I’ve had the Simply Zov Cookbook: Rustic Classics with a Mediterranean Twist for the past couple of months, right here on my desk, simply because I can’t bear to retire it the bookshelf. We’ve made 3 of the recipes so far, and all 3 have become part of our regular rotation – just last night we enjoyed a Watermelon Salad with cucumbers, feta and tomatoes <– recipe!
It turns out that I actually got to meet Zov at the IACP Conference in Austin – she was sitting right next to me, attending an SEO roundtable discussion I was teaching! I asked Adam and Joanne to choose a recipe from the book to make, this Bananas Foster French Toast called out to them immediately. Enjoy! ~Jaden
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Bananas Foster French Toast
Technically, this recipe serves 6, but we loved it so much, we finished all 6 servings in one day, just between the two of us, seriously.
To make the French Toast, start with the banana sauce, which is so simple, but so good! You will need bananas, brown sugar (we used dark brown sugar) a whole stick of butter and just a touch of water.
Banana Sauce Ingredients
We chose a pan with a lid then melted the butter over medium heat.
Next, we added the brown sugar and whisked it into the melted butter, within a minute the sugar dissolved into the butter, giving us the base of our sauce.
Now, just to smooth things out even more, we added a couple tablespoons of water.
Then, we covered the sauce, took it off the heat and set it aside while we made the French toast.
Now for the French toast: We used a loaf of brioche, a rich bread with high egg and butter content. Another great choice would be Challah Bread. You will also need eggs, egg yolks, milk, cream, vanilla extract and more butter when cooking.
French Toast Ingredients
We soaked slices of the brioche in a custard, here is how we made it. First, add 3 whole eggs.
Then, 3 egg yolks.
Whisk both the whole eggs and yolks until smooth.
Now, add a 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of cream.
Next, one teaspoon of vanilla extract goes in.
Whisk everything together, then prepare the brioche. Slice the bread into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
Next, we found a pan large enough to fit the slices of bread. This just helped with keeping clean. Line the slices up so they are ready for the custard.
Now pour all of the custard over the slices of brioche. Allow the bread to soak up the custard, flipping the bread slices to make sure both sides of the bread are covered.
Melt a tablespoon of butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
Add a slice (or two, depending on pan size) of the bread. Cook for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.
Flip and cook another 3 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Since we were cooking each slice one-by-one, we kept our oven at 200 degrees F in order to keep each slice warm once cooked. This is a good trick for pancakes, too!
Now that all the bread has been cooked, we finish the sauce. Slice four bananas pretty thick so when added to the sauce they will not fall apart.
Add the bananas to the sauce from earlier. Place the pan over medium heat and cook for a few minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
So Good!!
Bananas Foster French Toast
Ingredients
Banana sauce:
- 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 4 bananas, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
French toast:
- 3 large whole eggs
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 slices (3/4-inch thick) brioche or challah bread
- 3 tablespoons (about) unsalted butter
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
Make the banana sauce:
- Melt the butter in a large stainless-steel skillet with a lid over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and whisk until it melts into the butter. Add the water and whisk until smooth. Cover and set aside while you prepare the French toast.
Prepare the French toast:
- Whisk the whole eggs and egg yolks in a large bowel to blend. Gradually whisk in the milk, cream and vanilla. Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture, turning to coat and soak until they are completely moistened with the custard.
- Heat a heavy, large griddle pan over medium heat. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter on the griddle. Working in batches, transfer the soaked bread to the pan with a slotted spatula and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Add more butter as needed for each batch.
- To serve, add the banana slices to the sauce and cook until the bananas are almost tender, tossing gently, about 3 minutes. Transfer the French toast to plates. Top each with the banana sauce and whipped cream, if desired.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
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I’ve been making this recipe for years because my son, now 21, loves it. Today, I tried it with croissant bread and OMG!!! It took it to the next level. I’ll be honest though, I use the old Betty Crocker recipe for the French Toast portion of this recipe which includes salt and sugar to the mixture. I personally like to drizzle some maple syrup on it, too. Just some options to mix it up.
Ive been craving this so bad my whole pregnancy! Sounds like the perfect recipe too!
Will  egg etc mix keep over night?  I want to prepare the night befor
This is the best french toast EVER! I use regular buttermilk bread and no heavy cream- I also add nutmeg and cinnamon to the egg mixture…. the topping is amazing! I make this at least once a week for my patient. Thank you!
this dish was awesome, everyone ate it up.. even the baby who is on a strict fruit only diet(of his own free will). I have one question. is there any way to soften the banana without giving the sauce a banana flavor?
