I’m going to make a really bold claim – I think I have found something even better than Banana Bread. I know that seems impossible but let me introduce you to Banana Bread French Toast. Thick slices of homemade banana bread cooked in a creamy cinnamon custard, this recipe takes traditional banana bread to the next level. Top it with whipped cream, syrup and fresh banana slices and you have a masterpiece breakfast that’s also easy to make!
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send it straight to you + be signed up for all new recipes!
You’ll Love Banana Bread French Toast
Banana Bread is kind of my thing – I have an entire Banana Bread section here on Love From The Oven. I’m always looking for delicious new ways to make banana bread, and this Banana Bread French Toast might be my favorite yet. You just can’t go wrong when you combine two amazing comfort foods into one irresistible dish. I can’t wait for you to try it!
What I Love:
- It’s just as easy as making regular French toast.
- This will impress anyone you serve it to, while being super easy to make.
- It’s made with pantry staples, so you don’t need an extra trip to the store.
- Talk about a great use of leftovers. That is if you somehow find yourself with leftover banana bread! Or if your banana bread wasn’t covered well and dried out a bit, this is a great way to make the most of that.
- Top with any of your favorite french toast toppings! It’s spectacular with fresh fruit.
- Save money by making a homemade breakfast that rivals that of any trendy eatery.
French Toast Made Even Better
French toast is already a much loved choice to serve for breakfast. But when you bring banana bread into the equation, it becomes a breakfast to remember. Banana Bread French Toast is something your friends and family will talk about, they’ll request and they’ll downright crave. So fair warning, if you make and share this once – be prepared to make it over and over again!
Let’s get to it and go over what you’ll need and how to make this recipe. Thanks for supporting food bloggers like me. Now more than ever it’s important to make sure that the recipes you use are tested by real people so that you can get the best results in your kitchen!
Banana Bread French Toast Ingredients
This is a discussion about the ingredients. For the actual recipe with amounts, please see the recipe card at the end of the post below.
- Banana Bread – This is my all time favorite banana bread recipe to use. It’s the one I used to make this banana bread French toast. It’s a fairly sturdy loaf, and holds up well. A more delicate banana bread might be a bit more prone to breaking up when flipping it in your pan, so just be gentle when doing so.
- Eggs – You want to use large eggs. If your eggs are on the small side, add an extra one in.
- Ripe Banana – It’s extremely important to use a RIPE banana. They have far more moisture than the pretty yellow bananas do. In this recipe that banana is not only used for flavor, it is used for moisture as well. You want a banana that you can mash fairly smooth.
- Heavy Cream – Along with the eggs and mashed banana, this helps create the custard that the French toast is soaked in. You can use half and half or whole milk if needed.
- Brown Sugar – Just a pinch of brown sugar helps with both sweetness and getting that golden brown appearance.
- Vanilla Extract – Always use pure extract whenever possible.
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon helps impart that classic French toast taste. You can also use a bit of nutmeg if you like.
- Butter – You’ll add just a small amount of butter to your skillet when cooking. This, along with that brown sugar we added, helps get that yummy, caramelized exterior.
- Toppings – These are optional but here are some of my topping suggestions: Maple syrup, whipped cream, powdered sugar, fresh banana slices, other fresh fruit, butter or even a small drizzle of caramel sauce.
How To Make Banana Bread French Toast
This is just a visual overview of how this recipe is made. For the actual recipe directions with full details, please see the recipe card below.
If you’ve ever made French toast, then you are ready to make the banana bread version. And if you haven’t – well you are in for a treat when you realize just how easy it is to make!
Step 1: Slice banana bread into ten even size slices.
Step 2: Whisk together eggs, mashed banana, cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
Step 3: Soak bread slices in liquid for about one minute per side.
Step 4: Place butter into a skillet or griddle and cook each piece for about 2-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
Christi’s Tips For Success!
Ripe Banana – As mentioned before, you really need a ripe banana for this banana bread French toast recipe. If it’s brown or heavily spotted and looking not so hot, that’s the banana you want!
Soak It Up – Because banana bread is thicker and denser than the traditional bread used for French toast, make sure you give it enough time to really soak in the egg mixture. About one minute per side is ideal.
Low And Slow – It’s best to cook French toast low and slow. You want to make sure the center of the bread cooks, not just the exterior, otherwise the center can be a bit too gooey. You can also use a lid to help keep the steam in while cooking, which will help keep the banana bread even more moist.
Crowd Control – Unless you are using a large griddle, you will likely need to cook your banana bread French toast in two or three batches as it won’t all fit in the skillet at once. Personally I do this using two skillets at once to keep things moving.
Easy Does It – Take it easy when you are flipping the banana bread. Be gentle to help prevent it from breaking apart.
Keep Warm – You can keep this French toast warm by placing it on a baking sheet and putting it in the oven at a low temperature (about 200). This is great if you are working in batches, or just want to get it made and move onto another dish before serving.
Storage Tips
Storing: Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
Reheating: You can reheat in the microwave or back on the stove until heated through. Air frying is also a great method for reheating because it will help re-crisp the exterior.
My Best Banana Bread Recipes
Banana Bread French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf banana bread
- 4 large eggs
- 1 very ripe banana (mashed)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 1-2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- whipped cream (optional, for topping)
- fresh banana slices (optional, for topping)
- powdered sugar (optional, for topping)
- maple syrup (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Slice your banana bread into 10 even slices. Trim the edges of the banana bread if you choose. Set aside.
- Whisk eggs in a shallow dish with the mashed bananas, cream, cinnamon and salt.
- Soak a few slices of banana bread at a time in the egg mixture for a minute on each side.
- Place a large skillet over medium-low heat and melt a tablespoon of butter.
- Place the soaked banana bread slices on the skillet and cook for 2-4 minutes on each side. Low and slow is best with this French Toast. Once the toast is golden brown, remove it from the heat and repeat with the remaining slices.
- Serve warm with some whipped cream, bananas, powdered sugar, and syrup. Enjoy!
Notes
Storing: Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send it straight to you + be signed up for all new recipes!
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
