Christmas Morning French Toast Casserole

Difficulty: easy Prep Time: Five Minutes Total Time: 30 Minutes or Less
1 loaf French or Italian bread, cut into 1" slices
1 cup red and green marachino cherries,
sliced in half
6 eggs
3 cups 1% milk
4 tsp sugar
1⁄4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
1 tsp cinnamon

Grease a 13" x 8" glass baking dish. Arrange the bread slices in the dish. Sprinkle with marachino cherries. Beat together eggs, milk, sugar, salt and vanilla; pour evenly over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Before baking, uncover and dot with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350°F for 45 min. Remove from oven and cut into squares; serve immediately with warmed maple syrup.