Must-haves:
about 3/4 - 1 loaf of sliced bread, cubed into chunks 
(pumpernickel, whole grain, and/or whole wheat breads work best to not end up being soggy!)
1 c milk (at least 1% or 2%)
4-5 eggs (depending on how you normally like your french toast)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 Tbspn maple syrup (or brown sugar)
1 Tsp vanilla

Optional Add-ins:
1 cup fruit (diced apple, pumpkin, banana, pear, )
1/4 c coconut
1/2 c nuts

Toppings:
1/2 c Nuts
1 Tbspn brown sugar or honey

Steps: 
Preheat oven to 350 F.  No need to grease your casserole dish.
Mix wet ingredients.
Pour over bread and stir only to combine. (don't let sit or end product will be soggy).
Bake in oven for 10 min.
Stir and top with nuts and sprinkle the brown sugar or honey over the top.
Bake for another 10 more min, or until the bread's no longer soggy!
 ** If you stir it more than once, it will mush up and be more like bread pudding, which may be desirable to you depending on your texture preferences.