Bananas Foster French Toast: French toast and an iconic New Orleans dessert collide in this dish that features a caramelized banana topping and a rich Challah french toast.
One of my all time favorite places on earth is Charleston, South Carolina.
My love affair began with the city on my honeymoon there, 14 years ago. We were not planning to visit Charleston. We had high hopes of sitting on a beach in the Caribbean. But I was in a serious car accident right before our wedding and my injuries prevented us from traveling far.
What started out as a disappointment, became one of our best memories ever.
For those of you who have visited Charleston, SC, you know EXACTLY what I am talking about.
For those of you who have not been as fortunate to visit the city, think about a clean town right on a waterway with million dollar historic homes lining the streets. And the food–oh my!! Nothing I have ever eaten in Charleston has been a disappointment to me–and being that I am now just 3 hours from this town filled with Southern charm, I visit whenever I have a chance.
A little over a year ago, my husband and I took a weekend trip there just the two of us and stayed at this fabulous historic hotel. Everything about our stay was glorious, but what I remember most was the breakfast at the Vendue Inn. I ordered Eggs Benedict and it was out of this world, but my husband ordered Bananas Foster French Toast, and ever since I stole a bite of his breakfast, I have dreamed about that dish.
So in thinking about Mardi Gras recipes, I just knew it was the perfect excuse for me to try to recreate this bananas fosters french toast. After all, Bananas Foster is known as a classic New Orleans recipe! Plus I wanted the excuse to practice and practice this recipe so I could eat it over and over again 😉
Bananas Foster French Toast
This impressive french toast recipe starts with simple ingredients.
- Challah bread
- Eggs
- Bananas
Preparing French Toast
- Make a custard with eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and milk just like a traditional french toast.
- Soak thick slices of bread lightly on both sides in custard.
- Saute quickly on a buttered skillet
- Finish cooking in the oven.
By cooking the french toast in the oven, you are create evenly cooked french toast, that is creamy, yet still crispy.
Bananas Fosters Sauce
As my french toast bakes, I use the same skillet to make the bananas foster for topping my french toast.
- Melt butter in skillet over low heat.
- Add brown sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
- Add bananas and cook for 1 minute on each side.
- Remove bananas from pan to a serving dish.
- Bring sauce to a simmer and carefully add the rum, if using.
- If the sauce does not immediately flame up, carefully ignite sauce with a stick lighter.
- Cook until flame dies out, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
While I was not sitting in the my favorite hotel, enjoying my scrumptious brunch by the East Bay in Charleston, I am now able to dream about the my experience there in the comfort of my home.
For a creative gluten-free french toast recipe, try out this Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole from Vegetarian Mama.
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes
- Easy Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
- Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
- Easy Skinny Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
- Healthy Whole Wheat Pancakes
Bananas Foster French Toast Recipe
Bananas Foster French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce loaf of challah bread cut into 1 inch thick slices (about 12 slices)
- 6 eggs
- 1/2 cup half and half or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons of butter divided
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 underripe bananas sliced in 1 inch slices on a bias
- 1/4 cup dark rum optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
French Toast
- Whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla together. Dip each slice of bread into egg mixture and flip and soak other side.
- Preheat skillet (do not use a nonstick skillet if flambeing rum later) over medium heat and add in 1 tablespoon butter.
- Once butter is melted, brown each slice of french toast for 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet and place on baking sheet and place in oven while making the bananas foster sauce for 15 minutes.
Bananas Foster Sauce
- Melt remaining butter in same skillet over low heat. Add brown sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Add bananas and cook for 1 minute on each side.Remove bananas from pan to a serving dish.
- Bring sauce to a simmer and carefully add the rum, if using. If the sauce does not immediately flame up, carefully ignite sauce with a stick lighter. Cook until flame dies out, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
- To serve, place 2 slices of the french toast on a plate, top with a few slices of bananas and then a bit of the syrup.
Liz says
We honeymooned in Charleston, too!!! And we both posted bananas foster recipes, too! Your French toast looks amazing!!!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Liz–great minds think alike <3
Denise Wright says
I have never had bananas foster before and I’m now wondering what is wrong with me! It sounds fabulous. This will be great when my stepdaughter and her family come to stay. We like to have special breakfast for them. Looks great!
Kristen Chidsey says
You must change that ASAP Denise! Bananas foster is so simple, yet so perfect. I hope you enjoy!
Christie says
French toast rocks by itself. But you put Bananas Foster on them? Mind blown. Sounds like dessert to me!
Kristen Chidsey says
LOL!! Yep, truly more of a dessert than a healthy breakfast. But oh is it worth the sugar comma!
Laura Dembowski says
I’m so sorry to hear you were in an accident before your wedding. It sounds like you made the best of a bad situation, though. And this french toast looks amazing!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thank you Laura! It wasn’t what we had planned, but it did all work out all okay!
Carlee says
It looks like practice made perfect! This looks absolutely decadent and amazing!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thank you so much Carlee!
[email protected] says
This is making me drool! It looks amazing! I will be making this!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thank you so much Nikki! I hope you enjoy it!
Caroline says
Looks like a tasty twist on both French toast and bananas foster. I’m heading to Charleston for the first time in a couple months and can’t wait!
Kristen Chidsey says
Oh my goodness Caroline–you will LOVE it!
Tara says
Such a perfect addition to a Mardi Gras brunch!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Tara!
Sarah Reid, CNP (@jo_jo_ba) says
We used to have french toast all the time, but not like this! Yum!
Wendy Klik says
I knew I shouldn’t have waited until Lent started to read these posts….My stomach is grumbling all over the place. Yummo.
Kristen Chidsey says
LOL!!! I bet!
Jacquelin Powers says
This recipe came out AMAZING! I make French toast a lot, because it’s easy and has protein and my little one doesn’t realized it’s made with eggs (we say we dip it in milk.) My whole family fought over this. I didn’t have Challah bread so I used brioche and it was really good. A 14oz loaf fed 4 of us. I also only had clear rum and I used a 1 1/2 tablespoons because my kids don’t like when it tastes a bit boozy. It lit on fire nicely which the younger one, went nuts over. Thank you so much for this recipe, it’s most definitely going in my recipe box!
Kristen Chidsey says
OH I love hearing how much you and your family enjoyed this! I hope it brings your family smiles for years to come.