Banana Bread French Toast

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Saturday morning brunch couldn’t get any easier with this incredible sweet treat! My Banana Bread French Toast is a breakfast game changer! Serve thick slices with caramelized bananas, toasted walnuts, and warm maple syrup.

Typically, French toast is made from leftover day-old bread, like a French loaf or Brioche, so why not do the same thing with leftover banana bread?

Thick slices are dipped into a cinnamon egg mixture and cooked to golden brown perfection. All that’s left to do is add your favorite toppings and dig in!

While it’s not often that we have leftover banana bread, it’s worth hiding a loaf until the weekend to make this brunch-worthy breakfast treat!

Don’t have leftover banana bread? Grab some from the store or try a more classic (but just as fruity!) take — I have recipes featuring orange marmalade or a homemade berry topping. There’s even a savory option stuffed with cheddar cheese and covered in a crunchy coating.

Key ingredients & substitutions for Banana Bread French Toast

• Banana bread — Use your favorite homemade recipe or grab a loaf from the store. If the banana bread is a little stale, the French toast will be more firm.
• Eggs and milk — If you have the time, bring these to room temperature first. They’ll blend together faster and smoother than if straight from the fridge.
• Vanilla and spices — Warm notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg perfectly complement the banana bread flavor.

Special supplies needed

• A coil whisk is extremely helpful when making the egg mixture for dipping.
• Cook a full batch of banana bread French toast on a stovetop or electric griddle! If you don’t have one, crisp a slice or two at a time in a nonstick skillet instead.

How to make banana French toast?

STEP 1 | Make the egg mixture

In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined. Be sure to beat the mixture until it is smooth throughout so you don’t get thick sections of egg on your slices.

STEP 2 | Dip the bread

Carefully lower each piece into the egg mixture, flipping to coat both sides. Don’t let the bread slices soak in the egg mixture, just dip each side and remove. It can help to use a perforated spatula so the slices don’t break apart in the process.

STEP 3 | Fry the slices

Heat your skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and coat with nonstick spray. Cook the bread slices on both sides until lightly crisp and golden brown.

STEP 4 | Add toppings

Serve immediately with your choice of caramelized bananas, toasted walnut pieces, and warm maple syrup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving suggestions

This banana French toast wouldn’t be complete without crunchy toasted walnuts and plenty of warm maple syrup. Sometimes, I even add a dollop of sweetened whipped cream — just to be fancy! You could also keep things simple with a dusting of powdered sugar over the top.

For extra fruit flavor, add a few caramelized banana slices! To caramelize bananas, melt a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of brown sugar in a skillet over medium heat until bubbly. Add the fruit and cook just a minute or two until well coated. Any longer and the slices will become mush.

Round out your plate with crispy bacon slices or your favorite breakfast sausage. For a full spread, add a Sausage Apple Breakfast Casserole or this light and fresh California Quiche with some roasted red potatoes.