It’s what the french call pain perdu, or "lost bread"—a dish that was created to revive day-old or stale baguettes. Here, hot and sweet, baked to a golden crisp, and dripping with syrup, you’ll find not a single thing is missing.

　　Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

　　

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

　　1 (13- to 14-inch-long) loaf of soft-crust supermarket Italian bread

　　1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened

　　2 large eggs

　　1 2/3 cups whole milk

　　3 tablespoons sugar

　　Accompaniment: pure maple syrup

　　

Step 1

Cut 12 (1-inch-thick) diagonal slices from bread, reserving ends for another use.

　　

Step 2

Generously butter 1 side of each slice and arrange slices, buttered sides up, in 1 layer in a buttered 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit if necessary.

　　

Step 3

Whisk together eggs, milk, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until combined well, then pour evenly over bread. Chill, covered, until bread has absorbed all of custard, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day, depending on bread.

　　

Step 4

Preheat oven to 425°F.

　　

Step 5

Bring mixture to room temperature and sprinkle bread with sugar.

　　

Step 6

Bake, uncovered, in middle of oven until bread is puffed and top is golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve immediately.