To Make the Date Banana Bread Syrup
1. Soak the dates in hot water for 5–10 minutes until softened. Do not drain the water.
2. In a small blender or food processor, combine soaked dates, water, banana, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Blend on high until completely smooth.
3. Transfer to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until the mixture begins to simmer. Let simmer, stirring every minute, for about 5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and let cool. You’ll need ⅓ cup for the casserole; reserve the rest for topping.
5. Add additional water (up to a ¼ cup to thin out consistency for topping, if desired).
To Assemble the French Toast
1. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with avocado oil.
2. Place the cubed bread evenly into the dish.
3. Sprinkle chopped Medjool Dates evenly over the bread cubes.
4. Prepare the Date Banana Bread Syrup as outlined above and let it cool completely.
5. In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, ⅓ cup cooled Date Banana Bread Syrup*, melted coconut oil, mashed ripe banana, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
6. Pour the wet mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press down on any dry pieces to help them absorb the liquid (it’s okay if a few pieces still stick up a little bit).
7. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight.**
To Bake
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Bake the casserole uncovered for 45–50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
3. Slice the 2 remaining bananas and sprinkle them evenly over the warm casserole.
4. Drizzle with the remaining Date Banana Bread Syrup and serve immediately.
Notes
*Make sure the syrup has cooled before mixing it with the eggs to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely. If needed, place ⅓ cup of syrup in the freezer for 3–5 minutes to speed up cooling.
**The longer the casserole soaks (goal = overnight), the more custardy and moist the final texture will be. Two hours will work in a pinch, but overnight is best!
*While Medjool dates are high in natural sugars, they are low on the glycemic index thanks to a balanced amount of soluble fiber. The complex carbohydrates found in Medjool dates are digested at a slower rate, making them a source of dietary fiber and releasing energy to the body over a longer period of time.
