If you're craving some fluffy, sweet french toast then you're in luck! This recipe is not only vegan-friendly, but super easy to make.
French toast can be sweet, salty, filling, and savory all at once! If this breakfast staple isn’t a part of your meal rotation, now is the perfect time to give it a go.
Today we’re sharing background about the origin of french toast, plus, a vegan french toast recipe perfect for vegans and non-vegans alike!
Facts about french toast
You may have heard of french toast and even indulged in this delicious dish a time or two … but how much do you actually know about french toast? Let’s dive into a few fun facts!
History
Did you know that the origin of french toast is not actually French? Believe it! The phrase “french toast” first appeared in print in the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink in 1871. However, some believe that french toast existed as early as the age of the Roman Empire. This version of French toast was called Pan Dulcis, and was bread soaked in milk and egg, then fried in oil or butter.
French toast is known by a variety of names around the world, like German toast, eggy bread, French-fried bread, gypsy toast, nun’s toast, and more.
Nutrition information
1 slice of french toast without syrup is around 219 calories. A majority of the calories in french toast come from carbohydrates (43 percent of the recommended daily value). French toast has relatively high amounts of vitamins A (8 percent of daily value) and Iron (9 percent of daily value).
Common french toast ingredients
What’s a slice of french toast without its ingredients?! Fortunately, common ingredients are used in most vegan french toast recipes.
Bread
The type of bread used in your french toast recipe affects the overall texture and flavor. Popular vegan bread options are sourdough, ezekiel, baguette, and Kosher. Our recipe calls for vegan french bread, but if you like the recipe, try making this dish a few times using a different type of bread every time!
Liquid
Plant-based milk is a popular liquid used in vegan french toast! Almond, oat, soy, pea, and cashew milks are all awesome vegan liquid bases.
Fruit
French toast with a little sweetness is just sooo good! Adding fruit to your french toast infuses naturally sweet flavor to french toast without added sugar. We use bananas below, but you can also mash up blueberries or strawberries!
Healthy vegan french toast topping ideas
While the ingredients of vegan french toast are suuuper important, equally important is adding tasty, healthy toppings! But with all of the options out there, it may be tricky to know which toppings are the most nutritious and go best with vegan french toast. We’ve narrowed it down to a few go-to’s.
Syrup
Pure maple syrup is considered healthier than regular syrup, and it includes more nutrients than honey. However, you should still use pure maple syrup sparingly because it can spike insulin levels.
Cinnamon
The smell of cinnamon instantly warms up any kitchen! Its unique aroma is like autumn and all things cozy. :) But cinnamon has many health benefits, like being loaded with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and helping fight against bacterial infections.
Chopped nuts
For those who like an earthy taste to their vegan french toast, nuts are an option. Candied pecans, lightly salted almonds, or roasted cashews are all filling, nourishing options. Try chopping up nuts and sprinkling them on top of cooked vegan french toast.
Recipe for Vegan French Toast
Don’t wing it in the kitchen! We’ve whipped up an easy vegan french toast recipe to make breakfast time easy.
And if you’re looking for a side dish to accompany your vegan french toast? Give Proper Good oatmeals a try! Banana bread, apple cinnamon, and blueberry coconut all pair compliment french toast particularly well.
Cooking Info:
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 15
Total Time 25
Ingredients:
1 loaf of crusty French Bread, sliced into 3/4" thick slices
1 ripe Banana, mashed
1 14-oz can Coconut Milk
1/4 cup Shredded Coconut Flakes, plus more for garnishing.
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt
Fresh Blueberries, for serving
Maple Syrup, for serving
Instructions:
- In a large container or bowl, whisk together the mashed banana, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and shredded coconut flakes.
- Dip each slice of bread into the batter, letting it soak for up to 30 seconds, then lifting to drip off any excess liquids.
- Fry it in a skillet heated up over medium-high heat with the olive oil for 2-3 minutes per side, or until crispy on the edges and golden brown. Enjoy warm with fresh blueberries and a drizzle of maple syrup!
