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.
Amanda says
I would love to make smoothies, ice cream, and soups. All of those are winners with my kids and my husband!
Debbie Carter says
This French Toast recipe!
Melissa Clough says
I love using a blender to make my sauces super smooth.
Jessica M says
Just had a baby, so I would love to use the blender to make my own baby foods!
Janine says
Soups, new smoothies, and other things I would never think to make in the blender!
Mary says
It would be for my Grandbaby! She deserves a clean start for her eating habits. She is mostly interested in fruit and veggies and picks those over the yucky stuff so far! Neato!!
So smoothies and veggies are on the menu! She's inspired me soooo much!!
Keep up the great work! Thank you!!
Nicole Montgomery says
My old blender finally stopped working and I bought a cheap one to try to "get by"... bad idea. It doesn't even crush ice! I'd love to win this quality blender to make smoothies again and find other great recipies for soups, sauces, dressings, and many more.
Mary Schneider says
Blended soups! :)
caterina bertucci says
First of all THANK YOU for this opportunity!!!
For me it would be soups and smoothies........
Mary King says
I would love to win the Kitchen Aid blender to make healthy recipes for weight loss! I own several Kitchen Aid products and consider them a very good brand.
Crystal Joy says
Smoothies, soups, salad dressings, and anything else that seemed delicious!
Krislyn Booth says
Smoothies! Smoothies! and more Smoothies! (Along with many other things:)
Nina Paul says
I recently bought The Perfect Blend (can't wait to try recipes!) and I keep showing pictures of this beautiful food to anyone I encounter :-) Deep thanks to Tess for these incredible vegan recipes!
I have had a Vitamix blender for yearsand I love it but I would VERY MUCH like the opportunity to try this blender so I hope I win !
Ashanti Baker says
More than anything I would like to use this blender for smooth thick soups this Fall.
Melanie says
We make salsa almost daily! Smoothies, protein pancake batter, soups, and more! We are excited to try a new blender out. Thanks for the giveaway!
Mercedes burgwal says
Sooooo many things!! Smoothies & soups to name a few! My kids love helping me experiment with all my cookbooks in the kitchen and this would give us many hours of fun in the kitchen trying new things!
Nicole says
Protein shakes and smoothies
Jenni Gunderson says
Smoothies!
Alissa says
Healthy smoothies for my kids.
Erin says
Smoothies for my kiddos and really would like to try and make my own nut butters!
Gretchen Riddle, CHES, CHWC says
I would love a new blender for smoothies and soups! I'd also love trying out The Blender Girl's recipes!!
Gayla Beimer says
Smoothies!
And my husband makes the best hot sauce (salsa).
Jodi mendez says
Smoothies and soups
Erin G says
Something OTHER than smoothies!
Amber m Glenn says
I would love to use the blender to make smoothies, hummus, and other blended snacks for my family and baby food for my youngest.
Karolyn K says
Soups and smoothies. I am trying to do more soothing things for our guts.
Julie Pluimer says
This blender would be so great for making smoothies!
Lynn says
Smoothies for me and my kids. Everyone loves them!
Stephanie says
I use a blender/emmersion blender daily! This would be so helpful!
Ann says
My son & I love smoothies but no blender we've owned has held up to the task. We now use a food processor instead but it doesn't pour well. Would absolutely love a well-made blender than won't break!
Jennifer Lowery says
We need a new blender for smoothies and I'd love to try this recipe.
Adrienne Terzen says
Soups for supper...winter is coming!!
Rebecca Doles says
I would Love to use this blender to make healthy smoothies and meals for my family. We have recently completely changed our lifestyle and are using Whole Foods and enjoying the new found flavors of food!
Jessica DeLaney says
Anything and everything! Smoothies would be top of the list. And then this recipe!
Krista says
To blend smoother and quicker than the one I have now!
Kelsey l says
Smoothie bowls (eating is more fun than drinking ) and the creamiest sauces!
Jeanne says
Smoothies or Soups...so hard to decide!
Amanda says
Smoothies!
Antoinette Jones says
I would use this blender first for my morning green drinks. Then for all the various new and yummy recipes I'm discovering. I'm new to the vegetarian world and learning how to eat all over again.
Courtney says
We need a new blender as mine couldn't handle all the nut milks, smoothies and spreads I love to make!!! You should've seen the smoke coming out last time I made almond milk!!!!
Blender girl recipes are always great (esp. her cauliflower soup) and I bet there's a ton of good recipes for us in those books!!!