The following is a guest post by Tess Masters, The Blender Girl - actor, presenter, lifestyle personality, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies book, The Perfect Blend, and The Detox Dynamo Cleanse. She and her easy healthy recipes have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Real Simple, Prevention, Clean Eating, the Today Show, and other media outlets. She is the global spokesperson for KitchenAid blenders and lives in Los Angeles.
For a fabulous family breakfast, brunch, dessert, or (dare I say it?) snack, you can’t beat this phenomenal French toast. My family and I have been battering up with this baby for years, and it is a huge hit with everyone we serve it to. People even say they prefer this healthier incantation of the classic comfort food to its original counterpart! I've received thousands of elated emails and messages on social media about this righteous recipe since I included it in my latest book The Perfect Blend, so I had to share it with you.
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So simple, so delicious, so creamy, so crispy you may never blend your batter using dairy milk and eggs again. Yep! This terrific treasure is dairy free, egg free, and also gluten free, and it utilizes whole ingredients.
Now, before you grimace at the thought of using cardboard-like gluten-free sandwich bread (we all know how awful that can be), the brilliant batter in this recipe makes even the worst gluten-free bread full and fluffy! I use whole-grain gluten-free bread, but you could use regular whole-wheat bread as well. Just know that this recipe (ingredient ratios and cook times) has been calibrated for gluten-free bread. So, you may need more coconut oil when frying and will need to adjust the temperature of your stove top as well as the cook time.
But, resist the urge to use less coconut oil than what I've prescribed, otherwise, your bread won't crisp up. I don't know about you, but I love my French toast crispy on the outside and moist and chewy on the inside.
This French toast is a fun, family-friendly recipe. I make it with my niece and nephew, and they love soaking the bread and preparing their toppings so they can get their serving juuust right. The caramelized bananas I've included in this recipe are always a hit, but this fried bread will get cozy with any fruit that takes your fancy. Try serving it with stewed or poached apples, pears, peaches, rhubarb, or some fresh berries.
If you want to make this recipe nut-free, use rice, soy, or hemp milk in the batter, and top it with coconut flakes instead of nuts. Bon appetit!
Blend More Than Smoothies
I use my blender to make all kinds of delicious recipes. I think it's the greatest culinary tool we've been given since fire and spoons! So, I want to encourage you to use your blender beyond smoothies, soups, and cocktails. Your blender can make healthy fast food possible. Blending makes life easier, levels the playing field in the kitchen, and allows anybody to whip up nutrient-dense, tasty foods with limited skills and time.
While my books and website do contain a full repertoire of drinks, smoothies, and soups, you’ll find more than food to sip, glug, or scoop up with a spoon. My recipes are blender centered but by no means blender only. I favor blender-inspired dishes—appetizers, snacks, salads, desserts, and easy main dishes you can attack with your trusty knife and fork.
This is why I love this blender more than anything else on the market:
- The most powerful blender to pulverize ingredients for silky smooth consistencies.
- 3 Adapti-Blend™ pre-programmed settings for smoothies, soups, and juices.
- Insulated jar that keeps the contents cool when you're blending smoothies and juices.
- BPA-free container with soft-touch handle grip and asymmetric stainless steel blade.
- Speed dial that goes to 11 to take things beyond regular speeds to completely pulverize ingredients more quickly.
- Pulse switch for an extra boost of power at any speed.
This is the best blender I have ever used. And I own them all!
You May Also Enjoy
- Peanut Butter Banana Stuffed French Toast
- Sourdough French Toast
- Whole Wheat French Toast
- Quick Breakfast Ideas
- Healthy Breakfast Ideas
If you enjoyed this homemade French toast recipe, please leave a rating and comment! For more inspiration, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. For 5 free weekly meal plans and more free resources, sign up to receive my free newsletter! For more ideas, check out these Breakfast Recipes.
French Toast
Ingredients
French Toast
- 1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
- 1 medium banana (ripe)
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (white or black)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 slices bread (gluten-free)
- ¼ cup coconut oil (melted)
Caramelized Bananas
- 2 medium bananas (thickly sliced on the diagonal)
- ¼ cup coconut sugar ((or regular sugar))
- 1 - 2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
- Pure maple syrup (for serving)
Toppings
- 2 tablespoons pecans (or walnuts, crushed)
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Set the oven to its lowest temperature or the “warm” setting.
- To make the French toast, pour the milk, banana, maple syrup, vanilla, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt into your blender and blast on high for about 30 seconds until well combined.
- Pour the mixture into a large shallow baking dish and let rest for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly. In batches, place slices of the bread in the baking dish and let soak on one side for 8 to 10 seconds. Flip the slices and let soak for another 8 to 10 seconds, until evenly moistened.
