Overnight Maple Brown Sugar French Toast

2/3 loaf italian bread, cut into chunks 1/4 c + 2Tbsp salted butter 3/4 c. Light brown sugar 1tsp cinnamon 7 eggs 1/3 c milk 1 tsp vanilla 2tbsp maple syrup

Melt 1/4 c butter. Pour into bottom of 8x8 glass baking dish. Stir together briwn sugar and cinnamon. Add half of the bread cubes to baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the sugar mixture. Top with remaining bread cubes. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup. Pour over bread cubes, being sure to coat all bread pieces. Top with remaining sugar. Cover baking dish with foil. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Remove foil. Place 2 Tbsp butter pieces on top of french toast casserole and bake an additional 20 minutes. Serve warm with butter and maple syrup.