Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Banana Nut French Toast

Start your morning off right with this indulgent Banana Nut French Toast recipe — a delicious twist on a breakfast classic. Made with thick slices of bread soaked in a creamy cinnamon-vanilla custard, then topped with caramelized bananas and crunchy toasted pecans, this easy French toast is the perfect way to bring warmth and flavor to your table.

Ingredients

1 large loaf French bread, sliced on a diagonal into 1 ½ inch thick pieces.

Batter
6 Eggs
2 cups Half and half
½ cup Sugar
2 tsp. Cinnamon
2 tsp. Orange zest, fresh
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 stick Butter

Topping
1 stick Butter
4 cups Bananas, sliced
¾ cup Pecan pieces
2 Tbl. Dark rum
1 ½ cups Butter pecan or maple syrup

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Combine all of the ingredients for the batter and stir well. Soak the French bread slices for about 5 minutes. Heat the butter over a medium heat in a large skillet. Brown the soaked bread on each side and place them on a baking dish. When you have browned all of the pieces, place the French toast in the oven. To make the topping; use the same pan and add in the butter and bananas, Cook for 4-5 minutes and add in the rum. Allow the alcohol to burn off then stir in the pecans, and syrup. Remove the French toast from the oven and top. Serve immediately.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Recent Recipes

Orange Cranberry Muffins

These muffins are like Christmas morning in a bite—bright, citrusy orange paired with tart, bursting cranberries. The combination feels like something you'd find in a festive basket dropped off by a thoughtful neighbor. Perfect for Christmas gift giving or to have on hand for guests throughout the holiday.

Read more

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more

Harrison’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Having a son who’s following in your footsteps is one thing. Watching him take what you’ve taught him and elevate it to something even better—that’s special. During his Christmas break from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, a few years ago, he nudged me out of the way and made these mashed potatoes. I was skeptical, of course as I’ve been making mashed potatoes for decades. But there was no question his version was better. There’s a lot of pride in seeing him excel in the kitchen, making something as simple as mashed potatoes taste extraordinary. This recipe has become a new tradition in our family. Watching him cook now, with all that skill and precision, is a proud moment for me every time. This is his recipe, and I’ve adopted it as my own.

Read more