French Toast casserole

Ok. So listen to Micheal Buble Holiday and the Christmas decorations up, just make me want to bake, then bake, clean and bake some more.
I think its safe to say I need my own bakery someday.
I have used my trusty baking book and made a few delious baked goods.
First I had assembled "overnight french toast" a few days ago. I kept forgetting to put it in the oven! I forgot yesterday morning and around 11 I rememered to put in. I finally pulled it out of the oven and it was amazing!
MAKE-AHEAD FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE
CASSEROLE
1 (16-ounce) loaf supermarket french bread, sliced1/2 inch thick
8 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
2 cups half-and-half
1 tablespoon grandulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Optional: mircowave 1-1/2cups raisins and 1/2 cup spiced rum for 1 minute (until boiling) and drain liquid. Sprinkle between two layers of bread

TOPPING
12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1-1/3 cups packed (9-1/3 ounces) light brown sugar
3 tablespoons corn syrup
1 cup (4 ounces) pecans, chopped coarse

1. FOR THE CASSEROLE: Adjust the oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Arrange the bread in a single layer on 2 baking sheets. Toast until dry and lightly brown, about 25 minutes, switching and rotating through baking. Set bread aside to cool.

2. Grease a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Layer the toasted bread tightly into the prepared dish. (Sprinkle raisins between layers if using, you should have two layers.) Whisk together the eggs, milk, half-and-half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg and pour evenly over breaed. Press lightly on bread to submerge.

3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours up to 24 hours. When ready t bake, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees.

4. FOR THE TOPPING: Mix the butter, brown sugar,and corn syrup together until smooth, then stir in the pecans. Spoon the topping over the casserole in an even layer. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 60 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Now I liked to spread cream cheese on top, however, my husband loves to drench his in maple syrup.

* adapted from "America's Test Kitchen 'The Baking Book' "