VANILLA FRENCH TOAST WITH PEACHES AND APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place butter and vanilla extract in small bowl. Scrape in seeds from 1 vanilla bean piece. Whisk to blend. VANILLA BUTTER CAN BE MADE UP TO 1 WEEK AHEAD. Cover and refrigerate. Place eggs and next 4 ingredients in large bowl. Scrape in seeds from remaining vanilla bean piece. Whisk batter to blend. Place bread slices on work surface; spread with apple butter. Reserve 1/4 of peach slices for garnish. (If preparing the sandwiches ahead, slice 1 peach for garnish at the last minute to prevent browning.) Arrange remaining peach slices over 6 bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices, apple butter side down. BATTER & SANDWICHES CAN BE PREPARED 2 HOURS AHEAD. Cover and chill batter. Cover sandwiches and let stand at room temperature. Melt 2 TBSPs vanilla butter in each of 2 heavy large skillets over medium heat. Holding sandwiches together, submerge into batter. Transfer 3 sandwiches to each skillet. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plates. Spread thin layer of remaining vanilla butter over each sandwich; cut in half diagonally. Drizzle with warm maple syrup. Scatter reserve peach slices over; sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with whipped cream if desired.