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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.

two slices of banana bread french toast on a white plate garnished with sliced bananas, walnuts, and whipped cream with a fork nestled on the plate.

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.

ingredients for banana bread french toast on a table.

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?

process steps for making banana bread french toast: add eggs and cream to shallow dish; whisk until combined.

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.

process steps for making banana bread french toast: dip slices of banana bread in egg mixture; fry until golden.

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.

tips

a serving of banana bread french toast on a plate with sliced bananas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of bread is best for French toast?

Thick slices of a dense, slightly sweet bread — Brioche, French loaf, or Challah — tend to provide the best results. Even Texas Toast would do in a pinch! It’s best when it’s a bit stale since dry bread will absorb more of the egg mixture. Use a day-old loaf or toast fresh slices in the oven to dry them out a bit.

For this banana French toast recipe, we’re using leftover homemade banana bread for something a little extra decadent.

Can I save leftover banana bread French toast?

You sure can! Transfer slices to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave, toaster, or in a skillet on the stove.

This banana French toast also freezes beautifully. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer bag, or stack them between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months.

two slices of banana bread french toast on a plate with a bite speared on a fork.

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.

two slices of banana bread french toast on a white plate garnished with sliced bananas, walnuts, and whipped cream with a fork nestled on the plate.

Banana Bread French Toast

My Banana Bread French Toast is a breakfast game changer! Serve thick slices with caramelized bananas, toasted walnuts, and warm maple syrup.
4.60 from 10 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 352 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 1-inch slices banana bread
  • 4 large eggs beaten
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Maple syrup warmed
  • 2 medium bananas sliced
  • ¼ cup walnuts chopped
  • sweetened whipped cream for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat griddle to medium high heat.
  • Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a shallow dish.
  • Dip banana bread slices in the egg mixture, coating both sides. Do not soak in dish.
  • Spray griddle with non-stick cooking spray and fry slices until golden brown on both sides.
  • Serve with warm maple syrup, banana slices, and chopped walnuts. Garnish with sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Notes

  • Storing leftovers: Transfer slices to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave, toaster, or in a skillet on the stove.
  • Freezing: Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer bag, or stack them between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 8servingsCalories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 8gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 276mgFiber: 3gSugar: 24g

Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Keyword banana bread, french toast
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was.
Sheila Thigpen, blogger

About Sheila Thigpen

Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer

Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.

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