Picture this: You’re waking up to the most heavenly aroma wafting from your kitchen, and it’s not just your regular ol’ pancakes! Ladies and gents, let me introduce you to my absolute favorite breakfast creation – the Caramelized Banana French Toast Casserole. Trust me, this recipe will make you the star of any brunch gathering!
As a busy mom who loves treating her family to something special, I’ve perfected this recipe through countless Sunday morning experiments. The best part? You can prep it the night before! (Because who wants to wake up super early, right? Not this girl! 😉)
Here’s what you’ll need:
– 1 loaf of brioche bread, slightly stale
– 4 ripe bananas
– 4 large eggs
– 2 cups whole milk
– 1/2 cup heavy cream
– 1/3 cup brown sugar
– 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
– 1 teaspoon cinnamon
– 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
– Pinch of salt
– 4 tablespoons butter
For the caramel sauce:
– 1/2 cup butter
– 1 cup brown sugar
– 1/4 cup heavy cream
Y’all, let me walk you through this magical process:
1. Cut your brioche into thick chunks (about 1-inch pieces). If your bread is fresh, let it sit out for a few hours to get slightly stale – trust me on this one!
1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth. (I may or may not taste test the mixture… don’t judge! 😋)
1. Layer half the bread chunks in a greased 9×13 baking dish. Slice two bananas and arrange them over the bread. Add remaining bread on top.
1. Pour that heavenly egg mixture all over, making sure every piece of bread gets some love. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours if you’re impatient like me).
Hey! If you’re loving this recipe so far, make sure to follow me on Newsbreak for more drool-worthy recipes that’ll make your family think you’ve secretly enrolled in culinary school!
Now, where were we? Ah yes!
1. The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F. Let the casserole sit at room temperature while the oven heats up.
1. Slice the remaining bananas and arrange them on top. Dot with butter pieces.
1. Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy on top.
For the caramel sauce (because we’re extra fabulous):
1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat
2. Add brown sugar and cream
3. Whisk until smooth and slightly thickened (about 5 minutes)
4. Pour this liquid gold all over your casserole
Serve it up hot, and watch everyone’s eyes roll back in pure breakfast bliss! I like to add a sprinkle of powdered sugar and some fresh berries because we eat with our eyes first, right?
This recipe has saved me during countless family brunches and even impressed my mother-in-law (and we all know how hard that can be! 😅).
Don’t forget to follow me on Newsbreak for more amazing recipes that’ll make your taste buds dance! Drop a comment below and let me know how this breakfast sensation turned out for you – did it make you the family hero? Did your kids actually eat breakfast without complaining? Share your success stories, and let’s chat about all things food!
XOXO,
Your favorite recipe girl 💋
P.S. – If you managed to save any leftovers (which, good luck with that!), it reheats beautifully the next day. Just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds, and you’re back in breakfast heaven! 🥰
