French toast with banana ice cream and caramel recipe
 Soft serve banana ice cream, caramel and spice-laden French toast come together in the ultimate indulgence brunch! 6 over-ripe bananas 500ml/18fl oz double cream 397g tin condensed milk 6 over-ripe bananas 500ml/18fl oz double cream 397g tin condensed milk 300ml/10fl oz double cream100g/3½oz caster sugar 25ml/1fl oz dark rum (to taste) 300ml/10fl oz double cream 100g/3½oz caster sugar 25ml/1fl oz dark rum (to taste) 1 good-quality brioche loaf, thickly slicedpinch ground cardamom pinch ground cloves pinch ground cinnamon 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds removed 15ml/½fl oz dark rum pinch salt 3 free-range eggs, lightly beaten200ml/7fl oz full-fat milk 200ml/7fl oz double cream 30g/1oz caster sugar 1 good-quality brioche loaf, thickly sliced pinch ground cardamom pinch ground cloves pinch ground cinnamon 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds removed 15ml/½fl oz dark rum pinch salt 3 free-range eggs, lightly beaten 200ml/7fl oz full-fat milk 200ml/7fl oz double cream 30g/1oz caster sugar 50g/1¾oz butter 50g/1¾oz caster sugar 30g/1oz Kinako roasted soybean flour or gram flour (optional) 50g/1¾oz butter 50g/1¾oz caster sugar 30g/1oz Kinako roasted soybean flour or gram flour (optional) Method To make the ice cream, blend the bananas in a blender or food processor. Whip the double cream in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Add the blended banana to the cream and stir in the condensed milk. Once fully combined, transfer to a suitable container and leave to freeze.To make the caramel, whip 100ml/3½fl oz of the double cream until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Set aside.Prepare a bowl with ice cold water on your work surface that will fit the pan you are using to make the caramel. Put the sugar and 25ml/1fl oz of water in a heavy-pan. Set this over a low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Place a sugar thermometer in the pan turn the heat to high and bring the syrup to a boil. Check the temperature doesn’t go above 135C or the sugar might burn. Once it’s boiling, avoid stirring it. Keep boiling until it becomes quite dark brown in colour. Quickly plunge the pan into the ice cold water – take care as the caramel will be extremely hot. Pour in 200ml/7fl oz of the cream that has not been whipped, then add the rum and stir in the whipped cream. Set aside. To make the French toast, preheat the oven 130C/110C Fan/Gas 1. Put the brioche on a baking tray and leave in the oven for a few minutes to dry out. Remove from the oven and set aside.Combine the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla seeds, rum, salt, beaten eggs, milk, cream and sugar together in a shallow bowl. Dip the brioche in the egg mixture and soak it well. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat, add some of the butter and then 2 pieces of eggy brioche (you'll need to do this in batches). Cook on both sides. Sprinkle a little of the sugar over the bread and turn over to allow to caramelise. Repeat on the other side. Remove from the pan, dust with more caster sugar and use a mini cook’s blow-torch to crisp the top. Dust with the roasted soya bean flour, if using, just before serving. Repeat with all the brioche slices, butter, sugar and soy bean flour.Serve the French toast with the banana ice cream on top and the caramel drizzled over. To make the ice cream, blend the bananas in a blender or food processor. To make the ice cream, blend the bananas in a blender or food processor. Whip the double cream in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Add the blended banana to the cream and stir in the condensed milk. Once fully combined, transfer to a suitable container and leave to freeze. Whip the double cream in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Add the blended banana to the cream and stir in the condensed milk. Once fully combined, transfer to a suitable container and leave to freeze. To make the caramel, whip 100ml/3½fl oz of the double cream until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Set aside. To make the caramel, whip 100ml/3½fl oz of the double cream until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Set aside. Prepare a bowl with ice cold water on your work surface that will fit the pan you are using to make the caramel. Prepare a bowl with ice cold water on your work surface that will fit the pan you are using to make the caramel. Put the sugar and 25ml/1fl oz of water in a heavy-pan. Set this over a low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Place a sugar thermometer in the pan turn the heat to high and bring the syrup to a boil. Check the temperature doesn’t go above 135C or the sugar might burn. Once it’s boiling, avoid stirring it. Keep boiling until it becomes quite dark brown in colour. Quickly plunge the pan into the ice cold water – take care as the caramel will be extremely hot. Pour in 200ml/7fl oz of the cream that has not been whipped, then add the rum and stir in the whipped cream. Set aside. Put the sugar and 25ml/1fl oz of water in a heavy-pan. Set this over a low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Place a sugar thermometer in the pan turn the heat to high and bring the syrup to a boil. Check the temperature doesn’t go above 135C or the sugar might burn. Once it’s boiling, avoid stirring it. Keep boiling until it becomes quite dark brown in colour. Quickly plunge the pan into the ice cold water – take care as the caramel will be extremely hot. Pour in 200ml/7fl oz of the cream that has not been whipped, then add the rum and stir in the whipped cream. Set aside. To make the French toast, preheat the oven 130C/110C Fan/Gas 1. Put the brioche on a baking tray and leave in the oven for a few minutes to dry out. Remove from the oven and set aside. To make the French toast, preheat the oven 130C/110C Fan/Gas 1. Put the brioche on a baking tray and leave in the oven for a few minutes to dry out. Remove from the oven and set aside. Combine the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla seeds, rum, salt, beaten eggs, milk, cream and sugar together in a shallow bowl. Dip the brioche in the egg mixture and soak it well. Combine the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla seeds, rum, salt, beaten eggs, milk, cream and sugar together in a shallow bowl. Dip the brioche in the egg mixture and soak it well. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat, add some of the butter and then 2 pieces of eggy brioche (you'll need to do this in batches). Cook on both sides. Sprinkle a little of the sugar over the bread and turn over to allow to caramelise. Repeat on the other side. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat, add some of the butter and then 2 pieces of eggy brioche (you'll need to do this in batches). Cook on both sides. Sprinkle a little of the sugar over the bread and turn over to allow to caramelise. Repeat on the other side. Remove from the pan, dust with more caster sugar and use a mini cook’s blow-torch to crisp the top. Dust with the roasted soya bean flour, if using, just before serving. Repeat with all the brioche slices, butter, sugar and soy bean flour. Remove from the pan, dust with more caster sugar and use a mini cook’s blow-torch to crisp the top. Dust with the roasted soya bean flour, if using, just before serving. Repeat with all the brioche slices, butter, sugar and soy bean flour. Serve the French toast with the banana ice cream on top and the caramel drizzled over. Serve the French toast with the banana ice cream on top and the caramel drizzled over.