You know how sometimes you just need a breakfast that feels like a vacation? Like, something way beyond your standard cereal bowl? Well, I’ve figured out how to take two of the greatest comfort foods known to humankind—fluffy, custardy French toast and warming, spiced banana bread—and smoosh them together. Meet my ultimate indulgent morning treat: Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast!
Seriously, this isn’t complicated. My recipe takes just 10 minutes of prep time and another 10 minutes on the skillet. That’s right, 20 minutes total for something that tastes like it took all morning! This specific version of Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast is my reigning champion because I sneak in a little cream cheese. Trust me, that tiny addition makes the filling unbelievably creamy and cuts through the sweetness perfectly. It’s pure magic in bread form.
Why This Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast Recipe Works So Well
Honestly, what’s not to love here? We’re taking something already delicious—banana bread (and if yours needs a boost, check out my sour cream banana bread recipe)—and making it even better by turning it into a crispy, golden delivery system for more banana goodness.
The balance is just right. You get that rich, spiced banana flavor inside, nicely cooled down by the cream cheese, and then that perfectly crisp French toast shell on the outside. It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s so fast!
- Super Quick Prep: We’re talking 10 minutes to assemble these beauties.
- Major Comfort Food Factor: Nothing says weekend morning like this level of indulgence.
- Perfect for Brunch: It always feels way fancier than it actually is!
Gathering Your Ingredients for Perfect Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
Now, you don’t need a giant shopping list for this treat—that’s part of why it’s a weeknight hero! But you do need to make sure you have the right stuff ready to go. We’re dividing things into our creamy filling and the egg wash bath.
For the filling, you absolutely must use a very ripe banana—the spottier, the better! You’ll need about a half cup of that mashed fruit, mixed with softened cream cheese and just a pinch of cinnamon to give it that classic flavor bump.
For the dipping bowl, grab two large eggs, a splash of milk, and some good vanilla extract. And don’t forget the butter for the skillet! If you want to try making your own maple syrup to go with this—and you absolutely should—you can check out my recipe for simple syrup here.
Here’s the quick rundown of what you need:
- For the Filling: 4 slices of thick bread (don’t skimp here!), 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana, 2 tablespoons cream cheese (softened, please!), and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- For the Batter: 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Plus, 1 tablespoon of butter for cooking.
Essential Equipment for Making Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
You don’t need a stand mixer or five fancy bowls for this recipe, thank goodness! We keep the equipment list short so you can focus on eating faster. All you really need are the basics for mixing and cooking.
Make sure you have:
- A small bowl for mixing up that delicious banana filling.
- A shallow dish—this is crucial for dipping the sandwiches evenly without making a huge mess.
- A sturdy whisk to blend up your egg batter.
- A good, non-stick skillet for getting that perfect golden-brown crust.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
Okay, this is where the magic happens! It moves fast, so try to have everything ready to go before you start mixing the filling. We are aiming for crispy on the outside and gooey paradise on the inside, and the timing is everything for this Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast.
First things first, get your skillet warming up over medium heat while you put everything together. I usually let it sit for a couple of minutes so I know it’s evenly heated when the batter hits the pan. If you’re looking for other recipe timing hacks, I wrote a whole piece about the one fatal mistake people make with iced tea—it applies here too: don’t rush the preheat!
Preparing the Creamy Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast Filling
Grab that small bowl! We need to make the filling smooth so it doesn’t squish out when we press the sandwiches together. Just take your mashed ripe banana, your softened cream cheese, and that tiny dash of cinnamon. Whisk it all together until it looks like one creamy, happy mixture. Don’t leave any big lumps of cream cheese floating around; we want that beautifully uniform texture for our Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast.
Assembling and Dipping the Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast Sandwiches
Now, take two slices of your thick bread. Spread half of that amazing banana filling right onto one slice of bread, and then top it neatly with the second slice to make a sandwich. Repeat that for the second sandwich. Next, whisk your eggs, milk, and vanilla in that shallow dish until it’s nicely combined, but don’t over-whisk it! Dip each sandwich completely—top, bottom, and sides! You want it coated well, but don’t let it soak too long or it gets sloppy!
Cooking Your Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast to Golden Perfection
Time to hit that warm skillet! Melt your butter—it should sizzle happily right away. Place those dipped, stuffed sandwiches gently into the hot pan. Cook them for about 3 to 4 minutes on the first side. Watch them! You’re looking for a deep, gorgeous golden brown color. Flip them over and cook the second side until it matches. They should feel warm and slightly firm all the way through when you gently press down on the top. Perfection!
Tips for Making the Best Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
When you nail a recipe like this, the little details really make the difference between good and absolutely unforgettable Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast. Forget the thin white bread slices you might use for a plain grilled cheese; we need something sturdy for this filling!
