Baked Apple French Toast

Active Time: 35 minutes - Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes, plus overnight refrigeration

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup Light brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. Corn syrup
• 2 Apples (Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji or Red Delicious) peeled and thinly sliced*
• 6 slices Texas Toast (or 1/2 loaf French bread, sliced 1" thick)
• 9 large Eggs
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 cup Half and half
• 2 Tbsp. Granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup Walnuts or pecans, chopped
• Pinch Ground cinnamon
• Powdered sugar (optional)
• Flavored cream cheese (optional)
• Strawberries, for garnish (optional)
• Syrup

Directions:

STEP 1: The night before: Melt butter in small saute pan; stir in brown sugar and corn syrup. Spread butter mixture into greased 9 x 13" baking dish; arrange apples (or other fruit*) over butter mixture, top with bread slices. STEP 2: Beat eggs in bowl of an electric mixer with whip attachment on medium speed until light, about 3-4 minutes; add milk, half and half, sugar and vanilla, and mix on medium speed for an additional 1-2 minutes. Pour mixture evenly over bread slices; cover and refrigerate overnight. STEP 3: The following morning: Preheat oven to 350 degrees; top bread slices with nuts and cinnamon, and bake, uncovered, 40 minutes, or until bread is golden brown. STEP 4: Dust with powdered sugar, top with flavored cream cheese, and garnish with strawberries, if desired. Serve with warm syrup.

Nutritional Analysis

Approximate nutritional values per serving: 517 Calories, 28g Fat (12g saturated), 364mg Cholesterol, 360mg Sodium, 50g Carbohydrates, 2g Fiber, 17g Protein

*Peaches or berries may be substituted for the apples.

Healthy Substitute: Replace whole milk with low-fat, replace whole half and half with fat-free, replace butter with margarine, and replace whole eggs with egg substitute, and save 108 Calories (all from fat), 12g Fat (9 saturated), 361mg Cholesterol.

Serves 6