Ingredients

The following ingredients have 6 Servings
  • 1 large loaf of French bread (cut into slices or cubes (I used a multigrain French loaf))
  • 2/3 cups fat free cottage cheese (or 6 ounces of softened cream cheese)
  • 7 large eggs
  • 2-1/3 cups skim milk
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • about 1 large or 2 small overripe bananas (sliced, divided (depending on size of your dish))
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
  • powdered sugar for dusting
  • your favorite caramel sauce or syrup
  • chopped pecans
  • coconut chips
  • extra banana slices (I cooked mine for 1 minute with some caramel sauce first)

Instruction

  • Spray a 9x13" baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Blend the cottage cheese in a blender, food processor, or using a hand mixer. When there is a smooth consistency, mix in the sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Blend in 1/3 cup of milk. Scoop out 1/2 cup of the mixture in small cup or bowl and set aside. Add the rest of the milk and eggs to the blender mixture and blend until smooth. Set aside.
  • Layer half of the bread cubes in prepared baking dish.
  • Add the 1/2 cup reserved cottage cheese/milk mixture over bread cubes.
  • Top with a layer of sliced bananas. Layer evenly with the rest of the bread.
  • Pour the liquid blender mixture evenly over the top of the bread.
  • Make the streusel topping - To a medium bowl, add the butter, flour, sugars, cinnamon and using two forks or your clean hands, cut/crumble the butter into dry ingredients until small pebbles and crumbly bits form. Mix in chopped pecans if using.
  • Evenly sprinkle the streusel over the bread.
  • If making in advance, cover baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and store in the fridge overnight or for several hours. When you are ready to bake, remove the dish from fridge and uncover.
  • Preheat oven at 350 degrees and bake for 43-52 minutes or until streusel is set and appears to have dried out some. Watch oven time carefully as it may vary. You can try a small bite and if it seems too wet, moist, or under-done for your liking, bake longer. Baking times will range greatly based on the type of bread used, baking dish used, climate, and oven variance. Mine was done at 47 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and serve warm with your favorite caramel sauce/syrup or a dusting of confectioner's sugar, chopped pecans, coconut chips or extra banana slices (I cooked the extra banana slices in a pan with some caramel sauce for about 1 minute for extra flavor).