Apple Cinnamon Oven-Baked French Toast

• 10 slices cinnamon swirl bread, day-old, cut or torn into 1” sized pieces
• 1 cup apples, peeled and diced
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg, preferably fresh grated
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 3 Tbsp butter
• Pure maple syrup (for serving)

Preheat oven to 350°F and generously butter an 8×8 baking pan with 1 Tbsp butter. Add the cut bread to the pan and scatter the apples throughout. In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and spices and whisk until combined. Pour mixture over the bread and apples. Cover the pan in foil and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, and up to 24 hours. Before baking, use remaining 2 Tbsp butter to dot the top of the mixture, and sprinkle almonds on top. Place foil back onto pan and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 30-35 minutes or until the custard is set. Serve with warm maple syrup