Babka French Toast Food

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT BABKA FRENCH TOAST WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• For the French toast: Put the babka slices on a rack set over a baking sheet and let dry for a few hours.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F; put a baking sheet with a rack inside the oven.
• Whisk the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half. Transfer the custard to a baking dish. Place a few slices of the babka in the custard and let sit, turning once, until completely soaked through, 5 minutes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat until the butter foams. In batches (so you don't crowd the pan), cook the bread until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked French toast to the baking sheet to keep warm.
• For the caramelized bananas: Melt the butter in a medium nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the sugar and cook until it just turns light golden brown, about 3 minutes. Place the sliced bananas in an even layer in the pan and cook until the bottoms become caramelized, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook another minute. Add the maple syrup and cook until just heated through, about 2 minutes.
• Serve the French toast topped with caramelized banana and dusted with confectioners' sugar.

BABKA FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, whisk together milk, egg, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat.
• Dip each slice of babka into egg mixture, turning to coat each side. Place dipped babka slices into the hot skillet and cook until mixture begins to set and slices begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn slices and cook on the other side until brown, 3 to 4 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
• Transfer to a serving plate and dust with confectioners' sugar.

BAKED BABKA FRENCH TOAST STICKS WITH CHOCOLATE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray.
• Cut each slice of bread into three sticks. Whisk together milk, egg, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large shallow dish. Dip each bread stick in the egg mixture quickly to avoid soaking the bread, yet coating it on all sides; shake off excess. Arrange bread sticks on the prepared baking sheet without them touching.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, flip them, spray lightly with cooking spray, and return to the oven until cooked through and golden brown, about 8 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together hazelnut spread, half-and-half, cocoa powder, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan on medium-low heat. Bring to a boil and immediately remove pan from the heat, whisking until smooth.
• Remove French toast sticks from the oven and serve warm with the chocolate dipping sauce.