Vegan French toast (without flaxseed or chia)

When I was a kid, I always knew when my mom was making French toast.

The smell of vanilla would waft all the way downstairs, where I was playing Super Mario on the Nintendo.

While making it one morning, she told me that French toast batter is basically eggnog with raw eggs, vanilla, milk, sugar, and spices.

Little did I know that many years later I’d be reaching back into that memory when I made eggless French toast on my own using homemade vegan eggnog.

(No flaxseed or chia here!)

Even if it’s well past the winter holidays, it’s easy to make vegan eggnog at home using ingredients that are available all year ‘round. Feel free to make a half batch to suit your needs!

For obvious reasons my vegan eggnog leaves out the eggs and dairy-based milk, but it’s still a great vehicle for French toast!

It has the slightest hint of egginess from an optional pinch of kala namak (also known as black salt).

The nog is so luxuriously thick, it holds up well to dipping bread.

Then it’s cooked in a skillet with non-dairy butter until it’s toasty brown on each side.

Finished with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and berries, it’s worth putting Mario on hold while you dig in to brunch.

(It would also make a terrific Christmas morning breakfast or Easter brunch!)

In this post:

For vegan French toast, I recommend a mildly flavored bread like French boule or sourdough. You can also use white bread. Trader Joe’s even sells vegan brioche now!

You can make it gluten free by using your favorite gluten free bread.

While I love a good hearty whole wheat bread for sandwiches, it’s not the best option for French toast. It has too much flavor that competes with the spices & doesn’t let them shine.

Save the whole wheat for a toasted breakfast sandwich.

For best results, use a loaf of bread that’s at least a day old.

Slightly stale bread stands up to soaking better than very soft bread that may become soggy.

Some people like very thickly cut French toast. Others prefer thinner slices, so that they can eat more of them.

I use a standard sandwich-sized thickness.

If you decide to do a very thick slice, you’ll want to soak the bread for longer on each side, so that you get as much flavor as possible.

Vegan eggnog: It’s easy to make vegan eggnog all year ’round, not just Christmas time. It’s made with a base of raw cashews, non-dairy milk, dates, and a few simple seasonings.

That being said, if you’d prefer to pick up a container of vegan eggnog at the store, that works too.

Non-dairy butter: Use whatever vegan butter you prefer, like Miyoko’s or Earth Balance.

Bread: I recommend French boule, sourdough, or vegan brioche. (Vegan brioche is now available at Trader Joe’s.)

For best results, use a loaf of bread that’s at least a day old.

Toppings: Ground cinnamon, powdered sugar, maple syrup, and/or strawberries.

Put homemade vegan eggnog in a shallow bowl, wide enough for a slice of bread.

(Store-bought vegan eggnog would likely work fine too.)

Dip each slice of bread into the nog for about 4 seconds on each side.

Add each slice to a warm skillet with melted non-dairy butter. Top with a sprinkling of cinnamon.

(Depending on the size of your skillet, you’ll likely need to work in batches. Don’t dip the bread until there’s room for it in the skillet.)

Cook the bread slices in the skillet for about 4 minutes on one side, until browned.

Then flip, sprinkle with cinnamon, and cook another 3 minutes, until golden brown on both sides.

As they finish, move each slice to a serving plate.

Continue cooking until all of the French toast is done.

Remember to add extra non-dairy butter to the skillet between batches.

Finish the vegan French toast with any of the following toppings:

• Maple syrup
• Powdered sugar
• Halved strawberries and/or whole blueberries
• Vegan whipped cream
• A little vegan butter

French toast is best when it’s fresh. So be sure to serve it hot.

Since French toast leans to the dessert side of the brunch equation, I like to complement it with something savory & satiating.

Plus, that drizzle of maple syrup on top plays very nicely with all manner of vegan breakfast meats like seitan bacon, sausage, and ham.

You’ll love plant based French toast with any of these vegan breakfast recipes:

• Vegan frittata
• Cast iron breakfast skillet
• Tofu scramble
• Crustless mini vegan quiche