Soft Spice Baked French Toast with Warm Aromatics

Ingredients

• 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, day-old, thick sliced (approximately 16 oz)
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk (16 fl oz)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (4 fl oz)
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar (2.3 oz)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (2 oz)
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar (1.8 oz)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Maple syrup
• Powdered sugar
• Fresh berries