Giant French toast with caramelized banana

A giant vanilla-scented French toast, fried in oil and butter, and accompanied by caramelized banana... All drizzled with melted chocolate! In my opinion, it's a perfect combination, which makes this recipe for the ultimate delicious French toast.

Yes, it is interesting to think that it is a dish that can be prepared and eaten, since it is important to eat French toast, chocolate or banana hot. So it is an ideal breakfast for the weekend, to enjoy in peace.

I hope you feel encouraged to prepare them, because they are delicious.

If you have leftover Easter cake, brioche, pastries... you can also follow the recipe with those pastries. It's a great way to use them up!

Ingredients

For the caramelized bananas

• 60 g granulated sugar
• 60 ml of water
• 4 small bananas,
• 50 g butter

For the torrijas

• A large loaf of white bread (you will need between 8 and 10 slices of bread)
• 4 XL eggs
• 65 ml of milk
• 5 ml vanilla extract
• Olive oil and butter for frying

To serve

• 100 g of melted dark chocolate
• 10 large white marshmallows, cut into chunks or disks
• Digestive biscuits, crushed

Preparation

How to make caramelized bananas:

1. Peel the bananas and cut them crosswise.
2. Put the sugar and water in a pan* and heat slowly until the sugar dissolves and begins to caramelize.
3. When the sugar is golden and bubbly, add the bananas, flat side down, and fry them in the caramel.
4. Turn them once and add the butter.
5. When bubbles start to appear in the butter, turn off the heat.
6. Set the pan aside until ready to serve.

*I recommend using a cast iron skillet or a skillet with a wooden handle, because apart from making 100% natural cooking, when it comes to cleaning it, you will be able to remove any caramel residue without any problem.

We prepare the torrijas:

1. Cut the bread into three large slices if using round bread, or into 8 or 10 slices if using baguette bread.
2. In a bowl, mix the eggs, milk and vanilla extract.
3. Heat a 28cm Le Creuset cast iron skillet orwooden-handled frying pan ; add olive oil and a tablespoon of butter.
4. Once the butter is foamy, it will be time to add the soaked bread.
5. Place the bread in the bowl briefly to soak it (turn it so that it gets wet on both sides, just before frying it (do not wet it too much so that, as they are large slices, they do not crumble or break due to absorbing too much liquid).
6. Place the bread in the pan and fry on both sides until golden brown.
7. Repeat with the rest of the bread.

When serving:

1. The torrijas are delicious straight from the oven.
2. Place the French toast on a plate, drizzle with melted chocolate, top with caramelized bananas, place marshmallows on top and use a kitchen blowtorch to caramelize them.
3. Sprinkle with crushed cookies, drizzle with a little more chocolate as a final decoration and serve immediately while hot.