Step 1

Coat a 9x11-inch or other shallow 2-quart baking dish with cooking oil spray. Arrange the bread slices slightly overlapping in the dish.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, eggnog, rum, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Carefully pour mixture over the bread.

Step 3

Press bread down into the dish, ensuring all of the slices are covered with egg mixture. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight; just before going to bed, gently press the bread down again into the egg mixture.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350°. Remove dish from refrigerator, uncover, and gently press bread again into the egg mixture. Sprinkle with pecans.

Step 5

Bake French toast until browned and puffed, 50-55 minutes; if the pecans begin to darken before the French toast is done, cover the casserole with foil.

Step 6

Cut French toast into squares and serve with maple syrup.