BANANAS FOSTER FRENCH TOAST WITH WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE

Bananas Foster French Toast with Whipped Cream Cheese image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon purevanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon finelygrated orange zest
1 cup very coldheavy cream
2 tablespoonsgranulated sugar
6 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon purevanilla extract
4 tablespoonsunsalted butter
4 tablespoons canola oil
Eight1/2-inch-thick slices day-old brioche, left out overnight on a baking rack
4 tablespoonsunsalted butter
1 cup packed lightbrown muscovado sugar
Pinch ground cinnamon
2 small ripe bananas, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup dark rum
2 tablespoonsbanana liqueur
Mixed berries, forgarnish
Mint sprigs, forgarnish

Steps:

For the whipped cream cheese: Put the cream cheese, vanilla and orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment and whip until light and fluffy. Add the cold heavy cream and whip until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
For the french toast: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth. Whisk in the milk, cream, cinnamon and vanilla until combined.
Make the French toast in 2 batches. Heat 2 tablespoons each of the butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium heat until the butter is melted and the oil begins to shimmer.
Place 4 slices of the bread in the custard mixture and let sit on both sides until soaked through. Remove with a slotted spatula to allow the excess custard to run off. Cook until the toast is golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.
Transfer the French toast to a baking rack set over a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you cook the second batch with the remaining butter, oil and bread. Keep French toast warm until ready to serve.
For the banana foster topping: Heat the butter in a large saute pan over high heat until it begins to sizzle. Whisk in the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook until the sugar has melted and the mixture has thickened slightly.
Add the bananas and cook until slightly softened. Remove from the heat and add the rum and banana liqueur. Return to the heat and cook until the alcohol has burned off.
Serve 2 slices of toast per person, topped with some of the bananas and their syrup, a dollop of the whipped cream cheese, some fresh berries, and sprinkling of confectioners' sugar, if using. Garnish with mint.