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Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe with Caramelized Bananas for Perfect Breakfast

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A simple and delicious overnight French toast casserole soaked in custard and topped with rich, buttery caramelized bananas. Perfect for a fuss-free, comforting breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf of day-old bread, cubed (preferably thick-cut challah or brioche)
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk or half-and-half
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 3 ripe bananas, sliced lengthwise
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
  • A pinch of salt
  • Optional toppings: maple syrup or honey, chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts), powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Cube your day-old bread into roughly 1-inch pieces and spread evenly in a buttered 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 6 large eggs, 2 cups milk or half-and-half, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt until fully combined and slightly frothy.
  3. Pour the custard evenly over the cubed bread, pressing gently to help the bread absorb the liquid. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours.
  4. About 20 minutes before baking, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of salt, stirring until sugar dissolves and bubbles.
  5. Add banana slices flat in the pan and cook 2-3 minutes per side, spooning caramel sauce over them until golden and syrupy. Remove from heat and set aside.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove casserole from fridge, optionally sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar on top, and bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until golden and custard is set but moist inside.
  7. Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking. Spoon warm caramelized bananas over the top, drizzle with maple syrup or honey, and sprinkle chopped nuts if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

Use day-old bread for best texture; fresh bread should be lightly toasted before cubing. Caramelize bananas fresh before serving to maintain texture and gloss. Tent casserole with foil if browning too fast. Adjust custard thickness by adding milk or eggs as needed. Can freeze baked casserole up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Keywords: overnight French toast casserole, caramelized bananas, easy breakfast casserole, brunch recipe, custard soaked bread, challah French toast, brioche casserole

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/easy-overnight-french-toast-casserole-recipe-with-caramelized-bananas-for-perfect-breakfast/