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Quinton and I hit the 20-year mark in February of 2020, and instead of a fancy cruise, we piled into the car and headed into Cajun country. No schedules, just the two of us stopping at every café and roadside joint with the promise of something fried, buttered, or smothered.
We saw more wildlife than we bargained for on a swamp tour and more sides of the bread basket than anyone needs in a week. One morning in Baton Rouge, I ordered a decadent French toast at The Ruby Slipper-thick slices of brioche bread dipped in a rich egg mixture, cooked until golden brown, and topped with a caramelized banana sauce spiked with dark rum. It was over-the-top, indulgent, and easily one of my favorite breakfast recipes from that trip.
Even after traveling to Mexico and Europe, it's still one of the best food memories we share. Back home, I decided to make my own Bananas Foster French Toast recipe using challah bread, a custard-style French toast batter with whole milk and heavy whipping cream, and plenty of sliced bananas softened in melted butter and dark brown sugar. If you're looking for a classic New Orleans dessert turned breakfast, this one's worth the effort.
The Gist
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Dietary Notes: Contains dairy, gluten, and eggs
Why You'll Love It
Tastes like the iconic New Orleans dessert, Bananas Foster.
A decadent French toast recipe with caramelized banana topping.
Perfect for special occasions like Mother's Day or holiday brunch.
Flexible-use brioche, challah, French loaf, or even stale bread.
Kitchen Equipment
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Prepare the French Toast
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together large eggs (or yolks), heavy whipping cream, whole milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
- Pour the French toast batter into a shallow dish or large baking dish.
- Place slices of brioche bread, challah, or even white bread into the custard mixture, turning each piece of bread so both sides of the bread are coated evenly. Let soak for about 10 minutes.
- Heat a medium skillet or griddle over medium heat, adding melted butter or cooking spray. Cook bread until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes to set.
Caramelize the Tops
- Sprinkle each piece of bread with sugar.
- Use a torch to brûlée until sugar melts into caramel sauce.
Make the Bananas Foster Sauce
- Melt tablespoons of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat.
- Stir in dark brown sugar and cinnamon until bubbling.
- Add sliced bananas and cook 1-2 minutes until softened into warm bananas.
- Stir in vanilla, banana liqueur, and dark rum. Let bubble 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
Serve
For special occasion brunch, add a drizzle of maple syrup or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a nod to the classic New Orleans dessert created by Richard Foster.
Place French toast slices on plates, spoon banana topping and banana sauce over top.
✨ Scroll on down, friend. That full recipe's waitin' for you at the bottom. ✨
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Chef's Tips for Bananas Foster French Toast
- Best bread: Use thick-cut bread like brioche, challah, or French bread. Stale bread works best. If your bread is still fresh, you can dry it out by placing the slices onto a half sheet baking pan and baking it at 300 degrees f0r 10-20 minutes until the surface is dry.
- Soak well: Make sure each piece of bread is fully coated in egg mixture for rich flavor.
- Use ripe fruit: Overripe bananas with brown spots caramelize beautifully, just make sure they haven't gone past the point of return or they'll be a mushy mess.
- Make it dessert: Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a true bananas Foster French toast experience.
FAQs
Can I use white bread instead of challah bread?
Yes, though brioche, White bread or French loaf works if slightly stale.
Can I make this overnight?
Yes, assemble in a large baking dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bake the next morning.
What's the best way to reheat leftover French toast?
Place in a 325°F oven until warm, or use a medium skillet with a little melted butter.
Is the alcohol necessary?
No, substitute extra vanilla or a drizzle of maple syrup instead of rum or liqueur.
Leftovers & Storage
- Store leftover French toast in the fridge up to 3 days.
- Freeze cooked slices without banana sauce for up to 2 months.
- Reheat in the oven until warmed through.
- Banana sauce keeps 2 days in the fridge-reheat gently before serving.
My Favorite Storage Containers
Rubbermaid Brilliance Storage Containers
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If you're craving more homemade French toast and special occasion brunch favorites, subscribe to my newsletter and take a look at my other recipes for inspiration.
Tried It?
If you make this banana's foster French toast at home, leave a comment or tag me with #jennifercooks-I'd love to see your table.
Morning Made Better: More Breakfast & Brunch Recipes to Try
When the coffee's hot and the griddle's humming, these breakfast and brunch favorites make the morning feel easy. From golden-brown French toast to cozy fall pancakes, here are crowd-pleasing bites to round out your special-occasion spread or lazy Saturday lineup.
Banana Bread French Toast - Thick slices dipped in a rich egg mixture and fried to golden brown in melted butter-an excellent way to use overripe bananas.
Quiche Lorraine - A savory classic with bacon, caramelized onions, and Gruyère in a flaky crust; easy to slice and serve for a crowd.
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes with Vanilla Cream Syrup - Fluffy, warmly spiced pancakes that bring cozy fall flavor to any morning.
French Breakfast Puffs - Tender muffin-style puffs brushed with melted butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar; simple, nostalgic, and brunch-ready.
Easy French Toast - A quick, classic method with cinnamon, vanilla, and crisp edges; perfect for using up day-old bread and getting breakfast on the table fast.
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Before You Get Started! If you whip up this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a review and rating to let me know how it turned out. Your feedback helps keep the kitchen running and allows me to keep sharing free recipes with y'all!
Bananas Foster French Toast
Ingredients
French Toast:
- 2 loaves challah bread sliced 1 ½ inches thick
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon Kosher salt
- Cooking Spray for greasing pan
- ½ cup granulated sugar for brûlée topping
Bananas Foster Sauce:
- ½ cup salted butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 to 4 large bananas sliced on the bias
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons banana liqueur
- 3 tablespoons dark spiced rum
Instructions
Prepare the French Toast
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.4 large egg yolks, 2 cups heavy cream, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon Kosher salt
- Arrange challah slices in a single layer in a greased baking dish.2 loaves challah bread
- Pour custard mixture evenly over the bread, turning slices to coat well. Let soak for about 10 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with butter.
- Cook soaked bread slices until golden brown on each side, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes to set the custard.
Caramelize the Tops
- Sprinkle each slice with a light, even layer of granulated sugar.½ cup granulated sugar
- Using a kitchen torch, carefully brûlée the sugar until melted and caramelized; keep warm in the oven.
Prepare the Bananas Foster Sauce
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.½ cup salted butter
- Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon until dissolved and bubbling.½ cup light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Add banana slices and cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly softened.3 to 4 large bananas
- Stir in vanilla extract, banana liqueur, and rum.
- Allow sauce to bubble for 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat.
Serve
- Place French toast slices on plates.
- Spoon warm Bananas Foster sauce and bananas over the top.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Brioche or Texas toast can be used instead of challah.
- Half-and-half may replace heavy cream for a lighter custard.
- Omit banana liqueur if unavailable, or substitute with additional rum or vanilla extract.
- Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a dessert-style version.
- Pair with crisp bacon or sausage for a savory balance.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
- Store leftover French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in a 325°F oven for 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Freeze cooked French toast slices (without sauce) for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven at 350°F until hot.
- Bananas Foster sauce is best prepared fresh, but may be refrigerated up to 2 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is automatically calculated based on ingredient data and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient options are provided, the first listed is used for calculation. Optional ingredients and garnishes are not included in the nutrition analysis.
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