• 6 cups day-old crusty bread, cut into roughly 1-inch cubes (sourdough or brioche work beautifully)
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup, plus extra for drizzling
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional, but adds warmth)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional, for a bit of crunch)

Substitution tips: If you want a lighter option, swap heavy cream for more milk or a plant-based milk like almond or oat milk. For a dairy-free version, use coconut cream and a vegan butter alternative. If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, honey or golden syrup can work, but the flavour won’t be quite the same—there’s something truly special about that maple warmth.