Vegan French Toast

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Start your day with a slice of perfection by digging into our vegan French toast! Its fluffy texture and slightly sweet, incredibly rich flavor make it the perfect option for breakfast or brunch. Enjoy your French toast with vegan butter, a drizzle of maple syrup, or a spoonful of coconut yogurt.

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Vegan-Friendly: There are no eggs necessary for this 100% plant-based recipe! It’s great for those with egg and dairy allergies and those adhering to a vegan diet.
• Rich & creamy: The coconut milk and ripe banana in the batter make for an incredibly rich and creamy texture everyone will love.
• Customizable: You can pair this easy vegan French toast with a variety of toppings until it’s customized to your liking.
• Easy to make: The process of making vegan French toast couldn’t be more straightforward, requiring minimal ingredients and steps.

If you love this vegan French toast, you should really check out our high-protein overnight oats, sourdough French toast, torrejas, and vegan buttermilk pancakes.

🍞 What is vegan French toast?

French toast is a popular breakfast dish originating from Europe, traditionally made with stale bread and an egg and milk mixture. Our vegan version replaces egg and dairy ingredients with vegan-friendly substitutes.

It has just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. And the texture is soft and creamy on the inside, while the exterior becomes golden brown and perfectly crispy once cooked.

Serve your vegan French toast while it’s warm dressed with a variety of toppings, from fresh fruit and compote to maple syrup, vegan whipped cream, and coconut yogurt.

🌱 Can French toast be vegan?

Traditionally, French toast is made by soaking stale bread in a blend of egg, sugar, and milk, a process that infuses the bread with flavor and yields its signature texture.

However, in our vegan spin on this classic dish, we replace the standard milk and eggs with coconut milk, bananas, flaxseed meal, and cornstarch. This plant-based batter results in a perfectly creamy and rich French toast that’s 100% vegan-friendly.

📜 History of French toast

The origins of French toast have been traced all the way back to the times of ancient Rome. A recipe similar to today’s French toast can be found in Apicius, a collection of ancient Roman recipes, under the name “Aliter Dulcia.”

In fact, the term “French toast” reportedly originated in 17th-century England before the dish made its way across the Atlantic to America. Ironically, it’s actually known as “pain perdu” or “lost bread” in France.

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Bread: We typically choose hearty, rustic bread for our vegan French toast recipes, as it holds up well to the batter and offers a robust flavor. If you can’t find rustic bread, substitute it with any other sturdy bread like ciabatta, French baguettes, vegan brioche, vegan challah, or whole grain.
• Coconut milk: Coconut milk provides a rich, creamy texture to the batter. Soy milk or cashew milk can also be used, but the consistency won’t be quite as creamy.
• Banana: Acts as a binder and adds natural sweetness. Just make sure your banana is extra spotty and ripe for the best results. Applesauce will also work in a pinch.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch thickens the batter, helping it cling to the bread. It also creates a deliciously crunchy exterior. Arrowroot powder is a good substitute.
• Ground flaxseeds: Flaxseed meal serves as an egg substitute, helping to bind the batter. If you don’t have flaxseed, try ground chia seeds instead.
• Cane sugar: Adds just a touch of sweetness to round the batter out. Plus, it helps create a crispy outside. For a sugar-free version, simply omit the cane sugar.
• Vanilla: We always recommend splurging on pure vanilla extract. A little goes a long way, so it’s worth it in our opinion!
• Cinnamon: Provides warmth and a perfectly sweet flavor. You can also use other spices like nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice for a twist.
• Vegan butter: To cook the vegan French toast, preventing it from sticking and creating a golden-brown color. Feel free to use coconut oil as well.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make the best vegan French toast

Step 1: Prepare the batter

To start, you just need to mix the batter ingredients. We recommend using a blender to create a smooth consistency, but you could also mash everything in a bowl. If you’ve used a blender like us, transfer the batter to a shallow bowl big enough to fit your bread.

Step 2: Soak the bread

Let the batter rest for a few minutes to let it thicken. In the meantime, heat some coconut oil or vegan butter in a non-stick frying pan or griddle. It’s very important to have a non-stick pan for this recipe since the batter is quite sticky.

Dip each slice of bread into the batter, allowing it to soak for a few seconds on each side. The amount of time you let your bread soak depends on how hearty and how stale it is, but be careful not to leave it for too long to prevent a soggy final result.

Step 3: Cook the French toast

Cook the battered slices in the hot pan until they’re golden brown on each side. After you flip the slices for the first time, cover the pan with a lid. This will help properly cook the inside of the bread.

Keep the slices warm in your oven at 200F while you cook the rest, then serve your vegan French toast immediately with your favorite toppings. Happy eating!

If you have questions about this easy vegan French toast recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🫐 Toppings for vegan French toast

The best part about vegan French toast is all the toppings, right?! Garnish yours with some flavorful options like these:

• Fresh berries or sliced bananas
• A dollop of vegan butter
• A drizzle of maple syrup
• Peanut butter
• Powdered sugar
• Strawberry compote
• Blueberry compote
• Vegan whipped cream
• Coconut yogurt

🌡️ Storage & reheating

If you end up with leftover vegan French toast, just follow these storage and reheating instructions:

• Fridge: Transfer the cooled leftovers to an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezer: You can freeze the cooked slices for up to 2 months. Add the slices to a wax or parchment paper-lined tray and freeze them until solid. Then, transfer the frozen pieces to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
• Reheating: Warm the French toast in a toaster or on the stovetop until heated through. Or, heat them in a toaster oven or oven at 350F for 5-10 minutes.
• Prep ahead: You can prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge overnight. When you’re ready, simply dip the bread slices in the batter and fry!

♻️ Variations

• Chocolate: Add cocoa powder to the batter and top your vegan French toast with dairy-free dark chocolate chips.
• Nutty: Top your French toast off with crushed pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts, or pistachios for an extra crunch.
• Coconut: Add shredded coconut right into the batter and sprinkle more on top.
• Caramel apple: Top your vegan French toast with caramelized apples and a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce.
• Tropical: Add slices of fresh tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and kiwi.
• Banana Bread: Use vegan banana bread instead of regular bread for an extra decadent breakfast or brunch.
• Savory: Omit the sugar and pair the toast with avocado and vegan cream cheese.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Choose the right bread: Opt for sturdy bread like sourdough or ciabatta. Avoid any bread that’s overly soft since it can become too soggy.
• Use ripe bananas: Ripe bananas are sweeter and easier to blend, which will make the flavor of your vegan French toast much better. Make sure they’re spotty!
• Blend the batter well: Blend the batter until it’s smooth for more even cooking.
• Don’t soak too long: Dip the bread into the batter but avoid leaving it in too long as it can make the toast soggy.
• Use a non-stick pan: A non-stick pan makes flipping the toast easier and prevents it from sticking, especially since this batter is stickier than a normal batter.
• Be patient: Don’t rush the cooking process. Give each side time to cook and become golden brown.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More breakfast recipes

We hope you enjoy this easy vegan French toast! If you’re looking for more sweet breakfast recipes, check out some of our other popular options like these:

• Mexican Oatmeal: Creamy oatmeal with rich piloncillo and cinnamon flavors.
• Vegan Baked Oatmeal: A hearty, filling, and healthy breakfast option.
• Mini Pancakes: Simple, yet delicious breakfast for the whole family. 
• Vegan Oatmeal: A go-to breakfast recipe that is ready in no time!

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.