Cinnamon Vegan French Toast

I did it! Another semester complete and one step closer to graduation.  As you all know by now, this semester definitely was a busy one for me so I’m excited for a little break before summer term. After months of doing nothing but burying my nose in the books, I decided to take a morning to do nothing but relax and create a new breakfast recipe.

After sleeping in I heated up the ol’ cast iron skillet and enjoyed my coffee while listening to the Today Show in the background.  Man was this a change of pace! Such a relaxing morning called for the boss of all breakfasts, French Toast!  Now there are plenty of vegan recipes out there for this breakfast but I have yet to find one that hits the spot with a crusty and sweet but slightly savory flavor.  So I set out with that goal as my guide and created a Cinnamon Vegan French Toast that is celebration worthy.

Cinnamon Vegan French Toast

• ¼ cup Silken Tofu
• 1 Tbs. Maple Syrup
• 1 Cup + 3 Tbs Almond Milk
• ¼ tsp. Vanilla
• ½ tsp. Cinnamon
• Dash of Salt
• Nutritional Yeast
• 1 Tbs Milled Flax Seed
• 1 Cinnamon Tea Bag (I used Good Earth Spicy and Sweet Tea)
• 2 Pieces Bread (I used Ezekiel)

Fruity Topping

• 1 Tbs Favorite Jelly
• 1 Tbs Silken Tofu
• 2 Tbs Almond Milk

Brew the teabag in 1 cup of milk until you get a strong cinnamon flavor.  When you remove the bag make sure you squeeze it well.  Prepare one flax egg by whisking together the flax seed with 3 Tbs of the brewed tea and set aside until gelatinous and cooled to room temperature.

Using an emulsion blender or a food processor combine the silken tofu, maple syrup, 3 Tbs. almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together until smooth with no lumps remaining.  Combine the tofu mixture with the flax egg and set aside.

Preheat a skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat.  Dip the pieces of bread in the mixture and sprinkle one side lightly with nutritional yeast and salt.  Place the yeast side down on the skillet then sprinkle the other side.  After the first side has browned  (3-5 min)  flip the toast, re-spraying the skillet before putting the toast back down.  Let the second side brown then use the remaining tofu mixture to lightly coat both pieces of bread.  Sprinkle lightly with nutritional yeast once again and cook until both sides are crispy and brown.

To prepare the fruity topping simply blend all ingredients until smooth.

The tea really enhances the cinnamon flavor!

Your tofu mixture should be fairly thick and make sure you wait until the flax egg is jelly-like until you combine them.

Sorry for the lighting! My kitchen light went out and when I tried changing the bulb it just went out right away again 😦

The nutritional yeast gives it that browned look and the slightly savory taste that the egg would normally provide a classic French toast.

Top your French toast with sautéed bananas, roasted almonds, maple syrup, butter, the fruity topping, or all of the above! Personally I really enjoyed the all of the above option as I am known to be a texture fiend 🙂

For a more classic French toast you can go with the traditional butter and syrup, skipping the fruity topping..or…

…go all out and try your favorite flavor! Another option you have is to add some of your favorite jelly to the tofu mixture that is used to coat the bread.

Yumm look at those roasted bananas! I chose to sauté my almonds in the same skillet along with a little bit of maple syrup, milk, and salt.  Delish!

Do you have a favorite non-vegan meal that you would like veganized? We’re up for the challenge so let us know!