Ingredients

• 7 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups half and half
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 6 1 1/2-inch-thick slices cinnamon-raisin bread or French bread
• 4 tablespoons (about) unsalted butter
• Maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

1. Whisk first 6 ingredients in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add bread to egg mixture and let soak 20 minutes, pressing down occasionally.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add bread to skillet. Cook until golden brown, turning once and adding more butter as needed, about 3 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. Bake until bread puffs up and is firm in middle, about 30 minutes. Serve warm with maple syrup, if desired.