5-Ingredient Vegan French Toast Recipe – Fast & Easy!
Fast.
Easy.
DELICIOUS.
When I say that my husband WOLFED DOWN this vegan French toast, I mean, it was gone in like 2 minutes! “My father used to make this for me all the time!” he crowed! And man, is that not music to a wife’s ears? This is the BEST vegan French toast recipe because it’s not only mouthwatering, it’s so ridiculously easy to make. With only 5 everyday ingredients, this easy vegan French toast recipe is going to be the best part of your morning, I promise!
So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
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Did You Know That “French” Toast is actually Italian?
Yup! Believe it or not, the origin story of regular French toast starts in ancient Rome! Not France! Who’da thunkit! French toast appears for the first time in a book called Apicus from 1st-century Rome. The traditional French toast batter consisted of milk and eggs, which coated bread that was then fried in oil and served with honey.
Why is it called “French” toast then? No one really knows, but one supposition is that in 17th century England, the British called this custardy bread “pain perdu” or “lost bread”–in reference to the notion that stale bread leads to the best french toast and this perfect breakfast recipe. Regardless of the origin, this eggless French toast is so easy to make and is a totally kid-friendly recipe, making it perfect for the whole family.
Why You’ll Love this Vegan French Toast.
You’re going to love this vegan French toast recipe because it’s:
- easy
- fast
- flavorful
- gorgeous
The final product of this delicious vegan French toast recipe genuinely tastes indecipherable from the real thing. I mean, that’s not surprising since, these days, the vegan version of traditional recipes are generally so good! This vegan French toast has the perfect texture–a little crisp on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside, and it’s absolutely bursting with delicious flavor. But just so we’re clear, this vegan French toast will not have any eggs or dairy in it and, of course, if you want to make it gluten-free, you can do that too by using gluten-free bread!
Key Ingredients and Notes on Substitutions for Vegan French Toast.
Now because there are so few ingredients to this vegan French toast, there won’t be a lot of substitution options. But let’s go through all of them in turn:
Stale Bread.
As the original name of this recipe–“lost bread”–implies, the key to good results for any French toast recipe (vegan or not) is the type of bread. If you want to make good French toast, you need to use thick slices of stale or one-day-old bread. Why? Because the dryness of the bread will ensure two things: (a) that it sucks up the custardy batter and (b) it doesn’t fall apart when you fry it. The best bread will not only be stale, it’ll also be a sturdy bread (sourdough bread, French bread, or hearty rustic Italian bread are all good choices). Another good choice is a vegan brioche (make sure it’s not fresh!).
Now, what kind of bread should you avoid using for your vegan French toast? Any overly soft, thin, and/or fresh bread is going to be problematic. For example, plain old white bread or sandwich bread will likely not hold up particularly well with the custard batter for this vegan French toast recipe. What about whole wheat toast? Again, if you don’t use a pre-sliced loaf and you’re able to create thick slices yourself, whole wheat toast (when stale) can be a decent option (though it won’t be as flavorful).
Finally, what about gluten-free bread? Gluten-free bread can be tricky, since the lack of gluten may make your toast more prone to falling apart after soaking in the thick batter. However, make sure to keep your slices thick and go with a more rustic, sturdy bread, like a gluten-free sourdough.
Once you’ve selected your bread of choice, it’s time to make the batter, which is SO easy, you’re not going to believe it!
JUST Egg.
Yes, you’re going to have to use a liquid egg replacement for this vegan French toast and my go-to here in the United States is JUST Egg. If you have my cookbook, then you know I’ve been using this product pretty much since it came out because it does such an outrageously good job of imitating eggs when you want something like an omelet or a vegan custard. They’re not always necessary for all eggless versions of traditional favorites (check out my vegan chocolate chip cookies, for example), but for vegan French toast, it’s the best way to ensure that eggy flavor while also providing the perfect texture.
Vanilla Flavored Vegan Yogurt.
