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.
LaKisha R. says
I need this blender because I am right in the middle of my body makeover transition as I approach the big 40 next year. I pretty much have a liquid diet due to severe reflux that no physician has cured. I want to do this all natural diet and be the healthiest 40year old mom. Especially for husband, my mother and kids. My mom died of congestive heart failure at 54. This cant happen to me.
Becky May says
I would love to have this blender make green smoothies and ice cream for my kids.
Krista s says
I would definitely use it for making cashew milk, soups and juices.
Michele Rowland says
I would use it to make smoothies! Trying to give my kids a healthier start to their morning routine.
Faith says
We've been using a Magic Bullet as a blender for so long, I'd be thrilled just to be able to make a smoothie easily. Or hummus.
Amanda J says
I'd like to use this blender to make this French toast recipe! It sounds easy, let the blender do the work. It would be great for smoothies as well, no more frozen fruit chunks.
april says
I would use it to make a smoothie! We love making smoothies for breakfast with whole milk organic yogurt, fruit, and a little honey. We have also started experimenting with greens in them.
Angela MacKay says
I am currently attempting to use a stick blender for everything as my blender recently died. It's not cutting it! We would use this for everything - morning smoothies, baby food, hollandaise sauce - you name it! It would be a beautiful addition to our kitchen.
Rose Mbatha says
I've had the same blender for over 10 years and keep saving to get a new one that doesn't leak or take me 20 minutes to get through frozen fruit. My current blender also scares my toddler away and she has to stay in her room since it's soooo loud. It's sounds like a construction assembly in my kitchen when the blender is going. We love our end results though.
Ashley Calle says
Smoothies!!! My two and four year old sons make smoothies with me on a daily basis. We've been doing this since my first son could sit up in a high chair and help me
put ingredients into the blender. My blender I have is so old and has a big chip and barely works. A new blender would make our dreams come true. Thank you in advance.
B DVB says
I would use the kitchenaid pro line series blender to make smoothies everyday! My current blender so does not pulverize ingredients for silky smooth consistencies
Kerstin pocock says
I'd love to win the Blender?
Cant find any link? So I'm making the assumption
Jenni says
I've had a vitamix forever BUT someone misplaced it (weird right?!) and now I'm ready to try something new! I have a 15 year old daughter who is super into into healthy food now and making smoothies daily with a crappy Walmart single size blender We need this so badly!! My son is dairy and gluten free and I would love to start whipping up some concoctions for him as well...with my daughter's help! PICK US☺️❤️ We love blender girl and would love to have our own copies of her books (we have gotten from the library on occasion!)
Elisa H says
So many smoothies! And I'd love your cookbooks!
Janice Farr says
I enjoy smoothies as a meal whether for breakfast or dinner. I make them with healthy add ins to the fresh fruit like oats, kale, cocoa, green tea or coffee and more. Blenders really get a work out from me so I'm looking for another wonderful blender to replace my aging one. These Kitchen Aids look and sound fantastic! I'm hopeful!
Iris Taylor says
If I were lucky enough to win this great prize package it would be used for tasty soups and yummy desserts for my young grandchildren. Oh my, how delicious life would be!
Cherie says
I'd love to win so I can make smoothies and pancakes and so much more! Thanks for the opportunity!
Adrienne says
I would use this blender for smoothies, and probably try to get more creative by making other things like sauces in it. I am trying to eat healthier and start beginning the day with breakfast, and my favorite on the go breakfast is a smoothie. Delicious, and I can easily bring it to work with me!
Julia says
We start our day in our house each and every morning with a green smoothie - me, my hubby and our two girls (3 and 1). And god bless them for gulping them down some mornings, particularly when we use kale (which we've been getting in abundance from our CSA lately so all smoothies the last month have been kale-based) because our current, cruddy old blender never gets the kale smooth enough. I daily covet all those amazing looking smoothies out there and dream one day that I could afford one of those amazing blenders. So yes, amongst making tons of other yummy goods, silky smooth GREEN SMOOTHIES would be #1.
Thuy N. says
Smoothies
Sonia says
I would love to win this blender and your wonderful books. I just recently started a part-time catering business and would love to have a high end blender like this one.
Kavita Mahendra says
My day begins with the blender. I make smoothies every morning and as the day goes on for most of my meals. As I cook many different varieties of food for my family and use a lot of the Blender Girl recipes this is a must in my kitchen. From smoothies, to salad dressings, salsa, Indian dal, curry pastes, soups----- I can go on and on. My teenage kids bake a lot when friends and cousins come over and my husband too when we entertain for margaritas and mojitos. :) It has endless uses in our kitchen!
Carla H says
It is a toss up on what I would use it for the most. I love smoothies but I also love homemade sauces for pastas and salads, topping off stuffed baked sweet potatoes, etc. Is there anything you can't use a blender for? The better the blender the more it can be used for I am sure!
Kerry Sutsko says
Smoothies and homemade condiments for the kiddos!
Stephen L says
Would love the opportunity to win a new blender, Tess. Thanks for the contest.
TC says
Soup! One of my favorite recipes is beets/basil/orange soup.
ellen says
I would love to win your cookbook and blender to fulfill my goal of becoming a healthier person.
Elizabeth King says
I would like to make all kinds of different things in the blender & add more vegetables to my diet. Your books would be an added bonus.
Elisabeth says
I would love to win the blender because I would give it to my sister. She has been talking about getting one for a while now, mostly to make fabulous smoothies from the Blender Girl (especially that Taste like ice cream one!!!), but she doesn't have much money to spend on this. It would make a great present!
Lynn Lilje says
I would use the blender to make more soups with the Vegetables from my summer garden - i too love making healthy smoothies
Terry-Lynn Wood says
I would use the blender to make the marvellous recipes in your books. Eating healthy is important to me.
Kathy says
Peach milkshakes! Having them daily BC peach season only comes once a year.
karen evans says
I would love to win the blender because I have a smoothie for breakfast every day and this blender would work much better than the one I have. I also want to use it to make other meals included in your recipe book. Thank you
Sarah says
I'd love a high powered blender to make my morning smoothie even faster!
Genna says
I was diagnosed with ms in January and have since become full vegan. I have continued to heal my body with food and not medication. I would love this blender to continue on my healing journey!
Mollie Hartwig says
100 different kinds of smoothies :)
Kristen M says
I'd love to try juices in the blender. That, and soups using produce from my garden.
Lydia Claire says
I would love to make nut based sauces in it!
Sarah says
Hi Tess! I would love to win this blender because I am in the process of becoming raw vegan and the blender I have not is on its way out and I also plan on becoming a raw vegan chef. I will be in need of a powerful blender to service my clients. Thank you for this giveaway!
Lydia Claire says
I would make a lot of nut based sauces!