Hi,
Thanks for the inspiration, I made banana french toast this morning..
It was so delicious..
I have posted what I have made on my blog and link back to Steamy Kitchen.
Thank you,
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Just made this! It was amazing, I accidentally burned the sauce the first time though…keep an eye on it and remove from eat as soon as its melted!
I just made and ate this and I just had to comment.
This is heavenly. I’ve tried many fruit toppings for french toast but this one rocks.
It is very easy to make and not much washing up afterwards (^_^)
Thank You
Just made this. Twas lush. Used a diluted birds custard though, cause I am such a slovenly cook, but it was equally good. Feel I may be a diabetic now though!! SUGAR OVERLOAD. Used up all my over-ripe bananas though. Thanks.
This was so good.
I added a 1/4cup pure maple syrup to the bananas foster. After coating the thick cut italian bread with egg mixture, i then dusted them with crushed corn flakes before frying.
Very good
I did this for Valentine’s Day breakfast, and it was incredible — thank you for the recipe!! Mm-mmm.
I’d also found a cocktail recipe that called for egg whites, so we were set. *grin*
Made this for the 2nd time this Sunday morning — with sourdough — and it’s orgasmic. (also saute up apples in butter for some of my family). The extra egg yolks really make the difference in the custard for the french toast. My favorite bread pudding recipe does the same. might have to go get some more right now.
I just made this for brunch. It was delicious! I was craving bananas foster french toast like I had at the Papermoon Diner in Baltimore and this was just as amazing. Thank you for this recipe. 🙂
Made this this morning, the whole family loved. I didn’t change a tuning. Thanks for the fabulous recipe!
I just made the bananas foster with the ‘Fluffy Pancakes’ recipe from allrecipes.com and it was DELICIOUS. Thanks for this recipe. (Oh how I wish my photography skills were half as good as yours). So easy and the sauce was just as tasty as the ‘imitation’ maple syrup recipe that I used to make that required way more ingredients and time. You gotta NOT forget the water as I forgot it at first and the sugar just WASN’T dissolving at all, but it started doing so almost immediately after I realized what I forgot.
I did add a LITTLE vanilla extract, maple extract and ground cinnamon to mine but that was just to my personal taste. Lots of possibilities with this simple recipe.
I’ve tried some of your recipe, this one gives me another fantastic sensation! 🙂
It looks delicious and the pictures are beautiful!
Thank you Samantha!
Um, I don’t even like french toast and I’ve bookmarked this to make. This looks incredible. Thanks for sharing. I would have eaten it all myself.
I don’t usually make breakfast, but we are huge banana fosters fans! This looks amazing. Great meal to wake up to.
Oh, now I just really want french toast and asap.
I’m so hungry now! I wish I could have some of yours 🙂
This is so good. I think I can eat the whole loaf of bread myself. I think even without the banana, the bread will be delicious too. My mum used to pan fry toast bread coated with eggs,sugar and milk mixture…I love it so much.
This looks great…i dont like very much bananas but here it looks amazing…great 🙂
This looks awesome! I love French Toast, Brioche and Caramelized Bananas. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I am so going to try it!
When do you set it on fire?
Wow this looks amazing!
Wanna eat!!!!!
Hello, friend! I.want.some.now!
This looks fabulous. 🙂
Awwwwwwwww, that looks scrumptious!!! Can’t wait to try this.
Oh my. This looks amazing. I love breakfast for dinner and this is going on my short list!
I KNOW WHATS FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW
It looks so decadent it could be desert. I get why it was all gone in a day.
WOW, nothing like having dessert for breakfast. That’s my kind of meal. Oh my goodness this looks to die for. This I’ve got to try.
As for the book thanks for sharing that. Sounds like one I need to add to my collection.
I like the recipe but I think it would be even better with pure Canadian Maple Syrup!
Wow! While this might be too sweet for me to eat as breakfast/brunch, a scoop of good vanilla ice cream would turn it into a wonderful dessert!
I love bananas foster! It’s one of my favorite desserts. I love french toast! It’s one of my favorite breakfasts! What a great combo.
Looks insanely delicious, love the step by step photos =)
I love the bananas in this dish! So many times I feel like my everyday french toast is missing something. Bananas sound like a fabulous addition!
This looks so amazing, I almost don’t even know what to say.
This sounds like something I would want to wake up everyday to!
This is my new dream! Love this idea!
That looks amazing! Bananas Foster is one of my favorite things ever!!
I’m a huge breakfast person, and this is really calling my name!!
My stomach just yelled at me to get in GEAR AND MAKE THIS.
I think it’s angry.