Banana Bread French Toast
Wait! Don’t eat all your banana bread quite yet — save some for this indulgent and decadent banana bread french toast, worthy of a special occasion… or any day.
Earlier this week, I shared a recipe for my favorite chocolate chip banana bread. Full of mashed bananas, chocolate chips, and a few hazelnuts for crunch, it’s pretty darn great on its own, if I may say so myself.
So how do we make it even better? We dip it in eggs and milk, cook it to golden brown, and cover it with more sliced bananas, powdered sugar, and a drizzle of chocolate. Banana bread french toast. That’s how.
We had friends come and stay with us for New Year’s Eve again this year, and this is what I served for brunch the next day before our annual Mummers Parade experience, along with mimosas (because… New Years).
No New Year’s resolutions diets welcome at my brunch, thank-you-very-much. Some people start out a brand new year with lofty diet and fitness goals. I say ring in the new year with booze and 700 calories of french toast.
Seven weeks later, and I’m still dreaming about this french toast. And I don’t even particularly like french toast. In other words, it’s awesome, and you should make it right now. Or at least this weekend.
How to Make Perfect French Toast
Before I get into the recipe, let’s talk french toast for a second. I think one of the reasons I don’t really enjoy french toast is because it’s often way too dry or way too soggy — it’s so hard to find that perfect middle ground.
French toast should be golden brown outside and soft and creamy inside – not dry bread, not dripping with egg. Slices roughly one inch thick are the best way to ensure this — too thin, and the bread gets too soggy; too thick, and the custard never reaches the middle of the bread and it’s too dry.
While you can use fresh bread, I prefer to let mine sit out for a day or two, so go ahead, enjoy a few slices of banana bread plain the day after you make it, and wait for the bread to get just slightly stale before turning it into french toast.
Banana Bread French Toast Toppings
Really, you can do anything with banana bread french toast. Cut a slice extra thick and stuff some cream cheese (or peanut butter!) in the middle for stuffed french toast. Opt for a simple dusting of powdered sugar and fresh berries (or more banana slices). Cover with chocolate chips or some crushed nuts.
My personal favorite toppings, however? Some powdered sugar, more sliced bananas, and a beautiful drizzle of melted chocolate. My husband likes to go really overboard and top his with some maple syrup, too. But hey, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? You don’t want to skimp. ?
Ready to step up your french toast game? Go ahead, enjoy a totally overboard, decadent banana bread french toast breakfast. And then go to the gym and eat some spinach for dinner. Everything is okay in moderation.
More Entertaining-Worthy Brunch Recipes:
- Almond Blueberry Breakfast Cake
- Cranberry Orange Streusel Muffins
- Bacon Chocolate Chip Waffles
- Soft Pretzel French Toast Casserole
- Chocolate Pancakes with Peanut Butter Ganache
- Blueberry Blintzes
Banana Bread French Toast
An indulgent and decadent breakfast, worthy of a special occasion… or any day.
Ingredients:
- 6 1-inch thick slices of chocolate chip banana bread (roughly 2/3rd of a loaf)
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup half-and-half or whole milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- butter, for coating the pan
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or vegetable oil
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, and vanilla until combined and no egg separation remains.
- Heat a griddle over medium heat and lightly coat with melted butter.
- Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture for 30 seconds per side, allow excess egg custard to drip off the slice of bread, and then place on the buttered griddle. Cook until golden brown and slightly crispy, 2-3 minutes per side.
- Combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small, microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for two 30-second increments, stirring in between.
- Serve banana bread french toast topped with sliced bananas, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
A Bunsen Burner Bakery Original Protocol
