This banana french toast bake is a delicious and easy way to use up your ripe bananas. It's low in sugar and fat, does not require overnight soaking and takes just minutes to put together.
This banana french toast bake is super moist and fluffy on the inside and crispy on top. It's primarily sweetened with bananas so it's bursting with banana flavour!
The reason this banana french toast recipe works well as a casserole is that the naturally sweet banana won't burn as it might do if you fried individual slices. You'll have a perfectly cooked dish that's easy to make and requires very little effort.
Banana french toast bake ingredients and substitutions
- Bananas: ripe or overripe.
- Bread: see below for more details.
- Eggs.
- Milk: use any.
- Sugar: I used demerara but any coarse sugar will work.
- Butter: regular or dairy-free spread.
Why type of bread works best
It's best to use soft, fluffy yeast-based bread, either white or whole wheat/wholemeal. You could use buns, as I have done, or chunks/slices of bread (3-4 slices of thick bread).
Top tip
There is no need to remove the crust from the bread or buns unless it's quite thick and tough.
Step-by-step recipe instructions
1.Tear up the bread and place in your casserole dish.
2. In a bowl mash the bananas using a fork.
3. In another bowl lightly beat the eggs with the milk to combine. Add the banana mixture and stir.
4. Pour the mixture over the bread, stir thoroughly and leave aside for 5 minutes.
5. Give another stir, sprinkle over the sugar, drizzle the butter over the whole thing and bake in the centre of the oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Remove your mashed banana french toast bake from the oven and tuck in!
Serving suggestions
Delicious on its own, with a drizzle of maple syrup, a handful of fresh berries, homemade fruit compote or chocolate raspberry sauce.
Optional extras
This recipe is quite versatile and you can give it a different twist every time you make it. The following ingredients will work:
- Cinnamon (stir approx. ½ tsp into the egg mixture)
- Chocolate chips - scatter 2 tbsp over the top or add into the egg mixture
- Flaked almonds, flaxseeds or crushed nuts - scatter over the top before drizzling with the melted butter.
Is this recipe healthy
This baked banana French toast is pretty low in both fat and sugar so it's quite healthy. I only used a bit of melted butter for drizzling so the top would crisp up.
This dish is naturally sweetened with nutritious bananas and you'll only need a bit of sugar to sprinkle over the top (for added crunch).
Top tips
- You do not need to soak the mixture overnight.
- I recommend using very ripe/overripe bananas because they are sweeter than firm, not quite ripe ones. As most of the sweetness comes from the bananas they need to be as sweet as possible. So overripe are best!
- I also recommend mashing the bananas using a fork, not pureeing. You'll be able to better appreciate the sweet baked banana pieces tucked in between the bread chunks.
- This french toast casserole with bananas is best served hot straight from the oven. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave.
Freezing
To freeze this dish prepare as per Instructions, then cover thoroughly, uncooked, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen.
Related recipes
- Quick Blueberry French Toast Casserole
- Chocolate French Toast Bake
- French Toast Muffins with Chocolate Chips
Check out also these other delicious breakfast recipe ideas which include vegetable breakfast recipes.
Keep in touch!
How has your healthy banana french toast bake recipe turned out for you? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!
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Recipe
Banana French Toast Bake (Low Sugar)
Equipment
- Medium casserole dish (approx. 6 cm deep)
Ingredients
- 3 medium buns or 3-4 slices or bread, white or whole wheat, soft
- 3 very ripe medium bananas
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk any
- 1 tablespoon demerara sugar
- 1½-2 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F/ 190 C/gas mark 5. You will need a medium size casserole dish approx. 6 cm deep.
- Tear up the bread/buns and place in your casserole dish (they should be nice and snug).
- Mash the bananas using a fork. In another bowl whisk together the eggs and milk, combine with the bananas and stir well.
- Pour the mixture over the bread, stir thoroughly and set aside for 5 minutes. Give another stir, sprinkle the sugar, drizzle the melted butter over the whole thing and bake in the centre of the oven for 30-35 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- There is no need to soak the mixture overnight.
- I recommend using very ripe/overripe bananas because they are sweeter than firm, not quite ripe ones. As most of the sweetness comes from the bananas they need to be as sweet as possible. So overripe are best!
- I also recommend mashing the bananas using a fork, not pureeing. You'll be able to better appreciate the sweet baked banana pieces tucked in between the bread chunks.
- This french toast casserole with bananas is best served hot straight from the oven. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave.
- Delicious on its own, with a drizzle of maple syrup, a handful of fresh berries, fruit compote or chocolate sauce.
- Regular milk can be replaced with any plant-based milk.
- Substitute light brown or cane sugar for the demerara if preferred.
- Extras: Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon or chocolate chips into the egg mixture if desired. You can also scatter flaked almonds or flaxseed over the top for extra crunch before drizzling with the melted butter.
- Baking times may vary depending on the depth of your casserole dish.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.
**A note about baking: If using a fan-assisted oven refer to your appliance's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.
Gina K says
Should the casserole dish be covered during baking?
Monika says
No. Keep it uncovered so it can crisp up on top.
Olga says
How much bread would I use if I chose to substitute it for the buns?
Monika says
2.5-3 slices, possibly 4, depending on the kind of bread you are using, thickness etc. The bottom line is it needs to be immersed in the milk and banana mixture but still be partly visible, as in the photos. So adjust the amount of milk accordingly. Hope it works out for you:)
Michele Shultz says
This French toast banana bake was so easy to put together. It is delightful and light. I made it for brunch and very much enjoyed it. I used low carb bread and a cinnamon sugar mix for the top.
Monika says
Great to know! Thank you:)
Shirlyn says
This recipe sounds super amazing! Will totally give it a try on the weekends!
Monika says
Thank you! Let me know how it turned out for you:)
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist says
What a fun and delicious recipe Monika.I love the use of bananas and bet they/the whole thing tastes amazing.... I have never heard of a 'french toast casserole' though.... is it different from a 'bread and butter pudding' in texture?
Monika says
Thanks Kate! It's pretty eggy, but I am not really sure if it's different in texture from bread and butter pudding, probably quite similar.
Balvinder says
I really love the idea of french toast casserole.
Monika says
Thanks Balvinder!
Jacqui Bellefontaine | Recipes Made Easy says
OMG I could go bananas for this so up my street. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare and while you were on holiday too. Hope you are having a great time J x
DeeDee says
This is a great Idea Monika!
Monika says
Thanks DeeDee!