Vegan French Toast with Berry Maple Syrup

First of all do not let the fact that this french toast is vegan turn you away.  Vegan is not a key word for rabbit food.  I am not vegan myself (I follow plant based) but I would definitely say that this french toast could stand up against any traditional egg french toast.  Give it a try.  I really think you are going to love it.

I first had vegan french toast at my favorite food truck The Uprooted Kitchen.  I wasn’t really sure what to expect because I have only ever had traditional french toast made with eggs.  How was this going to work?  I thought egg was the binder after all.  But OMG!  One bite and it was one of the best french toast’s I have ever had.  I did not even miss the egg and would have never thought that the egg was missing.  It was moist and so flavorful.  What really takes this french toast over the top is the sweet berry maple syrup and the crunchy nutty granola sprinkled over the top.

I was eating this french toast in my dreams before I finally make it for myself and now I am definitely hooked.  I know that you will be too.

Banana and dairy free milk are the base of the batter which makes the end product taste like banana bread french toast without having to take the extra step of making banana bread.  Chia seeds are added to thicken the mixture just like the eggs would.

Feel free to add any flavors and spices that you want.  I add cinnamon, vanilla, and a pinch of cardamom because I love those flavors so much.  I think a little ginger would be nice here as well.

The berry maple syrup is not a necessity but it is so recommended.  You could really use any fruit here that you like.  I think peaches or mango would be fabulous in the maple syrup and serve with pineapple and coconut for a tropical french toast.  OOHH what a great idea and I just came up with that right now!

Really good bread is important when making french toast.  For everyday french toast (and in this recipe) I used my favorite sprouted grains bread by Ezekial.  But if I wanted to really make this special then I would probably use a hearty whole great bread from a bakery and cut them into thicker pieces.  Either way I would keep it whole grain and definitively make sure the ingredients were real.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4

Author Sara

Ingredients

• 8 slices bread I used Ezekiel
• 1 small-medium banana peeled
• 2 Tbsp hemp seeds + 1 1/4 cup water or 1 1/4 cup milk of choice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• pinch cardamom
• 1/2 tsp vanilla powder or extract
• 1/2 Tbsp chia seeds
• 2 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 granola I used this recipe minus the dried fruit
• 1/2 cup fresh fruit for garnish
• Berry Maple Syrup:
• 1/2 cup berries fresh or frozen (if frozen make sure they are thawed)
• 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

Instructions

1. For the french toast:
2. Add the banana, hemp, water (or milk), chia seeds, and spices into a blender.
3. Blend until liquefied.
4. Pour into a shallow bowl and left sit about 5 minutes while the chia thickens a bit to a batter consistency.
5. Heat a griddle or saute pan over medium heat.
6. Add 1/2 tsp coconut oil to the pan or enough to lightly coat the bottom so the bread doesn't stick.
7. If you are using thin bread just dip the bread into the batter for 2 seconds, just enough time to coat the bread in the batter. (if the bread is thicker you may need to wait a couple more seconds but be sure not to let it soak or you will get a soggy end result.)
8. Add the bread to the pan.
9. Cook 3-5 minutes on first side until browned.
10. With a spatula pick up the bread and add a little more coconut oil to the pan to prevent sticking.
11. Flip the bread and cook another 3-5 minutes.
12. Repeat until all of the bread is cooked.
13. To make the berry maple syrup add the berries and maple syrup to a blender and blend until the berries are pureed.
14. Top the french toast with berry maple syrup, sprinkle with granola, and top with fresh fruit.

Recipe Notes

*Choose organic ingredients when possible.