Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 4 3x1/2-inch strips orange peel
• 4 3x1/2-inch strips lemon peel
• 2 whole star anise*
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 3 medium apples (such as Braeburn or Golden Delicious), peeled, halved, cored
• 6 large eggs
• 3 large egg yolks
• 31/2 cups whole milk
• 2/3 cup plus 8 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 4x4x1-inch slices egg bread
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter

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Instructions

1. Combine first 7 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes. Add apples; cover and simmer until tender, about 12 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer apples to bowl. Boil syrup in saucepan until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. Add syrup to bowl with apples. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
2. For french toast: Whisk eggs, yolks, milk, 2/3 cup sugar, vanilla, and salt in 15x10x2-inch baking dish. Place bread in single layer in egg mixture; spoon egg mixture over bread and let stand until soaked through, about 3 minutes. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in each of 2 large nonstick skillets over medium heat. Sprinkle each skillet with 2 tablespoons sugar. Add 3 bread slices to each skillet; cook until deep golden on bottom, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle top of bread slices with sugar, using 2 tablespoons for each skillet; turn slices over and cook until deep golden on bottom, about 3 minutes. Transfer French toast to plates. Place 1 apple half alongside each serving. Drizzle French toast with some of syrup from apples and serve.
3. Whisk eggs, yolks, milk, 2/3 cup sugar, vanilla, and salt in 15x10x2-inch baking dish. Place bread in single layer in egg mixture; spoon egg mixture over bread and let stand until soaked through, about 3 minutes.
4. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in each of 2 large nonstick skillets over medium heat. Sprinkle each skillet with 2 tablespoons sugar. Add 3 bread slices to each skillet; cook until deep golden on bottom, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle top of bread slices with sugar, using 2 tablespoons for each skillet; turn slices over and cook until deep golden on bottom, about 3 minutes. Transfer French toast to plates. Place 1 apple half alongside each serving. Drizzle French toast with some of syrup from apples and serve.
5. *Brown star-shaped seedpods sold at Asian markets and specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets.