Creme Brulee French Toast with Caramelized Bananas

Ahh.. yes.
Some time in hand and photos.

You see there isn't a lot of bakeries produce good quality breads and loaves here. Whenever I enter a bakery, it is mostly filled with colorful slices of cakes, savoury or sweet buns and pastries or the usual white or wholemeal bread loaf. There will be the occasional French loaf or baguette but that's it. I'm after a variety of bread types. More of like ciabatta, baguette, brioche or maybe focaccia.

Soon after delivering our precious lil girl, my beloved father and a proud, proud grandfather now asked what I'd like as a gift. It was a tough choice between a KitchenAid and a bread maker but to cut a long story short, we went home with a bread maker in hand.

So now that lil gadget sat on my kitchen bench on a Thursday night working its way into making a beautiful French cakey-bread famously known as brioche. I took half the loaf and turned them into Creme Brulee French Toasts for a weekend indulgence :)

Brioches soaked overnight

Creme Brulee French Toast with Caramelized Bananas

Ingredients

1 small loaf of brioche (you can use any type of bread)

4 eggs

1 1/3 cups milk

2/3 cups cream

1/3 cups sugar

1/4 tsp salt

a swipe or two orange zest

a glug of vanila extract or one vanilla bean

How to make

Slice your brioche or bread into thick, thick slices. Perhaps an inch to inch and a half.

Combine all ingredients in a wide bowl. Soak in the fridge overnight - no need to turn. You can also soak 30 minutes each side of bread.

Preheat oven to 180c

Line baking sheet with foil or baking sheet. Bake for 30 - 35 mins turning once if you wish - I couldn't be bothered :)

Now, for the crunchy top.

3 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp water

Combine and put on medium heat. Do not let you eyes off it and do not use any utensil to stir. Just watch. Swirl the mixture once or twice. Soon the sugary mix will bubble aways and turn into dark amber. Take pan off the heat and toss in a few sliced bananas.

Creme Brulee French Toast with Caramelized Bananas

Top french toast with caramelized bananas. Serve warm.

Note: What to do with those extra custard? Make more french toasts using those plastic white bread. Yummers! Extra brioches or bread can keep well in the freezer for those times when you're rushing to work and no time for breakfast just grab a piece. It'll thaw nicely on your way to work and tastes great eaten cold! :)