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    Home » Recipes » Breads and Buns

    Caramelized Banana French Toast

    Published: Jul 29, 2022 · Modified: Jan 12, 2023 by Megan Weimer · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Syrup being poured over a French toast stack.
    Syrup being poured over a French toast stack.

    This caramelized banana French toast is decadent and delicious! The toast is crispy on the outside and soft and custardy on the inside. It's topped with homemade, warm caramelized bananas, making for the best sweet treat to serve for breakfast or brunch.

    Maple syrup being poured over a stack of French toast on a plate.

    This caramelized banana French toast is the indulgent brunch recipe of my dreams. Top it with maple syrup, whipped cream, and powdered sugar to bring it to the next level!

    Each slice of toast is fluffy and pan-fried in the leftover honey banana caramel sauce. The warm, soft banana slices on top are irresistible. This recipe goes hand in hand with my caramelized honey bananas recipe. You can make a batch of bananas to eat with this French toast or to put on pancakes, crepes, ice cream, and more.

    Preparing a big brunch spread? Make my white chocolate chip muffins, chia seed banana bread, lemon pancakes, key lime pie overnight oats, cinnamon streusel muffins, and almond flour banana muffins too!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Substitutions
    • Helpful Equipment and Tools
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Additions and Variations
    • Storage and Freezing
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Breakfast and Brunch Recipes to Try
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Honey caramelized bananas- The bananas are naturally sweetened with honey and have a lovely floral flavor.
    • Easy to make- You only need about 30 minutes, 1 pan, and only a few ingredients to make this recipe. It's kid-friendly too!
    • Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside- This French toast isn't soggy because of thick sliced bread and minimal soaking time. It isn't too eggy and is perfectly browned.
    • Day old bread- Making this recipe is a great way to use up your stale bread. The stale bread actually benefits this recipe's texture.
    Slices of French toast with bananas on a plate.

    Ingredient Notes

    Here are some notes about the ingredients used. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card below.

    Ingredients to make honey caramelized bananas on a surface.
    Ingredients to make caramelized banana French toast on a pink and white surface.
    • Honey- Any kind of honey works, but I prefer raw, light-colored honey like this clover honey because of its floral taste.
    • Bananas- Use bananas that are slightly underripe. They should be yellow with a slight green tint. Bananas with brown speckles will fall apart while cooking, but greenish bananas will keep their shape and be easy to flip.
    • Butter- Use a high-quality salted butter, like Kerrygold. Unsalted butter with a sprinkle of sea salt works in a pinch.
    • Bread- Any kind of thickly sliced stale bread works great for making French toast. It will crisp up better and is less likely to get soggy. I recommend challah, brioche, Texas toast, sourdough, white, or French bread (like a baguette).

    Substitutions

    • Butter: Coconut oil can be used instead of butter to make the recipe dairy-free. However, the bananas will not brown as much.
    • Honey: If you don't have honey, you can use maple syrup to sweeten the bananas and toast.
    • Coconut milk: Any kind of milk will do for soaking the toast.
    • Cinnamon and nutmeg: You can use other warming spices like allspice, cardamom, and cloves.
    • Vanilla extract: This can be swapped for almond extract.

    Helpful Equipment and Tools

    • Medium frying pan- I've been using these non-stick pans from All-Clad for years. They've held up beautifully.
    • Silicone spatula- This is a great spatula for everyday cooking. It is made of heat resistant silicone so it won't scratch or damage your cookware.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Caramelized banana French toast can be made super quickly! You'll need 1 medium mixing bowl, a whisk, a spatula, a non-stick frying pan or skillet, measuring cups, and measuring spoons.

    STEP 1: Slice the bananas. Using a sharp metal paring knife, slice the bananas into uniform round coins about ½ inch thick and set aside.

    STEP 2: Melt the butter, honey, and cinnamon. Add the salted butter, honey, and cinnamon to a skillet on medium heat. Then, whisk the ingredients together, letting them heat until fragrant and simmering.

    Butter, honey, and cinnamon in a skillet.
    Caramel sauce in a frying pan.
    Caramel bubbling on a skillet.

    STEP 3: Caramelize the bananas. Add the bananas coins to the pan in a single layer and let them cook in the bubbling honey butter mixture for about 3 minutes or until the bottoms look crisp and golden brown. Lift the bananas with a fork to check. Then, flip with a spatula and let them cook for another 3 minutes. Watch the bananas carefully so they don't burn.

    Bananas in caramel in a pan.
    Bananas caramelizing in a pan.

    STEP 4: Remove the bananas. Scoop the bananas and the caramel sauce out of the skillet and into a small bowl. Then, move the skillet off the heat but keep the burner on.

    STEP 5: Make the custard. Add the eggs, coconut milk, honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a shallow mixing bowl and whisk until well combined. The spices might clump a bit.

    Milk, eggs, vanilla, honey, and cinnamon in a bowl.
    A whisk in a bowl of egg wash.

    STEP 6: Dunk the bread. Move the skillet back onto the heat. Cut the bread into thick, ¾-1 inch slices if not already sliced. Then, dip one piece of bread into the egg mixture. Let it sit for 5-10 seconds, flip, and repeat.

    A piece of bread in an egg mixture in a bowl.
    A piece of bread in an egg mixture.

    STEP 7: Add bread to the skillet. Immediately after dunking, place the bread onto the hot skillet. Repeat step 6 with another slice of bread and place it on the skillet as well.

    STEP 8: Cook the toast. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat steps 6-8 with the remaining slices of bread, adding about a tablespoon of butter to the pan each time if needed. The caramel sauce will evaporate as you cook more slices.

    Raw French toast cooking in a pan.
    French toast cooking in a pan.

