Banana Bread French Toast Two Ways
For best results prepare the banana loaf a day or two in advance. Serving suggestion - use honey in place of the chocolate sauce if you prefer.
Ingredients
Banana bread
- 220 g (250ml) light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 250 g (2 medium) peeled ripe bananas
- 180 g (175 ml) plain full cream yoghurt
- 120 g butter (130 ml), melted
- 5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract
- 320 g (530 ml) cake flour
- 5 ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda
- 7.5 ml (1½ tsp) ground cinnamon
Dark chocolate sauce
- 70 g (80 ml) brown sugar
- 25 g (50 ml) cocoa
- pinch of fine salt
- 45 ml (3 tbsp) hot water
- 100 ml full cream milk
- 2.5 ml (½ tsp) vanilla extract
French toast
- 250 g streaky bacon
- 3 large eggs
- 125 ml (½ cup) full cream milk
- butter, for frying
- 125 g (140 ml) smooth cottage cheese
- thyme sprigs, to garnish
- 125 g (125 ml) ricotta
- fresh raspberries, to decorate
- edible flowers, to decorate (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Line a large loaf tin with baking paper.
- To make the banana bread place the sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Whisk on high speed for 3 minutes until pale and thick. Use a fork to mash the bananas. Add these to the bowl with the yoghurt, butter and vanilla. Mix to combine.
- Sift the flour, bicarb and cinnamon into the bowl. Mix until just combined.
- Tip the batter into the loaf tin and smooth the top. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.
- To make the chocolate sauce place the sugar, cocoa and salt in a small pot. Add the hot water and whisk into a paste. Gradually add the milk while whisking.
- Whisk the sauce over a medium heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil. Allow to boil gently for 5 minutes, whisking regularly. Remove from the heat, whisk in the vanilla and set aside to cool.
- To prepare the bacon preheat the oven to 200ºC and line a baking tray with baking paper. Arrange the bacon on the paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crispy.
- While bacon is cooking prepare the French toast. Place the eggs and milk in a jug and use a fork to whisk until combined. Pour into a small dish.
- Cut eight 1.5 cm slices of banana bread. Melt some butter in a frying pan. Dip a slice of banana bread in the egg mixture for a few seconds on each side. Transfer to the hot pan and cook for a few minutes per side until golden. Repeat with the remaining slices.
- For savoury French toast, spread the cottage cheese on the fried banana bread slices. Top with crispy bacon and a few sprigs of thyme. For sweet French toast, spread the ricotta on the bread and top with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries and flowers. Serve immediately.