This Vegan French Toast, coated with flax eggs and crunchy walnuts and doused in maple syrup, will have you looking forward to breakfast! Use wholegrain bread for a healthier and just as delicious recipe.
You might also like these recipes for vegan stuffed French toast, vegan eggnog French toast and vegan French toast casserole.
I have made this vegan French Toast recipe for many, many years now and it has lived on this blog for at least eight of those. I know a number of you love it too, and have written to tell me so.
But when I made it once again this week and had Desi photograph it for you, I was wondering -- as I usually do with old recipes that I update -- if there's anything I could tweak to make it better.
There wasn't.
Like any classic, this recipe really needs no gilding. When I first made it, I used the most straightforward vegan substitutes: flax eggs for the eggs and soymilk for the cream/milk. I've made other versions of French toast since, savory, stuffed and sweet, but nothing really can beat the simple goodness of this eight-ingredient version.
What I also love about this recipe is that it's really good for you. The bread is whole wheat, and there's flax meal and whole wheat flour in the recipe. Yes, you can douse it in maple syrup, as I admit we often do at our home, but you could also just serve it with some fresh fruit or vegan whipped cream if you want to keep it as healthy as can be.
This, needless to say, is a kid-friendly recipe, so if you have little ones in your home, you can be sure they'll love it. My son, Jay, gobbles this up and it's one of his most requested breakfasts.
More vegan breakfast recipes
Recipe card
Vegan French Toast
Ingredients
- 6 slices wholegrain bread (I use whole wheat. Something like rye could be too strong, but go with what you like)
- 2 tablespoon flaxmeal
- 1 cup soymilk
- ¼ cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup walnuts (optional, but nice).
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter to coat skillet in a thin layer
Instructions
- Place the walnuts in a food processor and pulse five to six times until the walnuts are finely chopped. Place in a shallow dish large enough to hold a slice of bread.
- Make the custard by whisking together the flaxmeal, whole wheat flour, soymilk, vanilla extract and maple syrup in another shallow dish large enough to hold the slice of bread.
- Dip the slices of bread one by one in the custard and coat on either side. I let them soak about 20-30 seconds on each side.
- Dip the slice of bread into the walnuts and shake off any excess.
- Heat a skillet and coat with a thin layer of vegan butter or spray on some cooking spray.
- Place a slice of the French toast on the skillet and cook on each side until golden brown.
- Serve hot with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Notes
- You can make this recipe with gluten-free sandwich bread, and whisk a tablespoon of cornstarch into the custard instead of the whole wheat flour.
- You can make it nut-free by omitting the walnuts.
- You can make it soy-free by using another non-dairy milk, like cashew or coconut.
Nutrition Information
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EcoMiko says
Thanks Vaishali for your wonderful recipes! I've tried a few eggless french toast recipes, and this one is definitely the best. I added a 1/2 tbsp of nutritional yeast for the flavor/vitamins, and used honey instead of syrup. Plus I added cinnamon because I've never had french toast without it, although my BF says he never had it with till he met me! Anyway, turned out great! Thanks!!
Greg says
Oh man, I've missed French toast so much since abstaining from murder. This is simple, looks delicious and even helps me get my flax for the day.
Bodacious.
Anonymous says
THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making a recipe with ingredients I actually have on hand! I'm tired of vegan recipes with "egg replacers" where you don't really know what's in them
Johnny says
I'm NOT a vegan, or health conscious in the least. My wife is both. I do, however, have a child with a severe egg allergy. Found this recipe via google this morning, and made it.
Bravo, and thank you! It was delicious, and acclaimed by all 😀
Coyote Crafty says
If I may say, my mother rescued a dozen of 1 year old hens from such a henhouse. They were in a pitiful condition. They did not even know how to eat grain, or walk !
Luckily, we had a lonely rooster who taught them how to live freerange. I don't think they are unhappy.
And their eggs, which we eat when they are available, are awesome !
But we've stopped buying mass-produced eggs, though…
Tanvi says
Hi Vaishali,
Following ur blog for smtime nw but commenting first time!
Recreated your mango bread recipe the other day [of course not vegan].... loved it. I am really amazed at your creativity and skills to make vegan food look so tasty and appetiziting.Curdless Curd rics simply knocked me on the floor...tofu was an amazing idea.
Thanks
Sinfully Spicy
kaye says
You made me so damn hungry. Thanks for sharing!
Jessica says
OMG I hadn't read about the conditions at those farms. I knew they wouldn't be good, but WOW...I've got to share this with my omni husband. Maybe he'll get grossed out? Poor things...
queerisaverb says
I'd love to try this with some yummy sprouted spelt bread!
AMA's AnythingVegetarian says
Had some time to sneak peak .French toast- very tempting by the looks but a coating of egg wash kept me away .Your vegan version is a must try.
kat says
tried it, and Loved it, had it last night for dinner thanks!
jodye @ 'scend food says
I've come across several vegan 'french toast' recipes in the past but none of them ever came close to the real thing. I'll have to give your recipe a try, it looks very promising!
evolvingtastes says
For a long time now I have been buying eggs from a local farmer. You know I am not vegan, but I respect those who are, and I love your blog. 🙂
This eggless version looks so scrumptious!
Vaishali says
Jenny, Thanks for your email and your kind words. Your family's lucky to have your guidance. I would like to watch that MFA video and will look for it for sure.
GKB, yes, I've seen recipes that use pureed bananas and they do sound wonderful. Gotta try my French Toast that way sometimes-- I'd imagine it'd taste a bit like banana bread. Yum.
