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.
Michelle Belle says
I would use it daily for many, many, things. A beautiful, powerful, machine, I would love to add it to my kitchen.
Jessica says
Smoothies!
Dan Backus says
I love the blender for making dips and sauces.
Trisha says
Real food smoothies!
Rachel Williams says
We just started eating from the 100 days of real food meal plans but even before I would make fruit smoothies for myself in a magic bullet. It would nice however to make larger portions for the whole family to enjoy!!
Katie Mulreed says
Whereever my imagination takes me!!!
Natalie Garner says
I would use this blender for smoothies!
Mary Fennessy says
Would love it for smoothies and healthy foods for myself and my 2 year old and to make baby food for my little one on the way!
Sharon Faber says
I would use it to make homemade salsa or dips! With my garden over flowing with veggies it would be so nice to blend up something quick to top our salads, pastas and meats with!
Kristin says
I would make my favorite morning mocha smoothie!
Julie Rayburn says
I currently use a Cuisinart smart stick for smoothies but would really like an actual blender to make larger amounts for my kids and me! Ooh ooh, pick me, pick me!:)
Wendy M. says
I use my blender for smoothies for my family and also for making pizza dough. If I had a heavy duty blender, I could make all sorts of food items.
Franca says
I would love this blender to make smoothies, soups and sauces to kickstart me healthy recipes and lifestyle. Thank you for this great chance to win such amazing prizes. Good luck to all.
Barlow, Carly says
Working towards clean eating to put my hashimoto's into remission, so this would be perfect!
Chandra K. says
Diagnosed with pre diabetes! Need to get healthy again to keep up with my 3 littles- this blender would help
Zoe says
This blender would be perfect for making my morning banana oatmeal vegan pancakes in. I love to blend the batter to make it extra smooth. Thanks for sharing the delicious recipe.
Jennifer says
I'd use it to make smoothies for my kids!
Nicole says
I will totally continue to embrace and enhance my lifestyle with the excitement of trying some of your new recipes.
Conny says
I would love to learn to make soups and increase my smoothie recipes!
Christina Taurence says
My daughter, just diagnosed with Hashimotos and therefore must be gluten free and dairy free, will want to make her delicious smoothies but now modified dairy free.
Ashley Raggio says
We want to make healthy smoothies for the family breakfast and want to try "ice cream"
Jes Cal says
I would use this blender for my smoothies and making my own nut butter!
Olivia R says
I would use it for smoothies and soups!!
Elizabeth says
I will be using the blender to reduce sugar level. Would love to try blending almond butter and bananas to make ice cream. My husband used blender daily for a smoothie for work. He is treating acid reflux with this.
Cheryl Plonk says
I love making delicious healthy smoothies and dressings for fresh summer salads.
Margot S. says
I would love to make copycat Orange julius!
Denise says
Delicious smoothies!! Yummy!
Valerie says
I will be making smoothies and adding more flax meal to everything for the kiddos!!
LENA SMITH says
Would love to have this blender for a variety of uses in my kitchen. Smoothies, are just the beginning. :>)
Dan Howard says
Yup
Virginia konz says
Would use this for smoothies and also helping to make baby food for baby #3 on the way!
Nicole Pridgen says
I would use the blender to make baby food mostly!!! Love making my own healthy versions of baby food!
Brandi says
Mostly smoothies and soups but I'd love to try new things too!
Mary says
I would love to win this blender to give as a gift to my best girlfriend whose husband has just been diagnosed with advanced cancer and they are immediately making nutrition changes to boost his health during treatment. They don't have a blender, but are interested in nutrient dense smoothies that I've been making and taking to them! I'd love to gift them with this blender so they can blend up smoothies "on demand!"
Marlena Kelley says
Would definitely use this for smoothies and soups, and excited to always try new recipes!!
RoseAnn Davis says
My daughter and I would like to start a plant based diet and are hoping this will help us the widest variety of nutrients,
Laura D says
That blender looks amazing! I really never thought about how versatile a blender could be as a tool.
And...caramelized bananas on French toast...to die for!
Tina says
Smoothies!
JM says
I would love to more actively experiment with healthy smoothies and, truth be told, ice cream recipes! Nut butters are also a "weakness" of mine
Michele Altieri says
Would like to learn to use a blender for Smoothies, etc.