Stuffed Cinnamon French Toast

Not quite baking, but just as sweet. The title says it all. Indescribably, the best breakfast ever and homemade. I don't cook a lot of my mom's dishes because it just wouldn't be the same if she didn't make it. This is the exception. I love my mom's cinnamon french toast so much I try my best to perfect it so I don't have to bother her. Today I tried to recreate IHOP's stuffed french toast by making a sweetened cream cheese filling - I think I nailed it. I also topped it with caramelized bananas, which are intensely fruity and gooey.



Stuffed Cinnamon French Toast with Caramelized Bananas
Yield: serves 5

French Toast
4 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, more to taste
2.5 tablespoons butter
10 slices of Texas-size white bread (not toasted, not stale)

Cream Cheese Filling
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Caramelized Bananas
3 bananas
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon butter


Preheat your pan on the stove to medium heat. Whisk the first four ingredients into a 8x8 dish. Cut 1/4 tablespoon butter and place into one corner of your pan. If it melts and sizzles slightly, without smoking or burning it is at the right temperature. Coat one corner of your pan with the butter. Dip a slice of bread into the egg mixture and flip to coat both sides. Place on top of the melted butter inside the pan. Repeat with all slices. Cook for about 6-8 minutes on the first side and about 3-4 minutes on the second side, until they look golden brown. After every two slices I dip, I sprinkle more cinnamon into the egg mixture, to be sure each slice gets a good amount of cinnamon.

While you are waiting for your french toast to cook, combine all ingredients for the cream cheese filling and use an electric mixer or whisk by hand to beat until fluffy. You can soften your cream cheese by slicing into tablespoon-size pieces and microwaving at 25% power for 2-3 minutes.
Also while waiting for french toast to cook, chop the bananas into 1/4 inch slices and lie flat onto a plate. Evenly sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.

After you are done cooking all the french toast, lightly wipe the pan with a paper towel from any leftover burnt butter. Return the pan to medium heat, melt the butter to coat the pan, and then place the banana slices sugar side down. Evenly sprinkle the remaining tablespoon sugar on top of each slice. Cook for about 5-6 minutes on the first side and 4-5 minutes on the other.

Assembly: Sandwich 3 tablespoons cream cheese filling between two slices of french toast. Top with caramelized bananas and a light drizzle of syrup. Optional garnish: with a light dusting of powdered sugar and whipped cream.