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.
Ashley says
I would use it for smoothies!
Amy says
We love a good kefir Smoothie in the morning!
Beth @ Turn2theSimple says
We love green smoothies!
Shaunda says
I would use to make healthy smoothies and snacks!
Tina says
I like using the blender for baking (pancakes, muffins, etc.) and smoothies.
Lindsay McGee says
Smoothies with fun healthy ingredients. Life changing!!!
Diana says
We are starting to focus on healthier eating and would love the blender to help make smoothies for my family.
Rosie Johnson says
I would love to use this blender for green smoothies and get my daughter drinking more veggies!
Leigh says
I would love to use the blender to try new soups and smoothies!
Marla says
I'd mostly use the blender for smoothies and soups.
Mary Yang says
The recipe looks delish! And what an awesome giveaway!
Jen Russell says
I would love to learn how to make soup and different batters using this blender. Thanks for the chance to win!
Laura says
My kids all love fruit smoothies!
Lori says
I would love a new blender for smoothies and what ever other good recipes I find in the new cookbooks that come with the blender!
Jill Horne says
Trying out new recipes!
Amber K says
I love making pineapple spinach smoothies for my family!
Betsy says
Smoothies!
Lisa Jones says
This is so exciting! I would love to use my blender for the french toast and SOUPS for my daughters! :)
Heather Ochs-Balcom says
tomato soup
Michelle says
My kids love homemade soup! They don't like the store bought stuff (i cant blame them!) So this would be a god send!
Michelle irvin says
I want to use the blender to start making our own pea it butter and move away from the processed stuff!
Jamie says
I have 3 children that were just told they have a predisposition for type 2 diabetes. I would love to incorporate fruits and veggies in their diet since they all have an oral food aversion disorder they will not eat them. I could make smoothies and with and without yogurt which would be filling yet satisfying.
Ashley Brody says
One word... SOUP!
Kathi Luplow says
We've been wanting to try more smoothies, but could definitely use a better blender. Will be checking this one out and the cookbooks as well.
Monica Able says
I would make smoothies with this new blender but with the cookbooks I'd be excited to venture out and try something new!
Dawn Schmidt says
Would love to use the blender for smoothies and making peanut butter.
Candy McDonald says
I would like to use it to make healthy veggie smoothies for my family.
Erin Sigler says
I can't wait to use my new blender for smoothies!
Debbie Jeffrey says
I love your ideas and cook book. We also love smoothies. I am raising my grandson and it is his favorite breakfast food. I hope this is where I am suppose to enter to win a blender and cook book. Many Thanks for all your work you are doing for us. Debbie
Kristi Evans says
Juices, smoothies, ice creams, soups! My little man loves his daily smoothies!
Samantha Sniegowski says
I would love to get into smoothies! The reason I don't is because the blenders I have used have not produced a consistency I care for. Looking for something to completely pulverize the ingredients!
Nicole Doers says
I would love the blender for making smoothies to keep my teens healthy and full of energy.
Sarah Le says
Smoothies, dips/sauces, and soups!
Alyse Benenson says
I'd love to use this blender to pulverize my smoothies into creamy deliciousness!
Amanda says
Making summer soups is my current favorite! Chilled avocado/cucumber and watermelon gazpacho is my jam.
SUZANNE GAUTHIER says
please enter me in the contest
Heather S. says
I'd love to use the blender for my morning green smoothies and pesto!
Kelli Dreiling says
Smoothies, soups, salsa, so much more. We have a nutri bullet which is ok for small blending jobs but I'd like a bigger more powerful blender for family portions that is easier to use
Kristen says
Exciting healthy recipes for the whole family.... sneak in as much veggies as possible with the blender.
Irene says
Fresh, spicy salsa!