Apple Pie French Toast

Ingredients

• 4 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or as needed (optional)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 9 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 loaf thick-cut bread
• 1/2 cup frozen butter

Directions

Place apples in a bowl and drizzle with lemon juice to keep from browning.

Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; remove from heat. Stir flour into melted butter until smooth. Return saucepan to low heat; stir in brown sugar, white sugar, and water until sugars dissolve and mixture is smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium; cook and stir mixture until boiling. Reduce heat to low and add apples. Simmer mixture until apples are cooked but slightly tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Preheat griddle to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Dip bread slices into egg mixture until completely coated.

Grease heated griddle with frozen butter. Cook dipped bread slices on the hot buttered griddle until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining frozen butter and dipped bread. Serve French toast with apple mixture ladled over top.