Cinnamon French Toast with Caramel Apples

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a large, oblong baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Over medium heat warm 1/2 cup sugar in a large nonstick skillet, stirring constantly until sugar melts and begins to turn golden, about 6 minutes. Stir in butter until just combined. Add in apple slices. If mixture becomes stiff, keep stirring until apples soften.
3. Gradually add maple syrup to mixture, cooking until apples are tender, about 6 minutes. Set mixture aside.
4. Beat eggs, egg whites, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a mixing bowl until well combined.
5. Spread apple mixture across the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange bread slices across apple mixture. Spoon egg mixture over bread slices.
6. For 15 minutes, allow egg mixture to soak into bread.
7. Bake 25 to 30 minutes and serve while warm.

Recipe reprinted with permission from Gulf Coast Favorites (Holly Clegg, 2008). For more from Holly, follow along at her website, Trim & Terrific.