Cinnamon Swirl French Toast
(serves 4)

Ingredients
8 slices cinnamon swirl bread
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup milk, room temperature
2 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
powdered sugar
warm maple syrup

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Brush both sides of bread with melted butter. Cut bread diagonally in half. Arrange bread pieces on cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. Remove bread from oven. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees. Butter 9x9 baking pan with 2 inch high sides. Arrange bread in 2 rows in prepared pan, overlapping slices slightly. Whisk milk, egg yolks, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium bowl until well blended. Beat egg whites in another bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually fold egg yolk mixture into beaten whites. Pour batter over bread slices in pan. Bake until top is brown, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into 4 portions and serve with warm maple syrup.