- In a medium skillet (that fits two slices of bread) or on a large griddle (that holds all of the slices) over medium heat, warm 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil per two slices of bread. (Resist the urge to use less coconut oil or the bread won’t get crispy.) Add the bread and fry for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy on the edges; you may need to add more coconut oil after you flip the bread. If cooking in batches, transfer the French toast to a lined baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm and repeat to fry the remaining bread, adding more coconut oil to cook each batch.
- While the last pieces of toast are cooking, make the caramelized bananas. Combine the banana slices and the coconut sugar in a zip-lock bag, seal, and shake to coat evenly.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, warm the coconut oil, add the coated bananas, and fry for about 2 minutes on each side until nicely caramelized.
- Serve two slices of French toast on each plate, topped with one-quarter of the caramelized bananas, one-quarter of the crushed nut boosters, and one-quarter of the coconut booster. Pass maple syrup at the table.
Daniella Norwood says
Smoothies and hummus!
Alissa says
I would love to have a good blender for smoothies.
Chanelle says
I just moved out of my parents' house and am currently working with a $25 blender. I LOVE green smoothies and make them every day, so I'd most like to use it for that - however I am very excited about trying out everything in The Perfect Blend cookbook since I am allergic to gluten and dairy!
sunny says
It's a great blender and great taste too.
http://www.idleexperts.com/public/article/index/id/156581/artilce
Flor Barajas Tena says
I have your book Tess and I appreciate all of your in-depth information, I will be using this mainly for smoothies and also soups.
Karen Begley says
A new blender would bring more fast healthy compenents like soups ans sauces to my family! Thanks for the opportunity!
Hollie says
I would use it to replace our old blender.
Thanuja says
I would use the blender to make breakfast smoothies.
Jane Plant says
I'm just starting Trim Healthy Mama and a good blender would be an asset to incorporating that food plan. The french toast recipe looks wonderful.
Kathleen says
I've had my cheap blender since college and I'd love a professional grade one to whip up healthy smoothies and blend my own nut butters
Stephanie D. says
I'd love this blender to make banana "Ice cream". My current blender is barely cutting it.
Stephanie D. says
I've recently discovered banana "ice cream". My current blender has a really hard time with it. I'd love this blender to make more dessert! Ok.... And some healthy green smoothies for the kiddos too.
Leigh McDonald says
I would use it to make all the things!
valerie johnson says
Well I want to try everything!
Krissy says
I would love one of those blenders! I would use it to make smoothies and soups :) thank you for the opportunity!
Valerie W. says
So many things, but mostly green smoothies!
Chrissy says
I would use mine to make incredibly smooth humus!
Liz says
I would definitely try this recipe! But I'd also make margaritas.
Jennifer Hudson says
I would love to use this blender for everything my food processor does so I can get rid of excess appliances!
Anne says
I would use the blender for smoothies! Mine leaves chunks which is inconvenient...
Jonnie says
I would love to use this blender to make some soups and some new recipes from the cookbooks
Khrystal says
I would use the new blender for soups! Getting close to fall weather :)
Lindsey says
Hands down I would use a great blender like that to make smoothie bowls! I'm utterly in love with them regardless of the season but my current blender can only really handle making a more watery version than the one I've been dreaming of. I've even found that smoothie bowl shops can't hit the mark on consistency sometimes!
I'm saving this french toast recipe for a morning brunch date with my fiance too, thank you for posting it!
Karlie Kashat says
I would use it for my morning smoothies!! (my current nutribullet is not cutting it anymore!)
Lyndsay says
I'm a nursing new momma and would love to make smoothies that I can drink one handed while I feed the baby.
Juli Davis says
I would love it for smoothies and coffee drinks!
Brenda Penton says
I would use it to make soups, especially my favourite...butternut squash soup!
SUMMER PLEWES says
I got a fabulous book from the library last week on green smoothies and I am dying to try some of them out. I can't lie, I would love to see your books!!!! Are they available for purchase online??
Alyssa Passmore says
I'd love to use this to make smoothies and soups for my family!
Jessica says
Smoothies and new recipes!
Karyn Woodard says
I would love to use the blender for whole food cooking to be healthier.
Diana says
I want to make some smoothies with more veg in them but I don't think my current blender will do it.
Anne S. says
Love making soups with blenders.
Amy Heffernan says
I would just love to use this blender for smoothies and also for making bread crumbs. Thanks!
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Jennifer says
Baby food, fresh tomato sauce, pancake batter, smoothies....so many to choose from!!
Michelle Dunn says
Smoothies!
Joanna Sooper says
I would make soups and salad dressings
Annie H. says
Smoothies! Great way get your "greens"!
Carly says
Smoothies!!
Kristin O says
We would use the blender to make delicious smoothies
Bobbi Wiethoff says
Our favorite banana ice cream!