French toast with swiss cheese and apples

eggs

1 cup

2% milk or whipping (35%) cream

2 tbsp

divided granulated sugar

¼ tsp

salt

4 large

(1 to 1 ½ inches thick), at least a day old slices of bread

2 tbsp

butter

2 large

cored and thinly sliced, firm apples

2 tsp

canola oil

4 to 8

thin slices swiss cheese

for serving pure maple syrup

Whisk the eggs, milk, 1 tablespoon of the sugar and salt in a large shallow dish (such as a 9- x 13-inch baking dish). Add the bread, press it down and leave it to soak for at least 15 minutes but up to 2 hours.
Close to serving time, melt the butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the apples and the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Cook, stirring often, 6 to 9 minutes or until apples are very soft and lightly golden. Transfer to a bowl and cover to keep warm.
Wipe out the pan with damp paper towels and return to medium heat. Add the canola oil. Remove a slice of bread from the egg mixture, letting a little of the excess drip off, and carefully place in the pan. Repeat with more bread until the pan is full but there is still a little space around each slice (if your pan isn’t big enough, do this in batches). Cook 3 minutes or until the bottom is golden. Flip, reduce heat to low and cook another 3 minutes. Place 1 or 2 slices of cheese on each slice of bread and cook another 1 to 2 minutes or until the cheese melts a bit.
Serve immediately, topped with warm apple mixture and drizzled with maple syrup.