Caramel Banana Pecan Bread Casserole

Hey, hey Friends and Tuesday!  lol  I'm still stuck in the slow cooker and as always a fan of breakfast.  Truthfully this breakfast could almost be a dessert.!  It's simply decadent.  If you are looking for something quick, light and healthy then you should turn around and run, quickly!  I don't need to talk about this recipe, it speaks for itself!  Enjoy a great week, I will meet you back here on Thursday!  Thanx again for stopping by!

Caramel-Banana-Pecan Bread Casserole

Disposable slow cooker liner

1 12 oz loaf french bread, cut into 1 inch cubes (about 9 cups)

2 cups half-and-half, light cream, or whole milk

3 eggs or 3/4 cup refrigerated or thawed frozen egg product

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped and toasted

1 recipe Caramel-Banana Sauce

Line a 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner.  Preheat oven to 300°.  Arrange bread cubes in a single layer on a baking pan.  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until cubes are golden, stirring once or twice; cool.  Place cubes in prepared slow cooker.

In a large bowl whisk together half-and-half, eggs, granulated sugars, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Pour mixture over bread cubes in cooker.  With back of a large spoon, press bread down slightly to moisten cubes completely.

In a medium bowl use a pastry blender to cut butter into brown sugar until pieces are pea size.  Stir in pecans.  Sprinkle pecan mixture over bread mixture in cooker. 

Cover and cook on low heat setting 4 to 5 hours or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove crockery liner from cooker, if possible, or turn off cooker.  Cool for 30 minutes.  Serve casserole with Caramel-Banana Sauce.

Caramel-Banana Sauce:  In a medium heavy saucepan combine 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 1/2 cup butter and 2 tablespoons light color corn syrup.  Bring to boiling over medium high heat, whisking occasionally; reduce heat to medium.  Boil gently, uncovered, for 3 minutes more.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Stir in 1 banana, thinly sliced.  

Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications Slow Cooker 2012