Banana Hazelnut Pain Perdu

Sweet or savory brunch?  Often I have trouble deciding.  But this one is decidedly sweet: day-old French bread stuffed with Nutella spread, chopped hazelnuts, ripe bananas, and sprinkled with confectioner's sugar.  

Pain perdu, or "lost bread" in French, is just a version of American french toast.  Typically made with day-old (or so) French bread, this breakfast or dessert is soaked in eggs, pan-fried, and served warm with a dusting of sugar.  My version is a stuffed pain perdu, drenched in a cinnamon-clove egg batter and crisped to sweet perfection.

What song pairs well with a breakfast-time sweet tooth?  Dave Rawlings Machine's "Sweet Tooth," a re-worked version of Mississippi John Hurt's "Candyman."  I love Dave Rawlings' and Gillian Welch's homage to the amazing Delta blues guitarist. 

Ingredients:
--1/2 day-old French baguette (the bread should be hard/stale--it's "lost")
--3-5 tbsp. Nutella spread (to your liking, but I tend to fall on the "more Nutella!" side)
--2 ripe bananas, sliced in thin circles
--1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
--3 eggs
--1/4 c. whole milk
--1 tsp. ground cinnamon
--1 tsp. ground clove
--2 tbsp. butter
--1/4 c. confectioner's sugar (for dusting)

With a sharp, serrated-edged knife, slice baguette into 1/4" to 1/2" slices.  On one slice, spread Nutella, banana slices, and a light sprinkling of hazelnuts.  Top with another slice of the baguette, making a miniature sandwich.  Repeat with remaining baguette slices, Nutella, banana slices, and hazelnuts.  

Heat butter in a frying pan over low-medium heat. 

While your pan is heating, in a small bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, and cloves.  Dip each "sandwich" into the egg batter, submerging it and ensuring that it is fully coated.  Repeat for remaining "sandwiches."  Pan fry for approx. 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden and crisp.  Flip the sandwiches to crisp the opposite side. 

Place a few sandwiches on each plate and dust with confectioner's sugar.  Serve warm.