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.

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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 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 dreamt about that dish.

So when I heard Sunday Supper was sharing 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

Name: Bananas Foster French Toast
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
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)

This impressive french toast recipe starts with simple ingredients–Challah bread, eggs, and bananas.

I make a custard with eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and milk just like a traditional french toast. And then saute on quickly on a buttered skillet and finish cooking in the oven.

As my french toast bakes, I use the same skillet to make the bananas foster for topping my french toast. It is really just sauteeing bananas in caramel and then adding rum and lighting on fire to allow the alcohol to burn off. Of course adding rum is optional, it is very traditional.

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.

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