How to make the BEST Vegan French Toast! So easy to make in just 10 minutes, using everyday ingredients. You won’t miss the eggs at all in this delicious weekend morning breakfast. A secret ingredient makes these french toast incredibly crisp, thick and perfect!
French toast was one of the first meals I started making for myself as a kid. There wasn’t a lot of cooking or baking going on in my home growing up, in fact I lived on mostly convenience foods like canned spaghettios, ravioli and pop tarts. But we did make french toast a lot, especially on the weekends! It was easy, fast and simply delicious.
I had never made a vegan version of french toast before testing this recipe. Honestly, I was quite doubtful it would work, or be delicious enough to even post here. I have seen recipes for vegan french toast before, but I really couldn’t see how they could possibly taste as good as the nostalgic breakfast of my childhood.
Well, I was SO wrong! My family and I were SHOCKED at how good this vegan french toast tasted, and we ate the first batch up in about 5 minutes flat. Creamy on the inside (but NOT soggy at all), crispy on the outside, with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. The perfect french toast, period, and SO darn easy to make!!
How can I make Vegan French Toast without eggs?
The secret ingredient in my french toast recipe is so common I’m sure you have it in your pantry right now: Cornstarch. It’s perfect for getting that crisp exterior, and works like a charm as the bread cooks in the pan.
Without eggs, your batter for vegan french toast includes these ingredients: Soy milk (or any other non-dairy milk), cornstarch, ground flaxseeds (just a teaspoon, to help thicken the batter), 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (trust me), maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla.
How do you make vegan french toast?
It’s as easy or easier than the original! Whisk all the batter ingredients in a shallow bowl, large enough to hold a piece of bread.
Heat a little vegan butter or oil in a frying pan. Right before dipping the bread in the batter, whisk the mixture again (cornstarch will settle to the bottom.) Dip a piece of bread in the batter, on both sides, and soak for about 10 seconds.
Add the bread to the pan, and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with all remaining bread and batter, then serve immediately with maple syrup, powdered sugar and fresh fruit, if desired.
What kind of bread is best for french toast?
I used a quality loaf of ciabatta that was 1 day old. It was perfect. I wouldn’t recommend using soft sandwich bread, or your french toast runs the risk of being soggy. Thicker sliced bread works best, that is quite dry, such as french bread, sourdough or even a day old baguette. Smaller bread is fine, you will just have more french toast!
I hope you enjoy this Vegan French Toast!!
Want more vegan breakfast recipes? Check any of these out:
- Simple Vegan Pancakes
- Best Ever Vegan Waffles
- Tofu Scramble
- Easy Vegan Quiche
- Cinnamon Sugar Vegan Donuts
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Vegan French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseeds
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 6-8 slices thick sliced quality bread, such as ciabatta or french
- 2-3 tablespoons vegan butter or coconut oil for frying
- For serving: maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, wide enough to hold a piece of bread, whisk together the soy milk, cornstarch, ground flaxseeds, baking powder, cinnamon, maple syrup and vanilla.
- Add a little bit of vegan butter/coconut oil to a pan over medium-high heat and melt. Whisk the batter again right before dipping bread, as the cornstarch will settle to the bottom of the bowl.
- Dip each side of the bread in the batter and let soak for about 10 seconds, then add the bread to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Add more vegan butter/oil to the pan as needed in between pieces of bread.
- Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar and fresh fruit, if desired.
Video
Notes
- May use any kind of non-dairy milk, such as soy, coconut, almond, cashew or oat milk.
- For gluten free vegan french toast, use gluten free bread.
- This recipe does not freeze well, and is best served fresh.Â
Absolutely delicious! This is as yummy as any French Toast with an egg batter.Â
Hi Susan. Thank you!
Delicious! I sprinkled rolled oats on both sides and patted them into the batter before cooking. Gave it a yummy crust. Thank you for this – my daughter and I both have egg allergies and I never thought to make vegan French Toast! (With a side of bacon 😉
Hi Christine. That sounds yummy! Thank you for sharing!
Are the flax/chia seeds necessary to the texture or can they be omitted?
They actually help thicken up the mixture, but I bet you could leave them out if needed.
Happy New Year!  I made this  using  sliced  baguette and it was amazing! Â
Everyone loved it. Thanks for yet another great recipe.Â
Hi Betsey. Happy New Year to you! I’m so glad my recipe was loved by all. Thank you!
Wonderful. Many thanks. I love your excitement about it.
