French toast, a classic breakfast or brunch food. But we know it's great any time of day. I love French toast and this does not disappoint. Did you know, according to wikipedia, the earliest reference of French toast dates back to the 4th or 5th century and mentions soaking in milk, no eggs were used. It is perfectly possible, as you see here, to have wonderful French toast without the eggs we have become so accustomed to. And as creative creatures we are, we have adopted different variations...like this Banana French Toast or this Orange-French Toast. I find this to be flavorful with great texture bite after bite. It uses healthy ingredients like banana, almond milk, cinnamon and vanilla. This is wonderfully egg and dairy free...nothing but goodness here!
Bananas are one of the most widely eaten fruits in the world. They are affordable and come in their own package making them ideal options. Bananas also carry many health benefits, like easing depression with their high level of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin (the good mood enhancer). Bananas also aid in digestion and are a great source of dietary fiber containing 16% of the recommended amount. They help against acid reflux, can help stabilize blood sugar in between meals and are a great source of vitamin B6. Find more about banana's from this article from Food Matters: 25 Powerful Reasons to Eat Bananas
Want to get more bananas into your life? Take a look at my Almond Chunky Monkey Ice Cream...it's raw, no ice cream maker needed and has only four ingrediets! It would make for another great breakfast option. :)
When making my french toast, I love picking up a loaf of bread that I can slice into whatever thickness I want. You can leave it for a day or two before using or if using a fresh loaf cut the pieces and set them out in the air until ready to use. It's better when they are a bit stale and dry. I prefer my slices on the thicker side, leaving a soft pillowy center. I happen to use a sourdough loaf here which gave my french toast an extra tang that I really enjoyed. This recipe works great with whole grain artisan bread, cinnamon swirl bread or any of the usual breads you typically use to make your French toast.
Banana French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 3/4 cup almond milk, or milk of choice
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
- dash of nutmeg, optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- coconut oil, for greasing
- French or sourdough loaf cut into any size you like, or use any bread you like (6 slices)
- pure maple syrup for serving
In flat bottom, shallow medium size bowl mash the banana until creamy and fairly smooth. Add the cinnamon, vanilla and optional nutmeg, mix well. Lastly, add in you milk and stir until combined.
Heat your skillet or griddle on medium heat. While griddle is heating slice your bread and gather serving items.
Using about 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, grease the griddle/skillet (do this each time you make add a new batch). Quickly dip bread into wet mixture and flip to coat the other side being not to not let the slices soak, or you may have soggy french toast. Place slices on griddle/skillet and cook about 3 minutes on each side, or until golden on both sides. If slicing into thick slices you may find that you'll need a little extra time to completely cook the center. Serve with pure maple syrup and fresh fruit of choice. Serves three.
Enjoy!
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