Baked French Toast with Caramelized Bananas

This is a delicious breakfast, and making it will fill your kitchen with the scent of cinnamon and caramelised bananas. It reminds me of Christmas mornings.

BAKED FRENCH TOAST WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

(serves 4)

3 large bananas, sliced crosswise, about 1 cm in thickness

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup whipped cream

1 cup evaporated milk

1 egg

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 tablespoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 pieces of bread, preferably a few days old

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup brown sugar for topping

1/4 cup walnuts for topping, optional

Procedure:

1.Start by heating a pan with 1 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Add the chopped bananas and pan fry them till a bit brown. Add the brown sugar and continue pan frying. Make sure not to overcook or they will turn mushy. Set aside.

2.  Cut the bread into triangles and brush them with melted butter. Set aside.

Tip: The staler the bread, the better. This is because dry bread absorbs more of the liquid. If your bread is not stale, heat it up in an oven to dry it out.

I used wholewheat raisin bread this time.

3.  In a bowl, add the whipped cream, milk, egg, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Whip together with a wire whisk until well integrated.

4. Then it's time for the assembly. Make 3 layers. Get a baking dish and brush with oil. Put the slices of bread at the bottom of the dish.  Put some of the bananas, then some of the cream mixture. Put another layer of bread, then bananas, then cream, finally ending with bread. 

Pour the rest of the cream mixture on top of the bread.  It's ok if it seems to be watery because all this will be absorbed by the bread eventually.  (At this point, cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for at least one hour. It would also be great if you can leave it there overnight, so that the bread absorbs all the flavours.)

5.  When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and sprinkle the top of the bread with brown sugar. You may also sprinkle some chopped walnuts as a variation.

Bake in preheated oven at 350F.  Slice and enjoy!