This vegan French toast is just the breakfast to kick off your day whether its a slow Sunday or a busy weekday morning! Trust me when I say this one is perfect for any day of the week. Its so good that you may want to make extra because it will be a big hit with both kids and adults in the house. It’s delicious, crunchy and full of luscious fruit.The best part is this is made with all pantry staples. This recipe needs minimal to no oil and sugar. Also its easy to swap out the fruit with whatever you have at home and it would still be delicious.
the best and the easiest French toast
French toast is usually made by dipping in a mixture of eggs, butter, sugar and spices. However, this version is all plant based. I decided to use mashed bananas, plant milk and chia seeds to coat the bread! Yes chia seeds add that all important crunch to the toast. The bananas add natural sugar and moisture. This means, you don’t have to add any sugar at all. Neither do we need oil or any butter.
The most important thing is to ensure you use bread that’s not too thin. When you dip the bread in to the mixture, it should hold up without breaking apart. Brioche bread is great for toast but I have not seen vegan brioche bread in the market near me. I would suggest whole wheat or multigrain which also adds increased fibre and protein.
what you need -ingredients
Ingredients required include
- Bread slices
- Bananas
- Plant milk
- Chia seeds
- Protein powder(optional)
- Pineapple
- Blueberries
- Toasted shredded coconut
- Maple syrup(optional)
- Powdered cardamom
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar and whipped cream for topping (optional)
I added vanilla flavored protein powder to up the protein in the toast but this is completely optional. I used a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup while caramelizing the fruits for topping but you can skip this. The fruits are naturally rich in sugars and you can get away with not adding any extra sweeteners.
One of the best things about French toast is it is so customizable. Swap out the cardamom for cinnamon, use up berries in your fridge or top with kiwis instead of pineapple. I swear it will all taste delicious!
overview for making the vegan French toast
First I made a “batter” of plant milk, mashed bananas, chia seeds, protein powder, vanilla extract and powdered cardamom. I let it set for 15 minutes. This allows the chia seeds to absorb some of the moisture and mix in well with mixture. I then dip the bread in the mixture in a fairly shallow plate/bowl. I let it sit for a couple of minutes and flip the slice of bread and repeat.
If you prefer making French toast sticks, cut the bread slices in to “sticks” before soaking. Now I used a air fryer to toast the bread. Its quick, needs no oil and pretty mess free. However you can just toast it on a frying pan as well. Make sure the bread is completely toasted with no wet spots on the surface. This is to ensure the toast is not soggy.
As the bread is toasting, I started caramelizing diced pineapple and banana in another pan. I added a little bit of maple syrup to help with the caramelizing. You can also add some vegan butter or cooking oil while doing this.
Once the toast is ready, I topped it with the caramelized fruit. I also added some blueberries, toasted coconut shreds and topped with coconut whipped cream. Serve topped with some powdered sugar and a side of maple syrup for some extra sweetness.
If you do give this recipe a try, please tag me at #dillandthyme on instagram or @dillandthymeblog on Pinterest
Vegan French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 bread slices (whole wheat/multigrain or brioche)
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup chopped pineapples
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup plant milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp powdered cardamom
- 2 tbsp maple syrup optional
- 1 tbsp vegan butter/oil optional
- 1/4 cup toasted shredded coconut
- maple syrup optional
- whipped cream optional
- powdered sugar optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mash one banana until there are no lumps.Add the milk, chia seeds, cardamom and vanilla extract. Mix well and keep aside for 15 minutes.
- Place this mixture in a wide and shallow bowl or plate. Dip a slice of bread and let it sit for a minute. Flip the slice and let the other side soak in the mixture. Repeat for all the slices
- Place in the airfryer at 375 deg F for 10 mins. Flip midway to ensure both sides are nicely browned.
- While the bread is toasting, heat a medium pan on the stove. Add some butter or oil and add the chopped pineapples, sliced bananas and blueberries. Saute for a couple of minutes and add maple syrup if required. Let the fruit caramelize in the pan and then keep aside.
- Place the toasted bread on the plates and top with the caramelized fruit. Top with more blueberries and shredded coconut. Serve with some maple syrupa and whipped cream on the side along with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Notes
- Alternate method to air frying – Heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan. Place the bread slice on the pan and let it crisp up until golden brown. Flip and repeat for the other side of the bread slice.
- You can use any other fruit you have on hand or even canned fruit.
- The total calories listed here is assuming you use brioche bread. If you use multi-grain or whole wheat , the number of calories per serving should be less.
- If you want to up the protein content, add a couple of spoons of protein powder to the “batter”.