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.
Jillian Brooks says
This blender and the vegan cookbook are the perfect new addition to my kitchen arsenal! My 5 year old has had to go dairy free and I am trying everything to make sure she's getting her 5 a day and going to bed with a full tummy!
A Wolfe says
Smoothies! Salad dressings! Marinades! All great when done in a blender.
Shauna says
I'd really like a high powered blender for smoothies, but I'd love to try it out for this French toast batter too. Yum!
Marieke Spiegelhoff says
I want to use a higher end blender to help with our new gluten free diet.
Abby says
I can't wait to try this recipe. My kids would love an alternative to eggs to mix things up.
Katie says
I mostly use my blender for the occasional smoothie. Using a blender for baking sounds intriguing though and I'd be excited to try that out!
Abigail Brown says
Increasing our families smoothie intake, to continue on our journey to a healthier lifestyle!!
Alycia says
We love using a blender for smoothies, pesto, pancake batter, ice drinks, purees, soamy things!
Barbra Ebright says
Smoothies and Margaritas!!! Oh my! I'm excited to purchase some of your books.
Sherry Tomasky says
I look forward to starting the new school year with more homemade breakfasts, my oldest likes smoothies, and this French toad recipe looks quick and delicious! I would love a blender to get us started on the right track.
Eileen Miller says
I would love a new blender to make my smoothies.
Bill Gottschalk says
We would make healthy yogurt smoothies for my 3 daughters every day!
Debby W says
I would use this blender to make soups, hot and cold.
Karen D says
I would use it most for making smoothies/
Tawnya says
Green smoothies and frozen fruit sorbet!
Lee Fries says
I have lost almost 50 lbs. by eating seasonally fresh fruits and vegetables. I still have a way to goal before reaching my weight loss goal of 100 lbs. Winning the blender and books will help expand and add more pizzazz to my current menus!
Elizabeth says
After reading the blender French toast post and recipe, I am convinced I have to try this out! It sounds delicious!
Dora Akers says
We lover our smoothies and would be excited to have a new blender to make them with!
Susan says
I would use my blender for anything fresh and healthy I could find a recipe for in the blender cook books The possibities are endless!
Sandra says
I would use the blender for smoothies and soups since they are both favorites in our house!!
Beverly M. says
Would love to make healthy smoothies and soups!
Dellene C. Lowry says
I make sprouted whole wheat bread every week. I use a blender to chop the sprouted wheat along with the hot water the recipe calls for. My blender is getting a little sluggish. And...the red one would match my kitchen!
Christal Pearson says
Yay! Cool blender giveaway!
I think I would definitely make a lot of soup and, for sure, that French Toast recipe. <3
Leslie S says
Gosh, what wouldn't I use it for?! Smoothies, this french toast recipe, banana chocolate cake...anything that requires a blender. I don't have one so hoping to win!
Lesly f says
I side my blender to make salsa ,soup smoothies and lots of things
valerie carrillo says
I would like to use it for cold soups and cocktails, and smoothies
RESEENA COWAN says
I would love to use this blender for baking. I'm thinking this is a new frontier for me to explore!
Sheryl Mulhall says
Since battling breast cancer in 2014 I strive to eat healthier and live healthier. I make smoothies every day and my Ninja in on the fritz. Would love to try this one. Thank you!
Shelley Matt says
Smoothies and muffins for my kids woukd be what I would initially use a blender for- but then I would branch out and try new recipes!
Ann St. Claire says
I never thought to use a blender for French toast! Would love to try it!
Ann Cool-Baldwin says
I would love a great blender to make all kinds of great healthy meals for my family.
Kelli Richards says
I have needed a new blender for a while and use it all the time for smoothies, but would love to start making recipes like this as well as meatballs or anything else I can think of!
Helen loss says
I recently switched up my morning egg breakfast for smoothies because I'm going to the gym right after dropping my daughter off at daycare in the morning instead of hitting the gym mid afternoon. I don't want to feel bogged down with a big breakfast so smoothie have been a great switch and I get to experiment with adding different veggie! Our blender is not the greatest and would love a blender that blends frozen produce the first time or the second instead of 5-6 times like our blender does now! Lol I still have big love for this blender but an upgrade would be nice :)
Elizabeth L says
I would use it to make smoothies
Lee Rickman says
I would love a new blender and would use it for smoothies, soups, and delicious cocktails!
Cate says
I would use the blender to make more smoothies and soups in the fall and winter.
KSue says
Yum!
Savannah Smith says
My son is obsessed with smoothies and I would love to be able to make some healthy yummy ones a treat home.
Linda Bradley says
I want to make more soups, smoothies, and other quick easy recipes with healthier ingredients...I think this blender will help me try more new foods and disguise flavirs I am unfamiliar with, such as almond milk.
Christine Supplee says
I have two very overweight teenagers who I would love to try new blender recipes for--healthy ones. It hurts me to see them like this and we are not true junk food eaters or fast food eaters.
I just need to figure out what to do and I love your website for new ideas.