Chocolate Banana French Toast: National French Toast Day

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I love French Toast: Pain Perdu ... This wonderful food was a way to use up stale bread by dipping it in eggs and milk and frying it. I usually make French Toast with Challah, Brioche, or Sourdough, but I've been known to try other breads.

Have a look at some of the other French Toast recipes I've posted. Stuffed Chocolate French Toast, Hazelnut French Toast, Stuffed Challah Nutella French Toast.

Today in honor of National French Toast Day, I thought I'd share an easy recipe for Baked Banana Chocolate French Toast! I love Chocolate and Bananas, and this is a great make-ahead French toast recipe! OK, this French Toast is not fried, and it's a bit like a bread pudding, but it's still fabulous! You could always fry it by following the directions but putting the chocolate between two pieces of the bread--stuffed French Toast.

CHOCOLATE BANANA FRENCH TOAST

Ingredients
4 ripe bananas
4 eggs
3/4 cups half and half
1/4 cup sweet butter, melted
4 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 teaspoon Madagascar vanilla extract
1 loaf of Challah (or Brioche) cut in thick slices
1/2 cup fair-trade dark chocolate 65-85% cacao, chopped into pieces

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Butter a 9" x 13" baking dish.
In large bowl, mash bananas. Add eggs, half and half, melted butter, 3 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla; mix until well beaten. Add bread and turn to coat.
Layer bread in prepared baking dish. Pour remaining mixture over bread.
Sprinkle with chocolate chunks and remaining tablespoon of sugar.
Bake 18 minutes, or until set & golden.