Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 1¾ cups buttermilk
  • ¾ cup pure maple syrup
  • 8 large eggs, (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 (approximately 6-inch) soft baguettes
  • 6 strips applewood smoked bacon
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, (melted)

Instruction

  • Make soaking mixture. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the syrup, 2 of the eggs, vanilla and cinnamon. Whisk until it's very smooth.Pour the buttermilk mixture into an approximately (8 X 8 X 3-inch) baking dish.
  • Prep bread. Slice the baguettes in half, lengthwise, and then cut about ¼ inch off of the crust sides, lengthwise.
  • Soak. Add the bread to the dish with the buttermilk mixture, and very carefully press it down until it's completely submerged. Then flip each one over. Add a layer of plastic wrap directly on top, and then cover the dish with another layer (completely, from the bottom, so it doesn't spill). This way you can press down on top from time to time, to be sure the bread is absorbing as much liquid as possible.Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. (You can leave it for more time, even overnight -- the longer you leave it, the more like bread pudding it will be.)
  • Cook bacon. While the bread is soaking, add the bacon to a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook until it's just beginning to become brown and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the bacon from the pan. Set it aside to drain on a paper towel. (It should be slightly undercooked, and will finish cooking in the oven later.)
  • Set oven. When you remove the soaked bread from the refrigerator, adjust a rack to to the center of the oven and preheat to 375°F.
  • Assemble. Super gently flip each piece of bread over in the dish. Then drizzle the entire surface with the melted butter.Arrange the partially cooked bacon strips on top and set aside until the oven is ready.
  • Bake, add eggs. Place the dish in the preheated 375°F oven. Bake for 30 minutes, and then crack the remaining 6 eggs on top of the bacon, so that they are spread out evenly. Continue to bake until the French toast portion has risen above the edges and the eggs are set, about 30 more minutes. If at any point the bacon is becoming too dark, loosely lay a piece of foil on top.Remove and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
  • Serve. Make sure when you serve, each person gets an egg, and don't forget to put the maple syrup on the table. (Just in case.)