Vegan Creme Brulee Overnight French Toast Casserole

1 Cut up the bread into large pieces. Let sit out for a bit to dry out. Then place about half the bread in a single layer in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan.
2 In a large mixing bowl, add the almond milk, maple syrup, and apple sauce. Whisk to combine. 
3 In a small bowl, add the flax meal and water. Whisk to combine and let sit for a minute to thicken and make flax eggs. 
4 Now add the flax eggs and vanilla to the wet mixture. Whisk until fully combined. Pour half the mixture on top of the bread. Then add the remaining bread, filling in any gaps and pressing together. Pour the remaining wet mixture over all of the bread. Press everything together and down in the custard like mixture to get all the bread to soak it up. Cover and place in the fridge overnight!
5 In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the casserole uncovered for 35-45 minutes until firm and crisp on top. 
6 Now, sprinkle the entire casserole with a thin layer of sugar. Using a kitchen torch, brulee all of the sugar until brown and crunchy. Serve immediately with maple syrup if desired.