First, size matters! You must use thick-cut bread—challah or Texas toast works like a charm. If the bread is too thin, it gets soggy before the filling has a chance to warm up properly. Also, second use the bread when it’s a little stale, just like I mentioned. It soaks up that custard-like batter without falling apart.
And whatever you do, serve this immediately! The best part of this dish is the contrast between that crispy, buttery shell and the warm, gooey center. If they sit around, they steam and lose that lovely crunch. A drizzle of warm maple syrup—maybe you’ll try making your own with my simple syrup recipe—is the only proper finish. You deserve this morning victory!
Variations on Classic Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
While my classic recipe for Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast is pretty perfect as is, I love knowing that you can mess around with it based on what you have in the pantry! It’s nice to change things up so you never get bored, right?
When I’m feeling extra decadent, I usually ditch the cinnamon in the filling and swap it for maybe a tiny grating of fresh nutmeg or even a pinch of cardamom—it changes the whole vibe, trust me! If you have some leftover banana bread that already has nuts in it, fantastic!
But if you want to amp up the center, try folding in about two tablespoons of miniature chocolate chips right into that banana cream cheese mixture, or maybe even some chopped pecans. When that chocolate melts slightly while cooking, it becomes pure, molten gold inside your Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast sandwich. It’s unbelievably good!
Serving Suggestions for Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
You can’t just serve this masterpiece plain! It deserves the best toppings you can find. Since the filling inside the Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast is already rich and creamy, we want toppings that give it a little brightness or a lovely sticky coating.
Maple syrup is non-negotiable, of course. Warm it up slightly so it pours like liquid silk over the crispy edges. If you want to skip the basic syrup and go for something really special, I highly recommend trying a homemade fruit sauce—I have the recipe for a vibrant strawberry sauce that cuts through the richness perfectly.
A simple dusting of powdered sugar is just beautiful, making it look like a snowy morning treat. If you want even more color, scatter some fresh blueberries or thinly sliced bananas on top!
Storage and Reheating Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
Okay, so maybe you made enough of this amazing dish that you have some leftovers. Don’t even think about throwing them away! Because this is basically bread and custard, you want to treat it right so it doesn’t get weird.
The best way to store them is totally cooled down, layered with parchment paper between each piece, and kept in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll be good for about two or three days that way.
When you reheat them, please, please skip the microwave! It turns everything soft and steamed. I prefer reheating them in a skillet over medium-low heat with just a tiny bit of butter until they crisp up again. If you’re doing a big batch, the oven or toaster oven at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit works great for warming them through evenly without losing that crucial crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
I know you’ve got questions once you start getting into the details of making this next-level breakfast. It’s not just regular French toast, after all—we’re stuffing things inside! Don’t worry, these are the things I worried about too when I first started playing around with this Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast.
Can I use regular sliced bread instead of thick bread for this Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast?
You technically can, but I strongly advise against it unless you’re in a pinch! Thicker bread (like Texas toast or brioche, about an inch thick) is crucial because it needs structure to hold the filling without turning to mush when you dip it. If you absolutely must use standard sliced bread, dip it much faster—like a quick dunk on each side—and don’t press the sandwich together quite so firmly!
What is the best type of banana to use for the filling?
This is non-negotiable for the filling in your Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast: you need bananas that are almost embarrassingly ripe! I mean, the peels should be mostly brown or even black. These ultra-ripe bananas have the most converted sugars, meaning they are naturally sweet and mash up into that perfectly smooth, creamy consistency we need, blending beautifully with the cream cheese.
Is it possible to make this Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast ahead of time?
Here’s the deal: you can absolutely assemble the sandwiches ahead of time! Make your little banana bread parcels, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and keep them in the fridge for up to a day. But do NOT dip them yet! Store the egg mixture separately too. When morning comes, just get your skillet hot, dip the cold sandwiches one by one, and fry away!
Print
Banana Bread Stuffed French Toast
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A recipe for French toast stuffed with a filling made from banana bread.
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick bread
- 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon butter, for cooking
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the mashed banana, cream cheese, and cinnamon until combined. This is your filling.
- Take two slices of bread. Spread half of the banana filling evenly on one slice. Top with the second slice of bread to create a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining bread and filling.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.
- Dip each stuffed sandwich into the egg mixture, coating both sides completely.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Place the dipped sandwiches in the hot skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown and heated through.
- Remove from the skillet and slice in half before serving.
Notes
- Use slightly stale bread for better texture when soaking.
- Serve immediately with maple syrup or powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Pan Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 150
Keywords: banana bread, french toast, stuffed french toast, breakfast, sweet bread