When it comes to breakfast classics, French toast ranks high on the list. It's a comforting, satisfying dish that many of us grew up enjoying. But what if you’re vegan? Enter Vegan French Toast—a delightful twist on the traditional recipe that’s just as delicious, but completely egg-free and dairy-free. This easy-to-make recipe uses simple, plant-based ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick & easy: This recipe comes together in just a few minutes, perfect for busy mornings.
- Simple ingredients: Uses pantry staples like bread, plant-based milk, and cinnamon.
- Egg-free & Dairy-free: Enjoy all the flavor of traditional French toast without the eggs or dairy.
- Customizable: Easily adjust the sweetness, toppings, or even the type of bread to suit your taste.
Tools
For this Vegan French Toast recipe, you don’t need any fancy equipment. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Mixing Bowls: For combining ingredients.
- Whisk or Fork: A whisk works best, but a fork will do the job just fine.
- Non-stick skillet or Griddle: This is essential for cooking the French toast evenly and preventing sticking. If you don’t have a non-stick skillet, you can use a regular skillet, but make sure to use a bit more vegan butter or oil to prevent sticking.
- Spatula: For flipping the french toast.
- Basic measuring cups and spoons and a kitchen scale: Properly measuring ingredients is key for success in the kitchen.
Ingredients
As usual, you'll find the complete recipe card, including ingredient amounts and instructions, at the bottom of this post! Keep on reading for more details, or jump straight to the recipe.
- Bread: The foundation of any French toast. Choose your favorite type, but opt for a sturdy variety that can hold up to soaking.
- Cornstarch: Acts as a binder in place of eggs, giving the french toast a crisp exterior while keeping the inside tender.
- Plant-based milk: Provides moisture and richness. Almond, soy, or oat milk are all great options.
- Maple syrup or Sweetener of choice: Adds sweetness to the batter.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor with a warm, sweet aroma.
- Cinnamon powder: Brings warmth and a hint of spice, making the french toast cozy and flavorful.
- Flax meal: Helps to thicken the batter.
- Vegan butter or Oil: For frying the French toast.
- Optional cinnamon sugar coating: Adds a sweet, crunchy finish to the french toast.
How to make this recipe (Visual walkthrough)
Prepare the batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and plant-based milk until smooth. Add the maple syrup (or sweetener of choice), vanilla extract, cinnamon powder, and flax meal. Stir well to combine, ensuring there are no lumps.
Dip the bread: Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and add the vegan butter or oil. Dip each slice of bread into the batter, making sure both sides are evenly coated.
Cook the french toast: Place the coated bread slices onto the hot skillet. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy.
Optional coating: If desired, coat the freshly cooked French toast with the sugar and cinnamon mixture for extra sweetness and flavor.
Serve: Serve the french toast warm, topped with your favorite fruits, more maple syrup, or any additional toppings you enjoy.
Substitutions & Variations
One of the best things about vegan French toast is its versatility. Here are some ideas to switch things up:
- Bread: Use gluten-free bread to make the recipe gluten-free. You can also try using brioche, challah, or even a sturdy baguette for a different texture.
- Plant-based milk: Any plant-based milk will work. Almond, soy, oat, and coconut milk all add different flavors. For a richer taste, use a higher-fat milk like coconut or soy.
- Sweetener: Substitute the maple syrup with agave syrup, brown rice syrup, or even a dash of coconut sugar in the batter.
- Spices: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or pumpkin spice to the batter for a seasonal twist.
- Toppings: Beyond the classic maple syrup, try topping your French toast with sliced bananas, berries, a dollop of vegan whipped cream, or even a sprinkle of nuts for added crunch.
Storage & Freezing
Vegan French Toast is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers for later:
Freezing: To freeze, place cooked and cooled French toast slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep well for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen in a toaster or oven.
Refrigeration: Store leftover French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a toaster, oven, or on a skillet over low heat.
Tips for success
- Use sturdy bread: Choose a bread that won’t fall apart when soaked in the batter. Day-old bread works particularly well, as it absorbs the batter without getting too soggy. Although you can use fresh bread, just be careful when handling it soaked.
- Don’t skimp on the butter or oil: This helps create a crispy, golden-brown exterior. If you’re using a non-stick skillet, you might need less, but don’t skip it entirely.
- Adjust the heat as needed: If your French toast is browning too quickly, lower the heat slightly to ensure it cooks through without burning.
FAQ
Yes! Simply substitute the bread with your favorite gluten-free variety.
Yes, arrowroot powder or tapioca starch are good alternatives to cornstarch.
To achieve a crispier french toast, make sure your skillet is hot enough, and don’t be afraid to add a little extra vegan butter or oil.
You can prepare the batter a few hours in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Give it a good stir before using.
It’s better to freeze the cooked french toast rather than the batter, as the batter might separate upon thawing.
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Full recipe
VEGAN FRENCH TOAST
INGREDIENTS
- 6-7 slices of bread
- 4 tablespoon (36 g) cornstarch
- 1 cup plant-based milk
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup or sweetener of choice
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon flax meal
- 2 tablespoon vegan butter or oil, for frying
- Optional: 3 tablespoon sugar + 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder, , mixed for coating
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare the batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and plant-based milk until smooth. Add the maple syrup (or sweetener of choice), vanilla extract, cinnamon powder, and flax meal. Stir well to combine, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Dip the bread: Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and add the vegan butter or oil. Dip each slice of bread into the batter, making sure both sides are evenly coated.
- Cook the french toast: Place the coated bread slices onto the hot skillet. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Optional coating: If desired, coat the freshly cooked French toast with the sugar and cinnamon mixture for extra sweetness and flavor.
- Serve: Serve the french toast warm, topped with your favorite fruits, more maple syrup, or any additional toppings you enjoy.
NOTES
- If you haven't already, be sure to check out the 'How to make this recipe' section above for a visual walkthrough of each step.
NUTRITION
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