BAKED APPLE FRENCH TOAST

2 tbsp butter

2 apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2" thick wedges

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 cup half-and-half cream

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

12 slices cinnamon-raisin swirl bread

Heat oven to 375-degrees. Coat an 11" X 7" baking dish or pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a 12" nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add apple slices and cook, stirring, until tender and golden in color. This takes around 5 minutes. Add the syrup and cook until thickened and slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.

In a bowl, whisk together the cream, eggs, and vanilla. Dip bread in egg mixture. Place 6 slices of the bread, overlapping, in the prepared baking dish. Top with half the apple mixture, then the remaining 6 slices of dipped bread slices. Bake until set, about 20 minutes. Heat broiler and broil until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Top with the remaining apple mixture.

Yield: 6 servings