunch Solved: Overnight Prep to Tabletop French Toast Timing
Timing matters just as much as temperature. Assembling an overnight dish requires a deliberate sequence to keep the bread from breaking down during chilling. Grease a 23-by-33-centimeter (9-by-13-inch) ceramic or glass baking dish with 15 grams of softened butter. Shingle the bread slices in an overlapping pattern rather than tearing them into irregular cubes. Shingling exposes the top edges to direct dry heat during baking, creating crisp ridges that contrast with the creamy bottom layer.
Pour the custard evenly across the bread, pressing down gently so every slice drinks up the liquid. Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate for 8 to 14 hours. Cold glass dishes should never go straight from the refrigerator into a hot oven, as thermal shock can crack the container. Set the dish on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes while preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake covered for 25 minutes, then uncover for another 20 minutes to caramelize the top. Finish with a drizzle of warmed pure maple syrup right before bringing the dish to the table.
