Baked Maple French Toast

Baked Maple French Toast

Serves 4

8 slices white bread
3 Tablespoons butter - melted
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs - separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
powdered sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cut each bread slice in half diagonally. Brush each piece (both sides) with butter. Place on a cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. Remove bread from oven.
Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees. Arrange bread pieces side-by-side in a lightly greased 9x9 inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix well. In a seperate metal or glass bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold yolk mixture into the egg whites. Pour combined mixture over the pieces of bread in the baking pan. Bake about 25 minutes until golden brown. To serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with butter and syrup.