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.
Heather says
I love Tess and her approach to health. I have been trying to help my family eat better by sharing with them the power of blended foods and by eating more real food. I would love to give them the blender and one of the books and keep two of the books for myself. My mom has a risk for high cholesterol and heart disease, and my stepdad currently has heart disease. My younger brother just overcame cancer but will be at rish for redevelopment his whole life. They have been loving the smoothies I have made for them usimg real food ingredients but don't have much time to prepare healthy meals like I do. I know this blender would help them eat better, and it would likely be the best gift I could give them. Thank you for the chance to win!
Aimee says
I have been following you on FB and have watched your live videos! Thank you for so many hints and tips on healthy foods!
Laura Guerra says
I am a smothies lover, and this blender it's like a dream to me!!
Kristen Schuler says
I would be ecstatic to win this prize bundle!! I'd use the blender to make so many of Tess' recipes, but would most look forward to incredibly smooth green smoothies and avocado dressing!
Emily atkinson says
Smoothies and purées!
tayaba says
O I love this blender, it's perfect for kids daily demands.
Nicole Gray says
I would make green smoothies with the blender.
Jenn says
We would use a blender to make healthy, calorie packed smoothies for my daughter who struggles to gain eight due to her CHD.
Erin says
I hope I'm doing this right! I would love the blender for smoothies, sauces and nut butters. I am a breast cancer survivor who is constantly trying to find new ways to incorporate more fruits and veggies into my families diet. Love your blog so much, incredibly helpful.
Kerri Levine says
Definitely for smoothies!
Sharon Silverstein says
I'd love to try some of the recipes from The Blender Girl - I just need a really great blender to do it!
Hadley Dobson says
I would love to make smoothies and homemade hummus! Love all of your recipes, Lisa!
Kim says
I would love this blender for smoothies for my family and oh so much more!!!! So exciting!!
Jendria says
I want to win this blender for a friend of mine who just discovered green smoothies!
Katie says
There are so many things I would use the blender for... smoothies, dressings, sauces, soups... but I think I would most look forward to making homemade hummus in the blender!
Cassandra C says
I would most like to use the blender for my family. For my daughter to help with our recipes she loves to try from watching Youtube videos. For my son to make his post work out shakes. For my love to make his morning smoothie, that I'm so happy to see him drink.
VANESSA MUSI says
I love Tess's work! What a great giveaway with the perfect pairing of her cookbooks and this gorgeous blender! I am definitely making this french toast for my husband who is GF and love the vegan part! Brilliant! I would make my new vegan, paleo raspberry blondies with coconut and chocolate, with a dreamy coconut glaze. Oh and smoothies every day. I have a paleo omega 3 bread I make every week that requires a professional blender :) which I need. Thank you!
Vanessa Musi
Sarah says
I would use the blender for our daily smoothies!
Lauren Langley says
I would love to have this blender to use for daily smoothies and for soups and sauces. My blender is totally on its way out.
Katherine says
I would love this blender to make healthy smoothies and shakes for my four-year-old daughter and myself! And the French toast definitely looks worth trying, too!
Shawna Lenych says
I would love to try making soups in the blender and lots of smoothies and puddings.
Jennifer W says
So many things for which I'd love to use the Kitchen Aid blender! But I'd most look forward to creating smooth cashew cream and cashew cheese...even with soaking, the cashews never get properly blended smooth in my current blender. And of course I'd love to make every single recipe from The Blender Girl cookbooks :)
Summer Hannosh says
I would be using the blender to make some smoothies and soups.
Amber Webb says
I make smoothies almost daily and I'd love a new blender!
Tina Ventrella says
Ooooo I would totally make amazing acai bowls, raw deserts, vegan sauces, soups, more cashew butter and another acai bowl!!
Wendy Christopherson says
The question is what wouldn't I use it for!? I would use it everyday for smoothies. Soups, dressing...
Elizabeth Starr Lilly says
I can't decide what I'd MOST use it for, but if I had the Kitchen Aid blender, I would use it to make my family happy with smoothies, soups, and sauces.
Roy T Zahn says
Sweet recipie
Nancy T says
I will be using the blender to make daily smoothies! Especially the Kale smoothie that tastes like ice cream!
Joseph Barnett says
Wow! This would be so wonderful to make vegan smoothies, soups, pizza and pasta sauce....and SO much more!
Lindsay Bennett says
We would use it for smoothies!
Patricia Weber says
I can imagine all the dishes our family would make with that blender....where do I start?! Perhaps gazpacho (there is a watermelon gazpacho recipe I've been dying to try!), smoothies, super smooth soups and sauces, and I could totally see mixing batters in here for pancakes or muffins, with easy cleanup!
Brittany Koch says
I would LOVE to be able to use that beaut of a blender to start making my own nut milks. Oh- and sauces... all the sauces.
Mia Vinson says
I would use the blender to make smoothies and soups l.
Karen Moss says
I would love to use the blender to make smoothies and other delicious recipes from Tess's cookbooks!!
Kris Wilken says
I would love to use the blender to make a fresh back to school dinner of blender made garden veggie tomato soup, served with blender made pesto and blender made gluten free flat bread and then since it's the end of summer to blend up Danielle Walkers gluten free, Almond milk rocky road ice cream.
Venessa F. says
I would love to use this new kitchen Aid blender most for daily green smoothies. Thanks so much for this awesome giveaway!
Elizabeth Emmons says
I would use this blender to make pesto! I have come to realize that top notch kitchen tools really do make a difference in a meal!
Cristen Sassi says
I would love to make my own but milks, sauces, and soups. This French toast recipe looks absolutely amazing!! That would be my first recipe. I want to make healthy food for on the go and nourish my family. Fingers, toes, arms, and legs crossed! I am ready to venture past smoothies and discover what a blender was made for! ☺
Kelcey Dillon says
I want a powerful blender to blend my greens and stay healthy. Thank u for all u do! I love watching your live videos on fb!