Chocolate Hazelnut Babka French Toast With Caramelized Bananas 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.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• For the French toast: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Generously grease a 9-by-9-inch baking dish with the butter.
• Place the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish.
• Whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, sugar, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Pour the egg mixture over the bread. Gently push the bread down to absorb the egg mixture. Dollop the chocolate-hazelnut spread over the bread and mix it in until evenly distributed.
• For the topping: Combine the butter, oats, pecans and brown sugar in a food processor and pulse until it resembles a coarse meal.
• To finish the dish: Top the bread cubes with the oatmeal mixture. Wrap tightly with foil and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Bake, uncovered, until the edges are bubbling and the top is golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Serve with maple syrup.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT FRENCH TOAST WITH CINNAMON CEREAL

Steps:

• Slice the brioche into 1 1/2-inch-thick slices (6 to 8 slices). Lay each slice on its side and cut a 2-inch slit into the bottom of each. Fill the slit with about 1 tablespoon of the chocolate-hazelnut spread.
• Whisk together the milk, vanilla, salt and eggs in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Place the crushed cereal in another baking dish. Dip a slice of the filled brioche into the egg mixture on both sides a few times, making sure the mixture has soaked in, then transfer to the cereal dish and coat with cereal on both sides. Place the bread on a cutting board or plate while finishing dredging the rest. Repeat with the remaining slices, egg mix and cereal.
• Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Place as many slices as will fit in the skillet. Cook on one side until the coating is crisp and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes on the other side. Transfer to a platter. Add 2 more tablespoons of butter to the skillet and then more slices. Repeat the process with the remaining butter and slices, reserving 2 tablespoons of butter for the bananas.
• Add the remaining butter to the skillet, let it melt and place the bananas in a single layer in the melted butter. Cook until caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Top the toast with the bananas and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

HAZELNUT BABKA

Steps:

• Make the sponge by mixing ingredients in bowl and letting sit for 1/2 hour.
• In a standing mixer, fitted with a dough hook, add the sponge. Add in the flour, egg, egg yolks, salt, and sugar. Add any additional flour to make smooth dough. Place in oiled bowl, cover and set aside until doubled in volume. Punch down and let rise (covered) again.
• Punch down and roll out into a rough triangular shape that is about 1 1/2 feet and 1/2-inch thick. Paint with melted butter. Mix together sugar, cinnamon and hazelnuts. Sprinkle on. Roll up and press into well-buttered bundt pan. Let rise until doubled.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool then remove from pan. Cook together butter, sugar, honey, and liqueur. Paint on top. Sprinkle with nuts.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Place hazelnuts in a food processor; cover and process for 2-3 minutes or until mixture pulls away from sides of processor. Continue processing while gradually adding confectioners' sugar, cocoa and salt to reach desired consistency. Store in the refrigerator.