Surprise, surprise, vegan yogurt is in yet another one of Joanne’s recipes! Can you say that you’re surprised? No, I’ll bet not. Look, there’s a French dude at my local farmer’s market who sells the best yogurt of my life. It’s coconut vanilla flavored and it is thick and creamy and literally exploding with vanilla-y flavor. I RUN to his stall every Sunday morning, because I’ve learned the hard way, if you go too late, you get no yogurt for the week. ☹️ Anyhoot, I thought to myself, “wait, what if I just mixed this lush yogurt with JUST Egg and dipped my favorite sourdough [also from the same farmer’s market] in it?”
MAGIC ENSUED.
Look, I know the “traditional” ancient Roman recipe calls for whisking eggs with milk, but I honestly think yogurt is a brilliant innovation (if I do say so myself, although I’m sure others have used this trick too…?). It provides for a thicker batter, a richer custard, and the probiotic benefits of yogurt. Moreover, if you use a high-protein yogurt (like Skyr or Silk), you got yourself a high-protein breakfast! If you can’t find a vegan vanilla flavored yogurt, just use plain and add a splash of vanilla extract to your batter!
Ground Cinnamon.
I am usually not a fan of ground cinnamon, but I must say, it makes a world of difference in this vegan French toast recipe. I added just a teaspoon and it pairs so well with the vanilla yogurt to give this toast a beautiful flavor. If you don’t have ground cinnamon, you can, of course, skip it, but consider subbing with pumpkin pie spice, a little freshly grated nutmeg, or even some ground cardamom! Another great option would be to add some fresh lemon zest, if you want something a bit brighter!
Vegan Butter or Oil.
As with the original ancient Roman recipe, this recipe for vegan French toast will fry the custardy bread in a little vegan butter (I used Earth Balance buttery sticks) or extra virgin olive oil.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Vegan French Toast Recipe.
Whisk together your JUST Egg with the vegan yogurt and ground cinnamon until smooth in a large shallow bowl.
Dip your thick bread slices in the batter for about 30 seconds on each side.
Add a little vegan butter or extra virgin olive oil to your non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place your coated bread slices on the skillet and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, until golden brown. Flip and repeat. Serve with your favorite toppings (I like fresh berries). I think it’s good enough as is, but hubby likes maple syrup, so I gave it a good drizzle!
Frequently Asked Questions.
Can I make this vegan French toast gluten free?
Yes! Just use a hearty, stale, thickly sliced gluten-free bread for this vegan French toast recipe and you’ll have yourself a gluten-free French toast!
What should I do with leftover vegan French toast?
Leftover vegan French toast should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container and will be good for up to three days. To reheat, you can bake it in the oven at 350° F for about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway.
What breads are good for French toast?
You want to go with a thickly sliced, sturdy and stale bread for the best French toast. Stale brioche, sourdough, French, or peasant bread are all good options when thickly sliced. BAD options would be sandwich bread, fresh white bread, or thinly sliced whole wheat bread.
Want More Breakfast Recipes?
I got you. Check out the following:
Recipe Card.
Easy 5-Ingredient Vegan French Toast.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup JUST Egg
- 1/2 cup vegan yogurt (vanilla flavored)
- 4 slices sourdough bread (stale and thickly sliced–see above for discussion on best breads)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp vegan butter (or extra virgin olive oil)
Instructions
- Whisk together your JUST Egg with the vegan yogurt and ground cinnamon until smooth in a large shallow bowl.
- Dip your thick bread slices in the batter for about 30 seconds on each side.
- Add a little vegan butter or extra virgin olive oil to your non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place your coated bread slices on the skillet and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, until golden brown. Flip and repeat. Serve with your favorite toppings (I like fresh berries). I think it's good enough as is, but hubby likes maple syrup, so I gave it a good drizzle!
Notes
Nutrition
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I really want to try it, but where I live just egg doesn’t exist. Is there something to replace it?
Hi Macarena! Actually someone suggested trying bashed banana as a substitute! But in order to get that liquid consistency, I would add 2 tbsp of plant milk, as well. Let me know how it goes!
Making it!!!!!