Baked French toast is a good choice...

Baked French toast is a good choice for the holidays when you want a comforting breakfast but don’t have a lot of time. Maple syrup cooks right into the egg-soaked bread for a rich flavor, while sugar and spices coax sweetness from the apple slices.

Get the apples going first and start the toast once they’re in the oven. Since everything bakes together, you won’t have the usual French toast problem of having to cook the slices by the batch and then keep them warm until serving.

Offer country sausage links alongside. And though this is plenty sweet, traditionalists may still crave a side of maple syrup.

Maple French Toast With Baked Apple Slices

Active Work Time: 10 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes

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BAKED APPLE SLICES

Nonstick cooking spray

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3 large firm, sweet apples, such as Fuji or Golden Delicious

2 1/2 tablespoons melted butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

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Place one rack in the bottom of the oven and the other rack in the middle third. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly spray a 13x9-inch pan with nonstick spray.

Core the apples and slice them into 1/2-inch slices. Place them in the pan, drizzle the butter over the top and toss to coat. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves in a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle over the apple slices and stir well to coat.

Bake on the bottom rack of the oven until the apples are tender but not so soft that they fall apart, about 15 minutes, stirring once to mix well.

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MAPLE FRENCH TOAST

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6 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup half-and-half

8 slices firm white, raisin or whole-wheat bread

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About 2 tablespoons butter, softened

Generously butter a baking sheet or a jellyroll pan.

Beat the eggs and salt together in a shallow pan, breaking up the eggs. Add the vanilla, maple syrup and half-and-half and beat to combine.

Use a fork to poke a few holes in each slice of bread. Place the slices, one to two at a time, in the egg mixture and let stand about a minute, turning once. The slices should be saturated but not falling apart. Shake off the excess egg mixture and place the slices on the baking sheet; it’s OK if they’re touching.

Bake until the underside is golden and the slices have puffed up slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, turn the slices over and spread with the butter. Return to the oven and bake until the other side is light brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Place the toast on serving plates and top with the apple slices and their juices.

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4 servings. Each serving: 586 calories; 530 mg sodium; 352 mg cholesterol; 24 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 78 grams carbohydrates; 16 grams protein; 3.06 grams fiber.

MENU

Maple French Toast With Baked Apple Slices

Country Sausage Links

STAPLES

Allspice

Bread

Butter

Cinnamon

Ground cloves

Eggs

Ground nutmeg

Maple syrup

Sugar

Vanilla extract

SHOPPING LIST

Apples

Half-and-half

GAME PLAN

30 minutes before: Heat oven. Slice apples

25 minutes before: Bake apples. Beat eggs. Dip bread.

20 minutes before: Bake French toast.

Just before serving: Top toast with apple slices.

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Tablecloth, plate, cup, napkin and Christmas decorations from Windows, Pasadena.