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.
Preet says
Every morning green & healthy breakfast :) and some energy balls to snack on throughout the day :)
Kamila Pozyczka says
Sauces, soups and smoothies! Having two small children hidden veggies are the only chance to make them eat healthy
Shannon Adams says
I would love to win the Kitchenaid Blender to make homemade pesto. Yum!
BetsyD says
I'd use the blender for smoothies! Just made these this a.m. for my family and we were gulping down medium size chunks of fruit (achemm). I think my blender's had it! :)
Janiece Johnson says
I would love to win the Kitchen Aide Proseries Blender.
Sagal Mohamoud says
I always loved making smoothies and healthy recipes. Having the right equipment will go along way and will encourage my family and I to lead a healthy life.
Kimberly Fremmerlid says
I would LOVE to be able to make smoothies in a powerful blender - one that won't smell like the motor is burning out every time I use it:)
Thanks for reading and for the contest!
Julie Hicks says
SMOOTHIES!!! I'm wanting to send my kids to school with something healthy in their tummies. This is an awesome giveaway!
Miranda says
Soups, Batters, Butters ...from soup to nuts, my family wants to eat more real food!
Lisa Marshall says
I would use the blender for everything from smoothies to soups. It would be a great tool for a healthier lifestyle.
Stephanie says
I'm currently using a 10-year-old food processor for all of my blending needs - I feel like I don't need to tell you that I'm in need of an upgrade! :) I want to make soups, smoothies, "nice" cream, nut butters, oh my! The possibilities are endless!!!
Debra Arabie says
Would love to try your recipes in "A Perfect Blend".
Kerry Farran says
I would love to make my own almond butter and healthy smoothies.
Linda Hansen says
I would love this blender for many reasons. I am learning to eat healthier and in the last year I have lost 70# and still want to lose 40 to 50 more. I could make so many good heathy items.
Karen M says
I would love a new blender to try the delicious recipes in your cookbooks! We are trying to make healthier choices!
Cathleen Rees says
Smoothies and salad dressings!
Laura Wimberley says
I will use the blender to make banana "ice cream" and green vegetarian posole from a recipe I learned in Guanajuato
Shea Garrison says
I would LOVE the blender! I need something better to make my salsa and sauces.
Miet says
I'd use the blender to make smoothies, particularly green ones!
Melissa Smith says
The French toast recipe above!
Cindy says
soups, smoothies, nut butters
Kerry S says
Smoothies and Soups
Cheri Davis says
creamy soups and smoothies
Louellen M says
I would use the blender to make smoothies for breakfast, sauces/salad dressings, and milkshakes.
Heather Russell says
I would love a blender for smoothies and sauces! Maybe even some homemade ice cream.
Catherine Brodeur says
The first blender that I bought long ago finally passed on & I've yet to replace it cause I'm trying to save up for a great one like this Kitchen Aid...what I miss most & what I would make first would be a green smoothie...I miss those tons. Good Luck to all!
Tara Kraemer says
Smoothies!
Cathy Pellegrino says
I'd love a new blender! My son is looking to gain weight, so I could make him peanut butter banana smoothies! My hubby wants to lose weight, so I can make him healthy green shakes! If only my husband could give a few of his pounds to my son - lol!
Gina Rafkin says
I would make smoothies for my athletic kids!
Lonnita says
Smoothies & salsa!
Jill says
Smoothies!! A delicious way to hopefully sneak more greens in!
Jessica LeBaron says
a good blender would open up a world of possibilities! Homemade baby food, ice cream, nut milks and butters... soup, salsa... man the dream machine is running now!
Emily says
Tomato sauce
Lisa Barrett says
I would use the blender for smoothies and nut butters.
Amy T says
I'd love to use the blender to make healthy gazpacho, soups, applesauce, and smoothies for my family, as well as hummus of all varieties. Yum yum.
KarenM says
I'd use the blender for better Smoothies.
Ashley V says
Smoothies!
Alicia Minzel says
I would use the blender to make hummus!
Mary Buersmeyer says
I would use the blender for smoothies.
Corrine says
Definitely smoothies, lots and lots of smoothies!