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.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!
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.
Susan Rubino says
Smoothies, Soup, Pesto
Janell K. Huntsman says
Soups, pancakes, crepes, smoothies, banana ice cream, etc!
Susan Rubino says
crepes! great idea!
Lara McInnes says
We are setting an example for our kids to follow for years to come on healthy, unprocessed eating. Blending is a staple for creating perfect alternatives.
Ashley McRea says
I ADORE my Vitamix, and I would give this blender to my daughter who is in med school. She is trying to eat healthy, I would totally keep the cookbook! I want more blender ideas!
Katherine Ford says
Would love to win the blender so I could make my family some good for you breakfast smoothies. Kitchenaid anything is awesome!
S Kvam says
Heard amazing things about Kitchen Aid blenders. We make smoothies all the time and would love to try out some of Tess' amazing recipes with a new blender!
Nicole R says
I'm so excited to win this blender! I will use it to make smoothies to help get more veggies into my family's bellies :o) Yummy! And to make soups.
Beth says
I would like to make soup with the blender.
Stephanie Tiedeman says
I would love to use it for the French toast recipe as well as soups!
Melissa says
Kitchenaid is awesome! Would love a blender that can handle actually blending!
Carol Pilarczyk says
I'd use it to make this French toast recipe and smoothies for breakfast every morning!
Michaela says
That's a beautiful blender! I would use it to make my favorite smoothies and to try out new blender-made recipes!
Vicky Hadley says
I would use it daily for my kids smoothies!!
Marie says
Mainly to make smoothies and nut milks and butters.
Amy Rouse says
Smoothies and soups!
Amy D says
The French toast looks amazing! And I would love to have a good blender - smoothies are a staple in our house.
Kristin says
I would use this blender to make smoothies. My old one died and I have yet to replace it.
Abby says
I would love this blender to make better smoothies and try new things!
Clay says
Would love this blender to make smoothies for me and healthy purées for my baby due in September!
Emily says
I would love a great blender for making creamy soups. My family loves homemade tomato soup, butternut squash, mushroom and asparagus soups. I always use my emersion blender but wish I had something stronger.
jennifer says
Blender bread and smoothies! Our current blender isn't strong enough to blend smoothly so we aren't able to make much currently.
Diana says
I'd use the blender to make healthier meals and teach my kids as well.
Mindy says
I would love this blender to make my kids' smoothies!
Nora M says
I'd like to make ground flaxseeds for salads, etc. Also nut butters. You really need a powerful blender to do certain things in the kitchen - and there's really no substitute - unless you go back to the mortar and pestle!
Theresa says
I would use the blender to make smoothies for the family.
Jeanne Watkins says
Love your book. I even bring it to work with me. Great way to make a menu
Melissa Sugzdinis says
I would love to experiment with all the recipes in your cookbooks!
Dana Kroh says
We would mostly use it for protein drinks and smoothies. I've never owned a blender that could smooth greens in a shake and it sounds like this one could do it which would be a huge win! Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
Kiara Diaz says
My husband was recently diagnosed with diabetes and I would love to use this to make our own soups and smoothies without all the excess sugar!
Amy Loehr says
Smoothies! Smoothies! More smoothies!
Laura says
This recipe is awesome! So easy too!
Amity Harrington says
I would love this blender to get my family of 5 on a diet of eating more real food.
Catherine Martinez says
After drastically changing my diet and following more of a real food diet, I was able to become pregnant with my first child due in March. In addition to the blender being agreat appliance for real food recipes, it would also be used to make my own organic baby food. I am looking forward to giving my baby a healthy start in life.
Kelly Lee says
I never would have thought to use a blender to make French toast - sounds like a fantastic recipe! Would love to have a KitchenAid blender to try out the diverse range of recipes it can handle (including smoothies, soups, nut butters, etc)!!
Cristina Moidel says
This french toast recipe sounds amazing! I would use the blender for smoothies.... and this recipe!!
Carrie Gear says
Ooo...looks fun to use!
Susannah Shmurak says
This blender looks amazing!
Tracy says
My family loves smoothies and our current blender just doesn't cut it. I would love a new blender to make smoothies so much easier!
Sherrie says
I would love having a blender strong enough to make good butters at home.
Shawnie says
This would be a dream for making soups, smoothies and nice cream for me and my little one!
Katherine says
I would love the blender and would use it for my blender muffin recipe!