    TIP - Check on the bread and caramel as it cooks. Gently lift up one side of the bread with a fork to see if it is browning too quickly or slowly. Adjust the heat as needed.

    STEP 9: Serve. Add 2 slices of toast to a plate. Then, spoon the caramelized bananas and caramel sauce on top. Add a drizzle of maple syrup, a dollop of whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar and enjoy!

    Expert Tips

    • Don't overcrowd the pan with banana slices. It makes them difficult to flip.
    • Keep a close eye on the bananas while they are cooking. Honey and butter burn quickly, so be cautious.
    • The bread acts as a sponge. The longer it sits in the egg mixture, the more it will absorb, and the soggier your French toast will be.
    • Add more butter to the pan throughout the cooking process. The butter helps the outside of the toast caramelize and give a rich flavor.
    Two plates with French toast topped with bananas.

    Additions and Variations

    • Orange- Add a splash of orange juice and about a tablespoon of orange zest to the egg mixture for a citrusy twist.
    • Bananas Foster- While the bananas caramelize, add a tablespoon of dark rum to the pan. Whiskey or bourbon can also be added.
    • Nuts- For more texture, add some walnuts or pecans to your French toast. This reminds me of banana bread!
    A stack of sliced French toast with maple syrup being poured over it.

    Storage and Freezing

    Storage- Store the French toast and the honey bananas in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    You can reheat French toast in the air fryer, oven, stove, or microwave. For the air fryer and oven, reheat at 400F on a lined baking sheet. Bake each side for 2-4 minutes, adding the bananas after flipping. For the stove, reheat over medium heat on a buttered skillet for about 3 minutes on each side. For the microwave, reheat at 15 second increments.

    Freezer- Freeze the toast in an airtight container, Ziplock bag, or wrapped in plastic wrap or foil for up to 1 month. Don't freeze the bananas.

    Make ahead- You can make the French toast up to 3 days ahead of time and the banana up to 4 hours ahead of time. I don't recommend letting the toast soak in the egg mixture overnight because it will get very soggy!

    Some possible toppings include: jam, fruit compote, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, Nutella, peanut butter, and fresh fruit and berries.

    Slices of French toast with bananas on a plate.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make French toast on a griddle?

    Yes! If you have an electric griddle, make sure it is well buttered and set at about 350F. Cooking times will be the same.

    Why didn't my French toast get crispy?

    You probably used bread that wasn't stale enough or let the bread sit in the egg/vanilla/cinnamon bath for too long. Bread is like a sponge and will be soggy if it soaks up too much liquid.

    Why is stale bread better for French toast?

    Stale bread is better because it is old and has lost a lot of moisture. Because of this, it will soak up more of the custardy egg mixture without getting soggy.

    More Breakfast and Brunch Recipes to Try

    • A stack of mini blueberry muffins.
      Mini Blueberry Muffins
    • Small Batch Banana Muffins
    • Blueberry muffins stacked on parchment paper.
      Small Batch Blueberry Muffins
    • Blueberry cheesecake overnight oats in a jar on a striped napkin.
      Blueberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

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    📖 Recipe

    Maple syrup being poured over French toast stack.

    Caramelized Banana French Toast

    Megan Weimer
    This caramelized banana French toast is crispy on the outside and soft and custardy on the inside. It's topped with homemade, warm honey caramelized bananas, making for the best sweet treat to serve for breakfast or brunch.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast and Brunch
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 351 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 non-stick frying pan or skillet

    Ingredients
      

    Honey Caramelized Bananas

    • 2-3 bananas large
    • 2 tablespoon honey
    • 1 tablespoon salted butter
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon ground

    French Toast

    • 2 eggs large
    • 1 cup coconut milk
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon ground
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ground
    • 8 slices bread

    Instructions
     

    • Make the caramelized bananas following my honey caramelized bananas recipe.
      2-3 bananas, 2 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon salted butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • Add the eggs, coconut milk, honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a shallow mixing bowl. Whisk together until well combined. The spices might clump a bit.
      2 eggs, 1 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • Move the skillet back onto the heat. Cut the bread into thick, ¾-1 inch slices if not sliced. Dip one piece of bread into the egg mixture. Let it sit for 5-10 seconds, flip, and repeat.
      8 slices bread
    • Immediately after dunking, place the bread onto the hot skillet. Repeat the previous step with another slice of bread and place it on the skillet as well. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown.
    • Repeat previous 2 steps with the remaining slices of bread, adding about a tablespoon of butter to the pan each time if needed.

    Notes

    Use day-old bread. Don't leave it in the egg mixture for too long or it will absorb too much and get soggy.
    Check on the bread and caramel sauce as it cooks. Gently lift up one side of the bread with a fork to see if it is browning too quickly or slowly. Adjust heat as needed.
    Add more butter to the pan throughout the cooking process after each batch. Butter helps the outside of the toast caramelize.
    Storage: Store the French toast and the honey caramelized bananas in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    Freezing: Don't freeze the bananas. Freeze the toast in an airtight container, Ziplock bag, or wrapped in plastic wrap or foil for up to 1 month.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2slicesCalories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 51.4gProtein: 8.5gFat: 11.8gSaturated Fat: 7.6gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 371mgPotassium: 207mgFiber: 3.5gSugar: 15.3gCalcium: 218mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword caramelized banana, french toast
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Megan Weimer

    Megan Weimer is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Dollop of Dough. Since 2020, she's been inspiring home bakers to create low-key, yet elevated desserts that range from traditional to allergy-friendly.

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    Welcome to Dollop of Dough! Here you will find dessert and drink recipes that are easy to prepare for everyday occasions.

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