Leftover bananas are a reality in my life. I’m just not good at estimating how many bananas to buy in a week. Instead of letting them slowly turn brown on the counter until their fate as banana bread is sealed, I’m always trying to come up with fun ways to use up my extras. If you’re looking for a breakfast or brunch dish that’s flavorful, fun, and uses some bananas, you’ll definitely want to try this Bananas Foster Stuffed French Toast.

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Stuffed French toast is one of my favorite breakfast dishes to make and to eat. It’s nearly as easy to make as regular French toast, but so much more impressive to serve. I’ve always said that it will be a signature dish once I open my bed and breakfast! And this one is definitely going on the menu.

How to Make Stuffed French Toast

There are a couple techniques to getting that filling inside your French toast. In this recipe, I use two pieces of regular sliced bread, and spread the filling in between. Another option is to use a thicker slice of bread, and create a pocket. Either way, it will be delicious.

The first step is to make the filling. To use cream cheese, it needs to be softer enough to easily spread, without tearing through the bread slices. To do that, you can leave it at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes. Or, you can microwave it in very short bursts. Be careful if microwaving, because it may pop. If you hear that, it’s softened enough.

Adding milk and and sugar to the cream cheese helps with both the texture and flavor. You mix these all together until smooth, and then spread on the slices of bread. I like to put in on both slices, and then nestle the bananas slices in between. Then, you can just gently pinch the edges of the bread together. It doesn’t need to be fully sealed.

You cook it just like regular French toast. Mix together eggs, milk, and vanilla and drench each of the sandwiches. Then fry until perfectly golden brown. But the filling just makes it so much more exciting than its normal counterpart.

What Is Bananas Foster?

Bananas Foster is a dessert that originated in New Orleans, that involves cooking bananas in a brown sugar, butter, and rum sauce – essentially a rum-caramel. Traditional it’s served over vanilla ice cream, but can be eaten as a crepe filling, over French toast, like here, or simply with a spoon!

It’s often prepared and served using a flambé technique, in which the rum vapors are lit on fire. However, if you don’t want to do that here, it doesn’t change the flavor of the dish. The flambé just adds a little “flash” to the presentation. It can be fun when serving this for a group brunch!

How to Make Bananas Foster

Start making the sauce while the sandwiches are frying. Melt the butter but add the sugar before it starts crackling, and mix it together until smooth. A little splash of water helps everything come together.

Then you can add the bananas into the pan in a single layer, and cook them for just a couple minutes in the gooey caramel sauce. Gently turn and stir to coat the bananas, but be careful not to smash them. It’s okay if a few break in half or thirds, though.

When you add the rum, it’s totally acceptable to take a sip or a shot. No one is judging here. If you want to drink more, I suggest a cinnamon, pear, and rum cocktail to drink while you’re cooking or eating. If you’re lighting it on fire, be cautious. Use a long lighter, and make sure nothing flammable is nearby. The flames should go out on their own in just a minute or so. It’s a good idea to have a pot lid ready to smother if needed.

If you don’t want to deal with fire (or you can’t find your lighter, like in my house), you’re not sacrificing any flavor, so don’t worry! You can simply stir in the rum and let it cook for a little bit to combine all the flavors. Scoop the cooked bananas and sauce onto the sandwiches, and enjoy!

How to Serve Bananas Foster French Toast

This dish is perfect for a brunch main course. Here are some tips on how to plan a three-course brunch menu, and even more for throwing a themed brunch party. A New Orleans theme would suit this perfectly. Add in some beignets and chicory coffee, yum!

Don’t forget the cocktails! This French toast is sweet, so a light dragon fruit raspberry sangria or bourbon mint lemonade would pair nicely. For a savory touch, serve with a few vegan lentil-pecan sausage patties on the side.

Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Bananas Foster Stuffed French Toast

French toast, stuffed with a sweet cream cheese and banana filling, fried until golden, and then topped with banana slices fried in a rum-infused caramel sauce. Perfect for brunch!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 People
Calories: 687kcal

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Filling

  • 3 oz Cream Cheese slightly softened
  • 1 Tbsp Milk
  • 1 Tbsp Sugar

Stuffed French Toast

  • 6 Slices Sandwich Bread white or whole wheat
  • 1 Banana yellow and ripe, but firm, 1/4-inch slices
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 Tbsp Milk
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Tbsp Butter

Bananas Foster Sauce

  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Water
  • 2 Tbsp Dark Rum
  • 2 Bananas yellow and ripe, but firm, 1/4-inch slices

Instructions

Stuffed French Toast

  • Prepare the cream cheese filling: Mix together the cream cheese and milk until combined. Whisk in the sugar until smooth.
  • Spread the cream cheese filling on the bread. Place the banana slices on three of the pieces of bread. Top with the other three pieces of bread, so the cream cheese is in the middle. Pinch around the edges gently.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Melt the butter in a flat pan or griddle on medium-high until it is bubbling slightly. Place each sandwich in the egg mixture, and turn until coated. Then place in the hot pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.

Bananas Foster Sauce

  • Meanwhile, In a large saute pan, melt the butter on medium. Stir in the brown sugar, and add the water as needed. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3-4 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Add the banana slices in a single layer. Cook 1-2 minutes without stirring. Then stir carefully to coat in the caramel. Cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Turn the heat to medium-high and add the rum and carefully stir. If desired, use a grill lighter to flambe the rum vapors, and swirl the pan gently until the flames are gone. However, this is not required.
  • Stir and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes, until slightly thickened.
  • Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally, and separate between two plates. Top with the bananas foster sauce, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • If you are not comfortable lighting the rum on fire, or you don't have a lighter, no worried. It's fun and impressive to flambe, but not at all required.
  • To soften cream cheese, allow it to rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes. You can microwave it in very short bursts (5-7 seconds) but if you hear it "pop," it's done. Remove it immediately. 

Special Equipment

Ceramic Coated Frying Pan

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32 thoughts on “Bananas Foster Stuffed French Toast

  1. This both looks and sounds amazing! I love french toast but have actually never made it myself before. Bananas foster is one of my favorite flavors so maybe I’ll have to give this a try!

    1. Haha, the fruit bowl is where bananas go to die for sure. I love having some recipes in my pocket to use before it’s all a loss.

  2. This looks so good! I’ve never had Bananas Foster, but it sounds like something I’d like since I love french toast. I’m normally pretty bad at making sweet things, but this looks something I might be able to try my hand at as well. Thank you for sharing!

    1. This is pretty easy to make, so I’m sure you’ll do a great job! Plus the reward is getting to eat something super tasty. Good luck!

  3. It looks like I’ll be having some time at home now. This recipe is the perfect way to start a morning! It looks so decadent and delicious.

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