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.
Alicia says
I would blend up a butternut squash for my family.
Alicia says
I would blend my family back together. We are alone so distant and I would invite everyone over for a autumn type soup. Blender dinner!
Jill W. says
I would love to try your french toast recipe! (I'll probably try it with or without a blender!)
Michelle Beauvais says
I would love that blender! I love to make healthy smoothies, but I have also enjoy making soups, and would like to try making my own nut milks or coconut milk. I'd also like to try this French toast recipe and try it without any nut products so that I could share it with my niece and nephew. They're both allergic to nuts and my nephew is also allergic to eggs. My sister really misses being able to have things like French Toast in the house. ( I might have to give her the blender... or tell her to enter this drawing)
paula says
I would use the blender to make smoothie bowls
Mandy says
We have started making smoothies and shakes almost daily. We've been talking about getting a higher-powered blender, so this would be perfect for us!!
Heather Cole says
Our family loves smoothies and soups so this would work perfectly for us!
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I would use the blender to make smoothies to help get more veggies into my diet.
Virginia says
I'd love to make green smoothies more consistently!
Nicole Miller says
A Kitchen-Aid blender would literally be used every day in my busy kitchen! With 8 in our family, there is always a call for smoothies, soups, bread mixes, etc! I want to make my own peanut and almond butter. This blender would be used to cook whole foods and feed my family healthy meals.
Amy says
Baby food for my granddaughter, who is to arrive soon! Smoothies, dairy free sauces and of course, this yummy French toast!!
Rachel Best says
We love blending smoothies but would like to try some new blender ideas!
Stacie G says
I live in a very rural village in Alaska and prepping for a local/native food challenge. I am currently harvesting berries for the fall and winter and don't have near enough freezer space so am dyhydrating as much as I can, and use a blender quite a bit for fruit rolls and so much more.
This would be a huge asset that the whole community could benefit from!
Julie says
I would use the blender for making hummus and this amazing pistachio salad dressing I read about recently.
Jaime H says
I love making breakfast smoothies so I'd definitely use it for that - but I like the idea of broadening my scope of what a blender can be used for, so I'd try some new things in there too like this French toast coating! :)
Winter Powell says
My morning smoothies would be even better with this blender.
Mary McEwing says
My kids love smoothies but they don't like the ones I make because our blender isn't very good so it leaves things chunky! I could use this blender for even more than just smoothies, I love reading/trying your recipes!!
Tricia says
I want to make more puréed soups.
Lindsey Vannett says
Green smoothies and healthier recipes using the cook book.. would love a nice blender like this!
Barb Vanrobaeys says
Smoothies, soups, drinks.
Emily says
I would is the blender to make healthy meals for my husband who has just been diagnosed with lupus.
Lauren says
This recipe sounds wonderful!
I'd love to use the blender to make homemade baby food for our twin nieces/nephews about to arrive. I made it for my kids and helped our cousin make it for our goddaughter, so I'd love to pass on the healthy recipes. And then have a perfect tool for healthy and tasty smoothies each morning for our family of 5--a great way to start each school day!
Michele Wahba says
I would use the blender for smoothies and soups for my family!
Liz Conger says
I use the Primal Fuel chocolate protein powder and would live tonblend it with frozen berries! Yum
Rosie Martinez says
I would love to use this blender to make coconut milk and almond milk and then blend the dried leftovers into flours.
Christina says
I would blend SO many things! Especially beans to make healthy snacks and dips, and smoothies, so many smoothies.
Katy says
Homemade baby food, smoothies, and slushie/frozen drinks
Jessica Nesteruk says
Sounds great!
Kimberly Hawkins says
Smoothies for the whole family at once and purees for homemade baby food.
Jessica Nesteruk says
I just burned my nutri bullet out a couple of days ago. I just usually use for smoothies and juicing. Would love to get more creative with a better blender.
Diane Rainbolt says
Would love to win this to make smoother smoothies and creamier soups! Thank you!!
Jess says
I would love to be able to make my girls fresh smoothies to start their school days!!
Tessa says
My husband and I are wanting to begin a new green smoothie habit and this blender would be perfect.
Diane Hays says
I would use the blender to make nutritious smoothies and soups my husband could eat. He has Parkinson's and has difficulty swallowing many foods.
Elisa says
Green smoothies!
Carol Wiley says
I would use the blender for making yummy smoothies.
Cathy Warning says
Thank you
Allison Kirby says
Nice cream (banana ice cream) for dessert or even breakfast!
Cathy Jones says
I would love to have this blender to make this awesome yummy recipe!
Ashley carrier says
I would love to make smoothies and so much more!!