Grease casserole dish with butter. Place half the bread in the dish. Add a layer of fresh cranberry sauce and dot with cream cheese. Cover with remaining bread.
In separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and vanilla. Pour over bread mixture. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate over night.
The morning of:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Top with pure maple syrup or dust with powdered sugar.