French Toast Cups with Apples and Sausage

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and butter a muffin pan.

Using a cookie cutter, cut circles out of bread slices about 3 inches in diameter. I do not have a cookie cutter so I use the lid of my tub of orzo pasta and just cut around the edges. ;D

Whisk eggs, sugar and spices together. Dredge bread circles in the egg mixture and remove any excess egg.

Press bread circles into the muffin pan. Bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until brown.

While bread is in the oven, prepare breakfast sausage. In another hot skillet, melt butter, stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Add apples to the brown sugar mixture and cook until apples begin to soften and sugar mixture caramelizes. Combine the sausage and drippings with the apples; stir.

When French toast cups are done, allow to cool for a few minutes, then remove from the pan using a knife to separate the cups from the pan. Fill French toast cups with apple and sausage mixture, drizzle with maple syrup, and serve.

Knife and fork optional.