Step 1

Prepare the Banana Bread: Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat 1 cup softened butter with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add 2 cups brown sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Add 3 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla, and beat just until blended.

Step 2

Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 3/4 teaspoon table salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in mashed bananas and toasted chopped pecans just until blended.

Step 3

Grease 2 (8- x 4-inch) loaf pans with vegetable shortening, and dust with flour. Divide batter evenly between 2 prepared pans. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks, about 1 hour.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice 1 loaf into 11 (1/2- to 3/4-inch) slices. Wrap other loaf in plastic wrap; reserve for another use. Place 11 slices on a baking sheet; brush each with melted butter. Bake in preheated oven until browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside.

Step 5

Prepare the Custard: Whisk together 4 eggs, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon table salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a large bowl until blended. Whisk in milk and cream until well blended.

Step 6

Prepare the Casserole: Lightly grease an 11- x 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cut 4 toasted banana bread slices in half. Place remaining 7 toasted banana bread slices, slightly overlapping, in prepared dish. Place half slices, overlapping slightly, alongside whole slices, filling dish completely.

Step 7

Slowly pour custard mixture evenly over bread slices. (The baking dish will be very full.) Cover and let stand at least 1 hour or overnight to allow bread slices to absorb the custard.

Step 8

Preheat oven to 350°F. Uncover casserole. Bake in preheated oven until set and lightly browned, 55 to 60 minutes.

Step 9

Pour half of the Honey-Banana Topping evenly over the casserole; serve with remaining topping.