Looking for a delicious dairy free breakfast option that feels a little fancy (but is super easy to make)? Try this almond milk French toast! The prep time and cook time are both really quick, so it comes together in no time.
It’s thick and soft on the inside, and lightly crispy on the outside – perfect with a drizzle of maple syrup, some berries, and sliced almonds.
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Dairy Free French Toast
Anyone else a huge French toast fan? I prefer it to pancakes, actually!
Typically, French toast is dredged in a milk and egg mixture before it is seared in a skillet. But did you know you can easily make French toast dairy free by using almond milk? It’s just as tasty and simple to make, too!
(Here are more delicious dairy free breakfast ideas to try, like these cinnamon apple crumble muffins!)
This is such a cozy breakfast, without being too sweet. You can serve it on its own, or with a mug of coffee and/or side of scrambled or fried eggs for added protein.
And I love how versatile it is: you can add pretty much any topping under the sun (I’ve shared some of my favorites further down in the post!).
Read on for how to make this simple French toast with almond milk, plus some helpful tips (like the best types of bread to use!).
Recipe Ingredients
You only need 5 basic ingredients to make this almond milk French toast recipe:
- bread (Thick-cut sandwich bread, brioche, or challah bread are my favorites, but any type of bread should work – as long as it’s sturdy enough! Be sure to buy dairy-free bread or gluten-free bread if needed.)
- almond milk (This recipe is flexible, and should work with just about any nondairy or dairy milk. I used unsweetened plain almond milk to keep things simple. Unsweetened vanilla almond milk would also work well – just cut out the vanilla extract (or keep it in for extra vanilla flavor). Sweetened almond milk will work too, but will make the French toast itself sweeter.)
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon
You will notice that I don’t add any sugar to the egg mixture here, because I find that adding maple syrup on top adds enough sweetness. I like having a contrast of not-too-sweet French toast with sweet maple syrup.
But if you’d rather have lightly sweetened French toast without toppings (or both sweetened toast AND sweet toppings), you can add a couple teaspoons of brown sugar or maple syrup to the egg mixture or use sweetened almond milk.
You’ll also need something for cooking the French toast in a skillet without it sticking: regular butter (if you’re not vegan or dairy free) or a vegan butter substitute, coconut oil, or a cooking spray. Plus, any toppings you want on your French toast!
For more tasty French toast recipes (with dairy), try this overnight crockpot French toast casserole or this savory avocado french toast.
How to Make French Toast with Almond Milk
To make this dairy free French toast recipe, start by making the egg mixture.
Add the eggs, almond milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt in a shallow bowl. Use a fork or whisk to stir the mixture until it’s smooth and combined.
Then, heat your skillet to medium heat. (You want it to be fully heated before adding the French toast to cook).
Meanwhile, place 2 slices of bread in the egg and almond milk mixture. Allow the bread to sit in the mixture and soak for 1 minute per side. (But no more than that, or it might make it too soggy.)
Next, place a pat of butter, vegan butter or coconut oil in your hot skillet. Swirl it around until it melts and coats the pan.
Remove the bread from the egg mixture, shaking off any excess. Place it into the hot pan.
Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining bread and egg mixture, adding more butter/vegan butter/coconut oil each time.
Lastly, serve with your desired toppings (such as maple syrup, sliced almonds, and berries), and enjoy!
Cooking Tips
Here are a few tips to make sure your French toast comes out perfectly every time:
- Don’t under- or over-soak the bread in the mixture, or the texture won’t be right.
- Make sure your pan is nice and hot before adding the soaked bread to cook. (But don’t go higher than medium heat, or your French toast can burn before the middle cooks through.)
- Be sure to add more butter/vegan butter/coconut oil to the pan between each batch. This helps it get nice and crispy!
What to Serve With French Toast
Here are some things that pair deliciously with French toast:
- A hot cup of coffee or a latte
- Goat Cheese Frittata with Spinach
- scrambled eggs or fried eggs
- Yogurt Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
- Sausage Egg Casserole
Why do you have to add milk to French toast?
Milk (dairy or nondairy) is used to soften the bread and also works as a binder for French toast (along with the eggs). It helps create a sort of ‘custard’ when it’s soaked into the bread and cooked, while also crisping up the outside.
What type of bread is best for French toast?
My favorite breads to use for French toast are thick-cut sandwich bread, brioche, or challah.
Brioche and challah are classics, because they’re fluffy but sturdy and don’t have crusts that are too crunchy or thick to soften in the egg mixture. However, they also usually have dairy!
Fortunately, Trader Joe’s has a dairy-free/vegan brioche that’s cut super thick and makes the best French toast. So if you’re looking for a dairy-free bread, try theirs!
Otherwise, thick-sliced white or wheat sandwich bread work great, since they’re similarly soft and slightly sweet.
Can you freeze French toast?
Yes! First, cook the French toast. Then, freeze individual slices in a sealed freezer-safe bag separated by sheets of parchment or wax paper. It should stay fresh for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy, reheat it in the microwave or toaster. I prefer the toaster because the slices get nice and crispy!
Almond Milk French Toast Topping Ideas
French toast and maple syrup is a classic combination, but here’s some inspiration if you want to switch up the toppings:
- berries, banana slices, or other fruit
- nuts (sliced or slivered almonds are my fave option here, as well as chopped pecans and walnuts)
- seeds (chia seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.)
- nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, etc.)
- Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
- chocolate chips
- jam or jelly
This French toast is easy enough to make for a casual weekend breakfast (or weekday!), but fancy enough for a holiday brunch. It’s so delicious, and pairs well with any toppings you want.
You’ll find the full almond milk French toast recipe at the end of this post. Hope you enjoy!
More tasty brunch recipes to try:
- Lemon Pancakes with Ricotta
- Goat Cheese Frittata with Spinach
Almond Flour Banana Pancakes (Gluten Free) - Berry Quinoa Bake with Lemon
- Smoked Salmon Breakfast Casserole
- Healthy Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Breakfast Tacos with Avocado Crema
Almond Milk French Toast (Dairy Free)
Looking for a tasty dairy free breakfast idea that feels a little fancy (yet is super easy)? Try this soft & crispy almond milk french toast!
Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup unsweetened plain almond milk (or other milk option)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 thick slices dairy-free brioche, challah, or sandwich bread (I used Trader Joe's vegan brioche and it was perfect!)
- Butter, vegan butter substitute, or coconut oil, as needed for the pan
- Optional toppings: maple syrup, butter, fresh berries, sliced almonds
Instructions:
- Combine the eggs, almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Use a fork or whisk to stir until combined.
- Heat a large sauté pan (stainless steel or nonstick) over medium heat. While the pan is heating, dip 2 slices of bread at a time in the egg mixture. Let the bread soak for 1 minute per side.
- Add a small pat of vegan butter substitute to the pan and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Remove the soaked bread from the egg mixture and shake off any extra liquid, then add to the pan.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until the French toast is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining bread and egg mixture, adding more butter to the pan in between each batch.
- Serve with desired toppings!
