Bananas are the essential breakfast fruit. Slice them up and they can go anywhere to add their creamy, mild sweetness. Take this Banana French Toast Bake as just an example; the custard the bread soaks in is infused with mashed bananas, so each bite has the tropical flavor baked right in! It’s as golden, as rich, as deliciously luxurious as other baked French toasts, but with a twist! With that crunchy, brown sugar streusel on top, Banana French Toast Bake makes you feel like anything is possible! Not bad for a humble little yellow fruit!
Ingredients
For the bake:
- 1 day-old loaf French bread, brioche, or challah bread, diced
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
- 6 large eggs
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
For the streusel:
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup salted butter, cold and diced
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional toppings:
- salted caramel sauce, to taste
- powdered sugar, to taste
- bananas, to taste, sliced
- strawberries, to taste, sliced
Directions
Step 1 –Spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2 –Place 1/2 of the diced bread in the prepared casserole dish, followed by 1/2 of the salted caramel sauce and 1/2 of the toasted pecans.
Step 3 –Repeat the layers in the casserole dish.
Step 4 –In a blender, combine the milk, the half-and-half, the eggs, the bananas, the vanilla, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, and the nutmeg until smooth and blended.
Step 5 –Pour the prepared custard mixture over the bread mixture.
Step 6 –Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours and up to overnight. Overnight is preferred, but not required.
Step 7 –When ready to bake the casserole, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 8 –Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes while the oven preheats.
Step 9 –Combine the light brown sugar, the butter, the flour, and the remaining cinnamon in a small bowl.
Step 10 –Using your clean fingertips, mix the streusel mixture together until the butter breaks down into smaller pieces.
Step 11 –Sprinkle the streusel mixture over the French toast casserole.
Step 12 –Bake until the custard is thoroughly cooked and set, about 45-55 minutes. If the streusel starts to brown too quickly, tent the bake with a piece of foil.
Step 13 –Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Step 14 –Serve with the additional salted caramel sauce, the powdered sugar, the bananas, and the strawberries.
