Let’s talk lazy weekend mornings, lounging in your PJ’s sipping French press coffee, and enjoying this overnight Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole. Sounds like a dreamy, delicious, and ideal way to start the morning! But since reality isn’t always so relaxed, this Overnight French Toast has you covered and looking like the most put together chef in no time, no matter how hectic real life is!
Grant and I just celebrated our 6th wedding Anniversary, and I’m reminiscing about the old days this morning. Because the lazy weekends, lounging around, and taking time for French press coffee are admittedly over! Because now we’ve got two rambunctious and early rising children and a lot of random daily chores! But at least we can still have a leisurely breakfast or brunch because this overnight bananas Foster French Toast Casserole is quickly assembled the night before and popped in the oven the next morning. It’s the most delicious and cozy answer to busy #momlife mornings!
In addition, this banana french toast casserole is a a creative way to enjoy overripe bananas if you aren’t in the mood for Banana Bread or Hummingbird Cake.
Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast
A warm, cinnamon spiced butter and brown sugar glaze coats up sliced bananas for a caramel and fruit twist to traditional French toast. This is made into a Casserole to save even more time and give you a breakfast bread pudding that will bring your whole family around the table for a comfort food feast.
This overnight bananas Foster French Toast Casserole is perfect for feeding crowds, holiday mornings, or even brunch with friends. And it’s perfect for weekends you want to wake up and pop a gourmet breakfast in the oven then feast 45 minutes later.
Today in particular, this New Orleans inspired breakfast came in handy. Not only is it Fat Tuesday, but Grant’s brother and his wife are having a baby today! Hectic and exciting happenings like that definitely call for easy do ahead breakfasts like this Overnight Banananas Foster French Toast Casserole. In fact, I am definitely making one of these for the new parents once they get back home with that cutie patootie baby so they have an easy and homemade breakfast to combat the exhaustion!
Im telling you, this french toast casserole is so good that it vanishes right before your eyes! Even while youre photographing it!
Bananas Foster
Traditional Bananas Foster is one of my favorite desserts. Flambeed bananas with a buttery, brown sugar and rum sauce served with ice cream originated in New Orleans. I’m pretty much a fan of anything flambeed! And if you are too, make sure to check out my, Flambeed Pears.
In the 1950’s, New Orleans was the major port of entry for bananas being shipped from South and Central America. The owner of Brennan’s Restaurant, Owen Brennan, had his chef create a dessert with bananas. The dish was named after Brennan’s friend, Richard Foster, who was the chairman of the New Orleans Crime Commission. Find out more here, Wikepedia.
To flambe a dessert, you simply add some alcohol like rum and gently set it on fire. With this Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole there is no need for theatrics or alcohol, but you get all that flavor combo of a cinnamon spiced Bananas Foster combined with French Toast. And it’s all assembled in 5 minutes!
How To Make Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast
Whipped up in only 5 minutes, refrigerated overnight, then baked in the morning, this Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast couldn’t be easier!
When making this french toast casserole,use day old bread so it will soak up all that cinnamon vanilla custard. Bread that is too fresh will become soggy. My favorite bread to use for this french toast casserole is challah. But, french bread and brioche bread work as well.
Get started by buttering up a 9×13 baking dish and then set it aside.
Melt butter. To the melted butter, add brown sugar, teaspoon of cinnamon and allspice, and pinch of salt. Slice up your ripe bananas and add them to the mixture. Toss to coat. Layer the banana mixture on the bottom of the baking dish. Yes, this is somewhat like an upside down bake, that you will then scoop and turn onto plates, drizzling the sauce on top. The reason is so that the bananas don’t brown.
Then get a large mixing bowl and tear the bread into 1 inch chunks. You can cut and even take off the crusts for a cleaner looking french toast casserole. But I like the rustic look using crusts. And to save time, I just use my hands to pull it apart. It’s more fun to do it that way!
Then, in another mixing bowl, whisk up eggs with cream, granulated sugar, milk, rest of cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture over the bread and coat it well before putting it into the baking dish on top of the banana layer.
For the crumble topping, use a fork to blend together brown sugar, butter, and flour. Put this into a ziploc bag and refrigerate. This will go on right before baking.
Then cover with foil or saran wrap and allow to sit in the fridge overnight.
The next day, set the casserole out for about 15 minute while you preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Right before baking, sprinkle on that brown sugar topping.Bake uncovered 45-50 minutes. Cool and serve while still warm with plenty of maple syrup. Or if you want to take this Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast over the edge of bliss, try turning into dessert it with the bourbon salted caramel from my, Bourbon Apple Crisp. For added banana flavor and crunch, sprinkle on some banana chips!
Please connect with me on Instagram! And if you make this French Toast Casserole, tag me with @ritzymomblog for a chance to be featured in my stories or feed!
Easy Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole Recipe
Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole
A warm, cinnamon spiced butter and brown sugar glaze coats up sliced bananas for a caramel and fruit twist to traditional French toast. This is made into a Casserole to save even more time and give you a breakfast bread pudding that will bring your whole family around the table for a family feast.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf challah bread (day or 2 old) or use french or brioche
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon divided into 1 teaspoon and 1/2 teaspoon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 5 large ripe bananas peeled and sliced
- 6 tablespoons cold butter diced
Topping
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
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Get started by buttering up a 9×13 baking dish and then set it aside. Get a large mixing bowl and tear the bread into 1 inch chunks. You can cut and even take off the crusts for a cleaner looking french toast casserole. But I like the rustic look using crusts. And to save time, I just use my hands to pull it apart. It’s more fun to do it that way!
Then, in another mixing bowl, whisk up eggs with cream, granulated sugar, milk, rest of cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture over the bread and coat it well before putting it into the baking dish.
Melt butter. To the melted butter, add brown sugar, teaspoon of cinnamon and allspice, and pinch of salt. Slice up your ripe bananas and add them to the mixture. Toss to coat. Layer the banana mixture on top of the bread.
Then cover with foil or saran wrap and allow to sit in the fridge overnight.
The next day, set the casserole out for about 15 minute while you preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered 45-50 minutes. Cool and serve while still warm with plenty of maple syrup. Or if you want to take this Overnight Bananas Foster French Toast over the edge of bliss, try turning into dessert it with the bourbon salted caramel from my, Bourbon Apple Crisp. For added banana flavor and crunch, sprinkle on some banana chips!