Thanks for asking about Lucy-- she's doing well. She's already been through four doses of intensive chemo, and is now on a maintenance dose. There are so signs so far that the cancer has spread, which is great.
Preeti, thanks, and it's really horrifying, isn't it?
Aarti, I totally agree with you. Soy is one of the most controversial foods around today because of the way its farmed, and I do limit my use of it for that very reason. The ruthlessness of the corporate farming industry, fueled by the greed of multinationals like Monsanto, is something we all need to educate ourselves about to protect our health. Because vegetable products that are raised irresponsibly can also harm.
Priya, thanks!
Miri, thanks, and you can definitely either skip the syrup or substitute it with plain sugar or sugar syrup. I'd use powdered sugar because regular sugar might not mix thoroughly in the batter.
Sanjeeta, Thanks!
T, 🙂 You hit the target.
T says
Great post! The french toast looks delicious and I'm glad somebody pointed out that these egg recalls are not just a fluke... its more like a fluke when people don't get sick.
Sanjeeta kk says
Love to try these eggless delicacies. Flax seeds is a good idea, like the walnuts in it.
Miri says
French Toast is my favourite comfort food - my Dad taught me how to make it.
This is a great recipe which doesnt have ingredients which arent available in India (atleast in the metros). I guess the browning is aided by the maple syrup? else would have loved to omit it, since Im not a fan...
Priya says
Absolutely delicious...yummy toast..
Preeti @ Heart and Mind says
Vaishali,
I love this recipe and loved your curd rice recipe as well! You have made both into vegan, thank so much! I have been trying to find better way to make both of these! Did you just listened to my subconscious mind?
The way they raise eggs, and hens, more reason to be vegan!
Anonymous says
(From Aarti)
You’re totally right about the way that animals are treated. But I don't think the larger problem with food is not going to go away by simply not eating animals. We must change the agriculture. Soy, for example, is almost 100% genetically modified. Even if it says it is not GM—the pollination patterns cannot guarantee anything. Pesticide use as well as genetically modified seeds means that non-animal food is not healthy either. Not eating animal foods for those who want to do so (And I am a vegan for the very reasons that you are. I agree with all your points on not eating animal products) is fine if people want to do that, but not necessarily healthy.
Thank you for all your delicious recipes
Anonymous says
If everyone stops eating eggs and chickens there will not longer be any reason to raise chickens, except as pets.
GKB says
Can't wait to try this recipe..I had read another recipe similar to this that used pureed bananas in the batter..sounds equally delicious..I feel awful even when I go to the county fairs and see the animals..can't ever picture myself eating eggs..absolutely detest them..How's your pet dog doing?
Vaishali says
Sharmilee, Thanks.
Chhaya, Divya, Pavani, yes, it's absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking. And completely unnecessary.
Latha, thanks!
Mints, that's a great tip. I was also thinking yesterday how much like a pancake batter this was.
Anudivya, the jury is actually in on the egg cholesterol issue. There is an incredible amount of research that shows a direct correlation between cholesterol found only in animal products) and lifestyle diseases like diabetes and heart disease. And even studies that actually say an egg a day is okay always temper that advise with consuming only the egg white and leaving out the fatty yolk, and eating no more than an egg a day. Doesn't sound safe to me at all. I'd rather eat food that I know is doing good things to my body than raising my risk for terrible diseases.
As for the salmonella in spinach and tomato-I am glad you raised because I knew someone would and I can't wait to answer. Salmonella are bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of animals. Vegetables don't have an intestine, so the only reason they get contaminated with salmonella is because they are handled by people with contaminated fecal matter on their hands, or if they come in close proximity with animal products like meat, unpasteurized milk, meat and eggs, which are the primary sources of salmonella. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has investigated and found this to be the case in each vegetable infection of salmonella. More reason to stop eating those animal products.
Jenny R says
That looks so good!
We had just watched a documentary from Mercy for Animals on the egg industry. My husband and daughter both decided on the spot not to eat eggs or chicken again! (they had both been huge egg and chicken fans). I've been trying to go vegan for a while now, and am doing pretty well! I love it and will never go back to my old way of eating.
I love your blog because it gives me some great recipes to integrate into our menu at home. They are so good that I don't have to tell my daughter or husband they are vegan, just serve it, and they love it:)
anudivya says
The jury is still out on the cholesterol aspect of the egg, so I don't think that alone is a good reason to stop eating eggs all together.
There are other ways to stay healthy and I think focusing on them might be a better solution if one was watching his or her diet.
If I remember right, spinach has a recall following a salmonella outbreak too!
Mints! says
Looks lovely Vaishali.
My recipe is very similar. Short cut recipe is dip the bread in crepe or pancake batter 🙂
Latha says
Never had eggs. French toast looks superb. Been wanting to make this version for a long time. Thanks.
Pavani says
That's really heart breaking what those hens go through.
Eggless french toast looks absolutely delicious. Will definitely try soon.
Divya Kudua says
OMG...I literally cried after reading the part about their beaks being cut...gosh,its horrifying!!I am a vegetarian but use eggs in baking.I really have to think twice now before using eggs!!
Chhaya says
It is indeed a horrifying story..Although I dont cook with eggs, I didn't mind the occasional cake/cookie , but have completely stopped eating products containing eggs since the past few months...I am glad I did so ! Your recipe looks very easy and delicious ! Will try it this weekend 🙂
Sharmilee! :) says
I am abt to post the same nxt....urs look too gud n tempting