Sweet Vegan French Toast

Here’s my go-to vegan French toast recipe, with a simple plant-based custard made from almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and a few pantry staples that creates that classic eggy texture we all know and love.

This French toast has become our Sunday morning tradition, and even my non-vegan friends ask for the recipe when they come over for brunch. I usually make a big batch because everyone always goes back for seconds – plus cold French toast makes a pretty great afternoon snack!

What Kind of Bread Should I Use?

The type of bread you choose for vegan French toast can make or break your breakfast experience. Day-old bread actually works better than fresh since it’s firmer and can soak up more of the batter without falling apart – just like traditional French toast. While any bread can work, thick-cut varieties like sourdough, French bread, or challah-style vegan bread are ideal because they hold their shape well during cooking. If you’re using regular sandwich bread, just make sure it’s not too fresh or too thin, as it might get soggy and break apart when dipped in the batter. For the best results, leave your bread slices out on the counter overnight or give them a quick toast in the oven to dry them out a bit before using.

Options for Substitutions

This vegan french toast recipe is super adaptable! Here are some helpful swaps you can try:

• Bread: While any bread works, slightly stale bread is actually better as it soaks up more of the mixture. You can use regular sandwich bread, sourdough, or even challah (just make sure it’s vegan if that’s important to you).
• Banana/Coconut Cream/Flax Eggs: These are your egg replacers – each option works differently but gives good results. If using banana, make sure it’s very ripe. For flax eggs, mix 2 tablespoons ground flax with 5 tablespoons warm water and let sit for 5 minutes. Silken tofu (about 1/4 cup pureed) can also work!
• Milk: Any non-dairy milk works here – try almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk. Just avoid strongly flavored ones unless you want that taste in your french toast.
• Sweetener: Feel free to use maple syrup, agave, regular sugar, or even date syrup. Each will give a slightly different flavor but all work well.
• Nutritional Yeast: If you don’t have nutritional yeast, you can skip it or add a tiny pinch of black salt (kala namak) for an eggy flavor. A dash of vanilla extract is another nice addition.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge with vegan French toast is getting that classic eggy texture without actual eggs – using too little banana or coconut cream will result in dry, flavorless bread that’s missing that custardy center we all love.

Another common mistake is cooking the French toast on heat that’s too high, which browns the outside quickly while leaving the inside raw – instead, maintain a medium-low heat and give each slice about 3-4 minutes per side to cook through properly.

To prevent your bread from becoming too soggy, don’t let it soak in the mixture for more than 20-30 seconds per side, and make sure to press down gently on the bread while it’s cooking to ensure even contact with the pan.

For the best texture, choose a sturdy bread that’s slightly stale (fresh bread tends to fall apart), and don’t skip the nutritional yeast if you want that traditional savory-sweet French toast flavor.

What to Serve With Vegan French Toast?

Fresh fruit is your best friend when it comes to serving vegan French toast – think sliced strawberries, bananas, or a mixed berry compote on top. A drizzle of pure maple syrup is pretty much mandatory, and you might want to add a dollop of dairy-free whipped cream for extra indulgence. For a complete breakfast spread, pair your French toast with some crispy vegan bacon or a tofu scramble on the side. If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle some chopped nuts or a dust of powdered sugar over everything for that perfect finishing touch.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: If you end up with leftover vegan French toast, place the slices in an airtight container with pieces of parchment paper between them to prevent sticking. They’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days. This is perfect if you want to prep breakfast for the next morning!

Freeze: These plant-based French toast slices freeze really well! Just let them cool completely, then place them in a freezer bag with parchment paper between each slice. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months – great for those busy mornings when you need a quick breakfast.

Warm Up: When you’re ready to enjoy your stored French toast, pop it in the toaster for a quick warm-up, or heat it in a pan over medium heat until it’s warm and slightly crispy again. If frozen, you can reheat straight from the freezer – just add an extra minute or two to the heating time.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	10-15 minutes
Total Time	20-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 400-450
• Protein: 10-15 g
• Fat: 12-15 g
• Carbohydrates: 70-80 g

Ingredients

• 4 slices of your preferred bread
• 1/3 cup mashed banana or coconut cream (or 2 flax eggs as an alternative)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons any type of milk
• 1 tablespoon your chosen sweetener
• Optional: a sprinkle of cinnamon
• Optional: 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast for added flavor

Step 1: Prepare the Bread

If you prefer your French toast with a firmer texture, prepare the bread the night before by leaving the slices uncovered to dry out slightly.

Alternatively, to accomplish this quickly, bake the slices at 300°F for 15 minutes or until they dry out.

This will help the bread absorb the custard without becoming overly soggy.

Step 2: Make the Custard Mixture

In a bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the custard, except for the bread.

This will typically include eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and any desired spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.

Ensure the mixture is smooth and well combined to evenly flavor the French toast.

Step 3: Soak the Bread

Dip each slice of bread fully into the custard mixture, ensuring both sides are coated.

Place the slices in a shallow dish, then pour the remaining custard mixture over the top.

Allow the bread to soak for 10-15 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through to ensure they are uniformly soaked.

Step 4: Cook the French Toast

Grease a nonstick pan lightly and heat it over medium heat.

Add the soaked bread slices to the pan and cook for 1 and a half minutes on one side, then flip and cook for an additional minute, or until each side is lightly browned and cooked through.

Keep an eye on the heat to prevent burning.

Step 5: Repeat and Serve

Repeat the cooking process with the remaining slices as needed.

Once all slices are cooked, serve your French toast warm with your favorite toppings such as maple syrup, fresh fruit, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Enjoy your delicious breakfast treat!