One of my first “cooking” memories involved making a dessert where I would fry bananas in an ungodly amount of butter and serve them with heaping, snowy mountains of powdered sugar on top of ice cream. Yes, I may have been 12, but I was SO proud of my “bananas foster.” I still recall lighting up from within as my grandfather went back for seconds. While I have absolutely no quibbles making or devouring a dessert like that today, this Caramel Banana Upside Down French Toast Bake is a slight step up from the bananas foster of my youth. However, it still maintains all its childhood poignance, considering this is a breakfast recipe that could easily pass for dessert. And, even though this recipe sounds a lot more sophisticated, it’s all done in a cast iron skillet and prep only takes about 15 minutes.
¡Buen provecho, y’all!
- ¾ cups sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup cream
- 2 Tbs butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of sea salt
- 3 bananas, cut in half lengthwise
- 6 brioche rolls (cut in half) or slices brioche bread
- 6 eggs
- 1½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- powdered sugar for serving
- more bananas for serving
- pecan pieces
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- For the caramel: In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, add the sugar and water and gently stir to combine. Allow to turn a dark amber color (without stirring), about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the cream and reduce the heat to low, stirring to combine. Take skillet completely off the heat and add butter, vanilla and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add banana halves on top of the caramel. Then, press brioche rolls/bread over the top of the bananas. You may need to rip some pieces until there are no empty spaces.
- Then, in a medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk and cinnamon together. Pour evenly over the bread.
- Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until it doesn't "jiggle" (or have parts with raw egg)
- Remove from oven and let cool just a minute. Use a spatula to loosen around the edges. Using a round plate, flip the bake over and then place back in the skillet.
- Serve with powdered sugar, extra bananas, and pecan pieces as desired.
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