French Toast Casserole

Mom makes this for brunch. Wonderful!

1 10oz loaf of french bread 18" long
8 eggs
3 C milk
1/4 C sugar
3/4 t salt
1 T vanilla
2 T butter cut into 5 pats
1/2 t cinnamon

Grease 13 X 9 baking dish, cut bread into 1" wide slices and arrange in bottom of pan.
Beat eggs milk sugar salt vanilla in large bowl (by hand is fine.)
Pour over bread in pan, bread will float. Cut each pat of butter into four pieces and dot each piece of bread with a piece of butter. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Cover and refrigerate overnight - up to 36 hours. Place dish uncovered in cold oven and turn oven to 325 if glass pan 350 if metal. Bake 45-50 minutes until bread is light brown.
Remove from oven and let set 5 minutes. Serve with syrup or fresh fruit.