Creme Brulee French Toast Sticks

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 2 3/4 cups heavy cream
• 5 vanilla beans
• 9 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 loaf French or Italian bread cut into 1 1/2-inch wide sticks
• 2 tablespoons butter
• plus more if needed
• Powdered sugar
• for dusting
• Maple syrup
• to taste

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan add milk and cream to saucepan.
2. Using the tip of a small, sharp knife, split the vanilla bean and scrape the insides of the vanilla beans into the milk mixture.
3. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
4. Remove from the heat and set aside for 30 or 40 minutes to allow the vanilla to infuse into the milk.
5. Pour through a fine sieve and strain into bowl and set aside.
6. Preheat griddle to medium heat.
7. In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix together well with a wooden spoon.
8. Little by little add the milk mixture, stirring well with the wooden spoon to blend.
9. Pour mixture through a fine sieve and strain into a clean bowl.
10. Cut bread into 1 to 1 1/2-inch wide strips.
11. Melt 2 tablespoons butter on the griddle.
12. Dip bread sticks into creme brulee mixture.
13. Cook a few at a time for 2 to 4 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown.
14. Add additional butter as needed to keep pan greased.
15. Sprinkle French toast sticks with powdered sugar and serve with syrup.