Bananas Foster French Toast with Pan-Fried Bacon

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Custard

   • In a shallow dish wide enough to fit a slice of bread (like a pie plate), whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and salt until smooth and fully combined.
2. 2

   Cook the French Toast

   • Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large non-stick skillet or on a griddle over medium heat until it shimmers.
   • Working one slice at a time, dip the brioche bread into the custard for about 15-20 seconds per side. Allow excess to drip off.
   • Immediately place the soaked bread onto the hot skillet. Cook for 2-4 minutes per side, until deep golden brown and cooked through.
   • Repeat with the remaining slices, adding more butter to the skillet for each batch. Transfer cooked toast to a wire rack set on a baking sheet and keep warm in a 200°F (95°C) oven.
3. 3

   Make the Bananas Foster Sauce

   • In a separate large skillet, melt the 1/2 cup of butter over medium heat.
   • Stir in the brown sugar and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves and the sauce begins to bubble, about 2-3 minutes.
   • Gently add the sliced bananas to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 1 minute per side, carefully flipping once, until they are warmed through and coated in the caramel sauce.
4. 4

   Flambé the Sauce (Optional but Recommended)

   • SAFETY FIRST: Turn off the heat source before adding alcohol. Never pour directly from the bottle into the pan.
   • Carefully pour the dark rum and optional banana liqueur over the bananas.
   • Return the pan to medium heat. To ignite, carefully tilt the edge of the pan towards the flame on a gas stove, or use a long-handled lighter for an electric stove. Stand back as it will flame up.
   • Allow the flames to burn out on their own, which should take about 30-60 seconds. This cooks off the harsh alcohol taste, leaving the flavor.
   • If you choose not to flambé, simply let the sauce simmer for 1 minute to cook off some of the alcohol.
5. 5

   Assemble and Serve

   • Arrange two slices of the warm French toast on each of four plates.
   • Immediately spoon the hot Bananas Foster sauce and bananas over the toast.
   • Serve right away, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.