Description
Sweet mornings come alive with this Brown Sugar Banana French Toast Casserole, where tender bread nestles between caramelized bananas and rich custard. Comfort meets indulgence in each spoonful, promising a breakfast that welcomes weekend relaxation with delicious warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, cubed (about 8 cups or 1.9 liters)
- 4 large bananas, sliced
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
Sweet Ingredients:
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Maple syrup (optional)
- Powdered sugar (optional)
Dry and Spice Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ cup (55 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- Fresh banana slices (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking foundation by generously coating a 9×13-inch dish with butter or cooking spray. Create a rustic layer of bread cubes, ensuring even distribution throughout the dish.
- Nestle ripe banana slices strategically between the bread cubes, allowing them to peek through and create delightful pockets of fruity goodness.
- Craft a luxurious custard mixture by vigorously whisking eggs, milk, cream, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg until the ingredients blend into a silky, uniform consistency.
- Gently cascade the custard over the bread and banana arrangement, using gentle pressure to guarantee complete bread saturation. Ensure each cube absorbs the rich, aromatic liquid.
- Refrigerate the assembled casserole for a minimum of one hour, or ideally overnight, allowing flavors to meld and bread to thoroughly absorb the custard.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating the perfect environment for transforming the dish into a golden, custardy delight.
- Construct a crumbly topping by combining brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and softened butter. Mix until the texture resembles coarse, wet sand.
- Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly across the casserole’s surface, creating a tantalizing golden-brown crust.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, watching for a rich, caramelized top and a set custard center.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven, letting the flavors settle and cool slightly.
- Serve warm, adorned with a drizzle of maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, or additional fresh banana slices for an extra touch of indulgence.
Notes
- Prep ahead by cutting bread the night before to save morning time and ensure perfectly dry, cubed pieces that absorb custard beautifully.
- Swap regular bread with gluten-free or whole wheat options to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising rich, comforting flavor.
- Reduce sugar content by using ripe bananas for natural sweetness and substituting part of brown sugar with alternatives like stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
- Enhance protein by adding chopped nuts like pecans or almonds to the topping, creating delightful crunch and boosting nutritional value.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 241 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg