Description
This Irresistible Overnight Baked Banana French Toast Delight combines the comforting flavors of ripe bananas, warm cinnamon, and rich custard soaked sourdough bread. Perfectly topped with a crumbly brown sugar streusel, this baked French toast casserole is an easy, crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch option that can be prepared ahead and baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Custard and Bread
- 1 pound Sourdough or French Bread (preferably day-old)
- 8 large Eggs
- 2 cups Milk (whole or 2%)
- ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream (or half-and-half as substitute)
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 6-7 medium Bananas (ripe, sliced)
Streusel Topping
- ¾ cup All-Purpose Flour
- ¾ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter (cut into pieces)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a baking dish to ensure the French toast doesn’t stick during baking.
- Make Custard Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon until the mixture is smooth and uniformly combined.
- Add Bread and Bananas: Gently fold in the chunks of sourdough or French bread along with the chopped ripe bananas, allowing the bread to soak in the custard mixture evenly without breaking apart.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Pour the bread and custard mixture into the greased baking dish, spreading evenly for uniform baking.
- Prepare Streusel Topping: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cut pieces of unsalted butter. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to mix until the topping reaches a crumbly consistency.
- Top the Casserole: Sprinkle the prepared streusel topping evenly over the bread and custard mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the custard is set and the topping turns golden brown and crisp.
- Serve and Enjoy: Allow to cool slightly before serving. This dish pairs well with maple syrup or fresh cream for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Using day-old bread helps it absorb the custard better without becoming mushy.
- Ripe bananas add natural sweetness and flavor, but adjust quantity if you prefer a milder banana taste.
- If you prefer a lighter topping, reduce the butter slightly in the streusel.
- This dish can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Ensure to cover the dish with foil if the top browns too quickly during baking.
