Banana Nut French Toast Bake
Indulge in the deliciousness of this Banana Nut French Toast Bake, a delightful twist on traditional French toast that is prepared the night before for a perfectly easy and decadent morning treat. With layers of fluffy bread soaked in a rich custard of eggs, milk, and ripe bananas, and topped with a crunchy cinnamon-walnut blend, this casserole is sure to impress at brunch gatherings or family breakfasts. Simply bake it fresh in the morning, letting the enticing aromas fill your kitchen, and serve it warm drizzled with maple syrup or on its own. Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week ahead!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
Loaf of bread
1 (Cubed or torn into 1-2 inch chunks)
Bananas
2 (Very ripe, mashed)
Brown sugar
3/4 cup (Divided: 1/4 cup for mixing with bananas, 1/2 cup for topping)
Eggs
6 (Whisked)
Milk
3 cups (Whole or your choice of milk)
Hazelnut extract
1 teaspoon (Optional; can substitute with additional vanilla extract)
Vanilla extract
1 teaspoon (For flavoring)
Cinnamon
1 teaspoon (For topping)
Walnuts
1/2 cup (Chopped)
Butter
4 tablespoons (Very thinly sliced)
Instructions
1
Use a loaf of your choice, such as Great Harvest Apple Cinch Bread, French bread, or Italian bread. Cube or tear the bread into 1-2 inch chunks and place them in a generously greased or sprayed 13x9 inch baking dish.
2
In a mixing bowl, mash the 2 very ripe bananas until smooth. Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar to the bananas and mix until well combined to create a sweet banana mixture.
3
In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs until frothy. Gradually mix in the milk, hazelnut extract, vanilla extract, and the banana mixture, whisking until everything is fully incorporated.
4
Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the cubed bread in the baking dish, ensuring that all bread pieces are soaked in the custard mixture. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight to allow the bread to absorb the custard.
5
The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
6
Slice the 1/2 stick of butter into thin rounds and dot them over the top of the casserole.
7
Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the casserole is puffed and golden brown on top. Let the casserole sit for about 10 minutes before slicing to serve.
8
Enjoy warm, drizzled with maple syrup or serve plain for a delicious breakfast treat!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Banana Nut French Toast Bake?
This recipe is a decadent breakfast casserole featuring bread soaked in a banana custard with a crunchy cinnamon-walnut topping.
Can this recipe be prepared in advance?
Yes, this dish is designed to be prepared the night before and refrigerated so it is ready to bake in the morning.
What type of bread is recommended?
You can use a loaf of your choice, such as Great Harvest Apple Cinch Bread, French bread, or Italian bread.
How should I prepare the bread?
Cube or tear the bread into 1-2 inch chunks before placing them in the baking dish.
What size baking dish is needed?
A generously greased or sprayed 13x9 inch baking dish is required.
How many bananas are needed?
The recipe calls for 2 very ripe bananas.
How should the bananas be processed?
Mash the very ripe bananas until smooth and mix them with 1/4 cup of brown sugar.
How many eggs are used in the custard?
The custard requires 6 whisked eggs.
How much milk is needed?
You will need 3 cups of milk, which can be whole milk or a milk of your choice.
Can I substitute hazelnut extract?
Yes, hazelnut extract is optional and can be substituted with additional vanilla extract.
How much vanilla extract is used?
The recipe uses 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for flavoring.
How long should the dish be refrigerated?
Cover the dish and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
What is the oven temperature for baking?
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
What is in the crunchy topping?
The topping is a blend of 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.
How is the butter used?
Slice 4 tablespoons of butter into thin rounds and dot them over the top of the casserole before baking.
How long does it take to bake?
Bake the casserole for 50-60 minutes until it is puffed and golden brown on top.
Does the casserole need to rest after baking?
Yes, let the casserole sit for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
What are the serving suggestions?
Serve it warm, either plain or drizzled with maple syrup.
Is this recipe good for a crowd?
Yes, it is perfect for feeding a crowd at brunch gatherings or family breakfasts.
Can I use this for meal prepping?
Absolutely, this recipe is great for meal prepping breakfast for the week ahead.
What texture should the bread pieces be?
The bread chunks should be 1-2 inches in size to properly absorb the custard.
What kind of sugar is used?
The recipe uses brown sugar, divided between the banana mixture and the topping.
What if I don't have hazelnut extract?
You can simply omit it or use an extra teaspoon of vanilla extract instead.
How much cinnamon is needed?
The recipe requires 1 teaspoon of cinnamon specifically for the topping.
How many walnuts should I use?
You will need 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts for the topping.
How do I ensure the bread is properly soaked?
Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the cubed bread and press down if necessary to ensure all pieces are coated.
Is this recipe considered easy?
Yes, because it is prepared the night before and baked the next morning, it is a very easy breakfast option.
What category does this recipe fall into?
This is a breakfast casserole and a comfort food dish.
Do the bananas need to be ripe?
Yes, using very ripe bananas ensures they are easy to mash and provide maximum sweetness.
How much brown sugar goes into the topping?
The topping uses 1/2 cup of brown sugar.