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.
Michelle says
Hummus. Definitely. It doesn't get super smooth without a really, powerful blender.
Pam Flynn says
In honor of my granddaughter's 7th birthday & my being a grandma for 7 years, I began to walk & eat healthy...vowing to "Lose the Lard"! This blender would give me the ability to create healthy foods & drinks with low calories & have choices that taste good & inspire me to keep my promise to my granddaughter.
Dan Roller says
I would like to use this awesome blender to make healthy smoothies ... but I'd probably first use it to make margaritas!
Marisa Taylor says
Almond butter!
Steven Finnamore says
I would definitely use the blender to mix fresh fruit into my homemade water buffalo milk kefir. It's delicious with my breakfast granola.
Faith says
I've always wanted to make my own nut butter at home, so a powerful blender like this would be helpful!
Ana hermoso says
The uses are infinite
Jane Macdonald says
I would use this for so many things! Smoothies, dressings, soups, dips, sauces, veggie blend for my dog's food, quick blending of supplements into green juice...the list goes on and on. Plus, my blender just died so this would be a dream come true!! Have an awesome day!!
Kimberly S says
There are so many possibilities of things I can make with this blender, but I would say smoothies would be one of the top things I would love to make in it! Thank you!
Sarah C. says
This is the first year that I decided to try my hand at small-space gardening on my apartment balcony. I would love to use this blender to turn my (small) harvests into delicious sauces, dips, and dressings for an easy punch of flavor!
Jeanne feuerstein says
Would be so excited to make gazpacho!!!!!
Toni Gottschalk says
I would use this blender for everything under the sun but mostly for smoothies and soups. To also win three of The Blender Girl cookbooks is just the icing on the cake!
Toshia says
I would use the blender daily to replace my tiny nutribullet.
Mandy says
My blender just died! I would love this amazing one! For smoothies!!!
Laura Bunce says
Smoothies and salad dressings!
Marci says
I would use the blender mostly for smoothies, but also for hummus, desserts, soups, etc. I love the power blenders!
Tracey says
Oh, so many options. Smoothies. Hummus. Sauces.....Oooh - that's it. Cashew pesto pasta sauce that EVERYONE likes so much better compared to the ol' cream sauces we used to eat.
Matina Zimmerman says
I would use this blender for lots of different things one of those being smoothies/shakes. Thanks for the opportunity to enter!
Leticia C. says
I would use this to make smoothies, soups and raw vegan desserts!
Amberlee Barricklow says
I would use this blender for morning and afternoon green smoothies...and of course everything in between. Beans, soup, salsa, dressings. EVERYTHING. After three weeks of a broken blender, I cannot wait to start blending again.
Jill says
I would love to use this blender for smoothies, nice cream and sauces!
Katherine Inge says
Smoothies or soups!
Moni R says
I would use the new blender to make smoothies and the recipes in the new books!
Haley says
Blender envy! I'd use this baby for Smoothies and yummy soups!
September Dee says
I'm person who doesn't like to eat fruits and veggies however I would surely use this machine to make delicious and healthy smoothies! I would then get all my daily fruits and veggies in a tasty and refreshing drink! Thanks so much for the chance to win one of these and some nice cookbooks too!
Melanie Henninger says
I would use this awesome blender for trying out more recipes. Some don't work out out so well with the simple blender my family has. To be honest, I would probably sit and stare at in amazement for awhile. Then I would be putting anything I could get my hands on it!!
Paula Leach says
I would love this blender for smoothies & cashew sauces!
Heather Elizabeth Roma says
Just a couple minutes ago I was talking to some moms about how to get more nutrients to our kids and the verdict was by making them smoothies. Right after we talked I looked at my email and saw this opportunity to win this amazing blender! I hope it's meant to be because I would love to make smoothies for my son every day.
Lindsay J says
I would totally use this blender to make fruit juices, smoothies, sauces, marinades, ice cream, frosting, dip, and much much more.
Tomi Bystrom says
I'd use a new blender to make hummus; tons and tons of delicious hummus!
Miriam Proefrock says
Would absolutely love a new blender! I've had the old old style vita mix for 20 years and it is about toast! LOL! If I had a new blender I could make smooth smoothies instead of lumpy ones I am sure! And as well it would be great for blending raw nuts and such to make butter and nut milk! Thanks!
Hannah says
I'm forever blending up soups, and I would love a better machine to get that perfectly silky-smooth puree!
Paule says
I would Loooove the KitchenAid® Pro Line® Series blender to help make my vegan cheese even more fabulous :)
Deborah rogers says
I would give this to one of my best friends. Our recipie swapping is calling for lots of blender use and hers has seen bit the dust.
Debbie Day says
Would love to create healthy soups with the Blendtec!
Natalia Jenssen says
As Tess writes in her first book, I use my blender more often than I use my car. To be honest I don't know how many times we've already made the French toast mentioned above, only this week twice! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Paula Batmhary says
Blender recipes are great"
Denise Petersen says
I need a REAL blender so I can do my bulletproof coffee without exploding my nutribullet
Janine says
Would love a new blender for making smoothies -- mine current one is old and dying!
Mary S says
I inherited my blender and it is dying. I've had it over 10 years. I use ear protection when I use it because you'd think a jet was taking off in my kitchen.