 I didn’t have flaxseeds so I whipped up some water from Hummos tin , which froths  like egg.Â
Also, I usually use the oven rather than the frying pan for my French toast. I put a little oil in the batter, but not for cooking. I use a baking sheet.Â
Hi Jazz. Thank you for sharing your comments! I’m glad you enjoyed the French toast recipe. My family loves it also!
I went plant based for 2020. Â Am trying to convince my son and husband to do it too – my son turns his nose up if I serve anything vegan. Â He LOVES French toast, so I tried this today without telling him it was vegan. Â He said that it was the best French toast I have ever made, and was like the type restaurants serve. Â I have no intention of telling him!!!
Hi Marie-Claire. How fun! I’m glad the French toast was a hit with your son! Thank you!
Nora you are an ARTIST! I wish I could post a photo here of how my French toast turned out, it’s gorgeous!! We are always so impressed with your recipes. We had a Nora Thanksgiving and a Nora Christmas with snowball cookies, stuffing, egg nog, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, strawberry cake, pumpkin pie, and can’t wait to try literally everything else!!!Â
Hi Anna. Thank you for trying my recipes. I am so glad that you and your family are enjoying them! Thank you for sharing with me!
This sounds delicious. My son is ana to flax seeds can I use chia instead for thickening?
Sure!
I’ve recently been making more vegan foods and wanted to make French toast tomorrow morning for Christmas for my vegan boyfriend and nonvegan friends. I just tested the recipe and MY GOODNESS it’s really amazing. I never enjoyed dipping my fingers in the egg solution and I was constantly washing my hands while preparing traditional egg French toast. This eliminated that, and it tastes incredible. I’ll probably never make French toast with eggs again. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
You’re so welcome!
Is the baking powder necessary? Is there something I could use to substitute it with?
Thanks!
You could probably leave it out if needed. Thanks!
I initially wrote in that there was too much milk, but after COOKING IT and tasting it, I am actually impressed! I’ve only had vegan french toast in a restaurant once or twice as most don’t have on the menu. I will be making this again.
I agree with Jan (see below).Â
Great recipe thank you so much!
You’re welcome!
Excellent French toast recipe!
Thanks!
Have to try this one for sureÂ
Love this french toast – I used arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch and used vegan challah bread. It was the perfect level of sweetness!
That sounds amazing Jan!
Best French toast I’ve ever made! Â Amazing with brioche.
Thanks!!
Best vegan french toast recipe I’ve found! Thank you so much!Â
You’re welcome!
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and it is THE BEST french toast ever! I’ve even used this to make a casserole for brunch!
That’s so great to hear!
French toast was my breakfast of choice prior to becoming vegan. I’ve tried all of the recipes and everything always ended up being a pile of mush. This is THE vegan French toast recipe. Same texture as normal French toast, same taste. I will use this recipe again and again.
This recipe is so, so good and simple. Â My family cannot tell that it is vegan! Â I must say that all of Nora’s recipes are outstanding. Â I have also made the vegan French toast casserole which is a little more work than this but also very delicious!Â
That’s so great to hear!
Hi All I have tried this several times and I cn not get it to be thick like gummy on the Inside…can someone please tell me the exact bread they used..I have tried French and thick cut..both are not cooking on the inside and sticking to the pan!
Your problem might be your pan, not the bread. I have a stainless steel pan that everything always sticks to, it drives me crazy. Only use a quality non-stick or cast iron pan, something you know will not stick easily. I have used fresh french bread as well as sandwich type bread, and they all work fine.
I have a cheap non stick pan and have to use alot of coconut oil in the pan before adding the bread to it. Maybe 1 tablespoon. I also just whole wheat bread and it comes out just fine. I wait about 2-3 mins to flip but if it’s sticky and cannot flip smoothly I let it sit a little longer. Hope that helps.
I make this French toast basically weekly, it was way too easy to get hooked. I never have syrup so I use agave which works really well too and is still delicious! Thank you so much for such wonderful recipes!!
Just made this & so glad I did!? Now I can have my french toast! Thank you!
You’re welcome!
OMG!? This IS the best French toast I’ve made since going vegan 8mos ago. I still miss a lot of foods that contained eggs but slowly finding recipes around that. I cut recipe in half for me & did make a few alterations; I used rice milk because I like a little extra starch in these types of recipes, I eliminated the maple syrup in the recipe since I was putting on after cooked & I added an 1/8 tsp of Kala Namak Black salt to give a little egg taste….true perfection! Crispy outside & soft middle, just as you said! Can’t thank you enough!
Best trench toast ever
Thanks!