Baked French toast with caramelised pears

• 2 ripe bosc pears
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
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• 5 or 6 slices french or sour dough bread
• 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, crushed
• 3 eggs
• 1&1/4 cups whole milk
• 1.5 Tbsp maple syrup
• Pinch salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 vanilla bean
• Zest of 1/2 small orange

Fry sliced pears in butter, add maple syrup & allow to caramelise.

Oven at 175C. Layer bread, nuts & pears in buttered baking dish. Soak with mixture of remaining ingredients. Bake 40 mins or until firm.