Baked french toast casserole

photo credit: https://cafedelites.com/french-toast-casserole

challah or brioche, in 1-inch thick slices, enough to be fully soaked with a little extra milk/egg mixture in the dish

1/4 cup (2 oz) butter
1/3 to 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
6 large eggs
10 oz milk

1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons Grand Marnier
lemon or orange zest (optional)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or more)
1/4 teaspoon salt

strawberries (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and stir in sugar and maple syrup; mix in all other ingredients and thoroughly soak bread in mixture.  Arrange bread slices in one layer in a 13x9x2 baking dish, slightly overlapping.   Bake uncovered until puffed and edges are lightly golden, about 35 minutes. Top with fresh strawberries.