Banana French Toast

Jul 23, 2024

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Banana French Toast makes a special breakfast or brunch dish! Thick slices of bread are dipped in a banana-infused batter, cooked until golden brown and crisp, and topped with crunchy pecans, sweet maple syrup, and fresh banana slices.

For a complete and indulgent breakfast, serve it alongside my homemade easy waffles and these eggs in purgatory for a savory bite.

Three slices of French toast are stacked on top of each other on a plate and topped with banana slices and Nutella.

I’ve fancied up my version by serving it with pecans and a generous topping of Nutella, but you can also serve French toast plain with a drizzle of maple syrup. My kids love all the sweet breakfast things, especially food with bananas. They adore my fruit sando for lunch and banana pudding for dessert!

Why I Love This Banana French Toast Recipe

So flavorful. Spiked with cozy spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and fragrant bananas, this banana French toast recipe is packed with flavor in every bite.
Easy, just like ordinary French toast! If you have made French toast, you can definitely make banana toast. The only extra step is pureeing the bananas into the batter.
Fits any occasion. This is a perfect recipe to make for a special brunch, but it’s equally welcome on a busy morning when you want a sweet, satisfying breakfast!

Ingredients for banana french toast are shown: bananas, bread, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, milk, coconut oil, salt, sugar, vanilla.

What You’ll Need

Below is an overview of the ingredients you need to gather to make this flavorful banana French toast recipe. Check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.

Bananas – Use ripe bananas for the best flavor. They should be bright yellow with a few brown spots.
Eggs – You can use large or medium eggs for the batter.
Milk – I use whole milk for richness. You can also use 2% milk, or a little half-and-half for an even richer batter.
Granulated Sugar – For a little sweetness. Or, add maple syrup instead of sugar.
Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract adds depth of flavor.
Ground Spices – Cinnamon and nutmeg add a touch of warming spice.
Salt – I use a pinch of fine sea salt to balance the sweetness of the batter.
Bread – Use French bread, sourdough loaf, or day old challah bread.
Butter – You can use either unsalted butter or coconut oil to fry the toast.
To Serve – Maple syrup, bananas, pecans, and chocolate hazelnut spread.

What is the best bread for French toast?

For the best French toast, you want a sturdy bread that absorbs liquid well. I often use French bread, like in this recipe, but I’ll also use brioche or eggy challah bread. In a pinch, you can use regular sandwich bread. You want slices that can absorb the batter but also hold their shape well while you pan-fry the French toast.

Choose a thick-cut bread, or make sure to cut thick slices if you’re cutting it yourself. Some other ideal breads for French toast include breads that are labeled “Texas toast” or “hearty” bread.

How To Make Banana French Toast

Learn how to make this easy French toast recipe with this step-by-step guide. Perfectly sweet and flavorful, it’s a delicious take on a breakfast classic!

Bananas and rest of the batter ingredients are placed in a food processor. — 1. Combine the batter ingredients in a blender.

The batter for banana french toast is pureed until smooth. — 1. Combine the batter ingredients in a blender.

Two pieces of bread soak up the banana batter. — 3. Soak the bread slices in the banana mixture.

The french toasts fries in a skillet. — 3. Soak the bread slices in the banana mixture.

Make the batter. Blend the bananas, eggs, whole milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt in a food processor.
Slice the bread. Cut the bread into thick slices.
Warm the pan. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and melt in some coconut oil or unsalted butter.
Soak the bread. Dip each slice of bread into the banana-egg mixture, then cook them on the hot skillet or griddle until golden brown.
Serve. Drizzle the French toast with maple syrup, add sliced banana and pecans, and top with a dollop of chocolate hazelnut spread.

Banana toast served on a plate with a slices of banana on top.

Chef’s Tips

French toast is easy, but a few simple tips will ensure that it turns out well, no matter what version you make!

Soak the bread. Thoroughly soak the bread in the batter before frying the piece of toast. A good amount of time to aim for is about 30 seconds on each side so that the bread doesn’t have any dry spots. You can press the bread into the batter to make sure it gets completely submerged.
Add a little orange zest. I love stirring in the zest and/or juice of half an orange to the batter for a little citrus zing.
Use ripe bananas. How do you tell that a banana is very ripe? Its color should be a bright yellow with brown spots, and it should be slightly soft (though not mushy).
Keep it warm in the oven. If you are making a big batch of French toast, you can keep the slices you’ve already cooked warm in the oven until you’re ready to serve. Place the slices on a baking sheet and warm them in a 200°F oven for up to 30 minutes.
Double the batch. Speaking of making a larger batch, you can easily double this recipe to serve a crowd.

A pitcher pours maple syrup over a stack of banana French toast.

Serving Suggestions

Serve banana French toast with easy scrambled eggs, a batch of fried eggs, or make sausage and egg breakfast cups or an eggs benedict casserole to round out your plate. And don’t forget a side of bacon!

Keep the sweet bread theme going with some breakfast pastries! I love serving banana French toast with a cinnamon roll casserole, slices of homemade chocolate babka, or blueberry scones.

A simple side of seasonal fruit is always welcome, especially during summer when you can serve your French toast with blueberries, sliced strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and more. You can also make my fresh fruit salad and serve big scoops next to a slice of banana French toast.

A cup of coffee is perfect with French toast, or make one of my special coffee drinks. I love a mocha iced coffee recipe during hot weather and a caffe macchiato any time.

Close-up of a stack of French toast garnished with slices of banana and chocolate spread.

Can French Toast Be Prepared Ahead?

French toast tastes great when it’s fresh out of the pan, but you can also make it ahead and reheat it to save yourself some time on busy mornings. Here’s my method:

Fridge – Place the French toast slices in a sealable bag with a piece of parchment in between each one, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer – Let the banana French toast cool, then transfer it to a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes, then transfer the frozen French toast to a freezer-safe sealable bag or freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the French toast in the fridge before reheating it.
To Reheat – You have several options for reheating banana French toast. Place a slice or two of toast on a plate and microwave it for 2 minutes until warm. On the stove, add the French toast to a pan and warm it over low heat until hot. Or, reheat French toast on a baking sheet, covered with foil, in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.