Banana-Stuffed French Toast

Ingredients

• 4 large bananas peeled thinly sliced
• 16 slices cinnamon-raisin bread 
• 0.5 cup whipped cream cheese 
• 6  eggs 
• 1 pinch kosher salt 
• 0.5 cup warm maple syrup for serving
• 0.8 cup milk 
• 4 tablespoons butter unsalted ()
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 225F.
2. Lay 8 slices of bread on a work surface and spread 1 side of each with cream cheese. Top each with slightly overlapping banana slices. Cover with remaining bread to make sandwiches.
3. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Meanwhile, in a large, shallow bowl, beat eggs, milk, vanilla and salt with a fork. Dip 4 sandwiches into egg mixture to soak both sides, about 5 seconds.
4. Lay sandwiches in skillet and cook, turning until browned, about 5 minutes one side, 3 minutes other side. Repeat with remaining butter and sandwiches. When done, transfer to oven racks; do not stack.
5. Serve hot with warm maple syrup.