Nothing compares to the goodness of French toast, with its sweetness and the butter melting on top.
But some people are vegans and still want to enjoy this delicious treat. Others might not like eggs or might be allergic, so does this mean that they have to be deprived of French toast forever?
Definitely not.
Cooking is all about trial and error, and there are several alternatives to use if you want to replace a crucial ingredient in any recipe.
So, keep reading to learn how to make tasty French toast without eggs and how to make your treat stand out.
The History of French Toast
Some people think that French toast is actually a French dish.
However, this is not true.
The French toast is named after a chef who was called Joseph French. He made this dish the way we eat it today by soaking slices of bread in a mixture made of eggs and milk.
The dish became so successful that it became a staple breakfast after serving it with fruits and jam.
Nevertheless, some people think that French toast was invented a lot earlier.
Some historical evidence shows that the Ancient Romans prepared a similar dish by soaking bread slices in milk and eggs. They would then fry the bread, the same way we prepare our modern French toast.
The best thing about this dish is that you can customize it any way you like using ingredients you can find in your kitchen.
For example, although it’s usually served sweet, in some countries, like Scotland, it’s part of a savory dish. People typically serve it with sausages.
In Great Britain, people also eat it as a snack and serve it with ketchup.
Yet, most people serve it with honey, jam, syrup, nuts, bananas, apples, strawberries, blueberries, and cherries. Combined with cinnamon’s flavor and sugar’s sweetness, this can be an excellent breakfast or snack.
Soaking the toast in the milk and egg mixture softens the toast while keeping the crust crunchy. After you fry the toast, the edges will stay golden and crunchy, while the middle will be airy and fluffy.
How To Make French Toast Without Eggs
It’s possible to make French toast without one of the most crucial ingredients; eggs. This will work for you if you’re following a vegan diet or you’re allergic to eggs.
People also skip eggs when their kids aren’t fond of their taste.
The eggless toast will be as impressive as the original one, so you can still enjoy it. However, you have to add another ingredient that makes the toast richer.
In this case, you’ll use nutritional yeast, which also adds more nutrients to your tasty French toast.
The batter sticks to the toast, and the cinnamon and sugar seep into the toast to enhance it with a rich aroma and taste.
This means that the toast will be soft and fluffy on the inside.
Once you start frying your French toast in butter or oil, the crust becomes crunchy and golden. Although this dish doesn’t contain any eggs, it will have the same texture as the original recipe.
Some people also make the recipe using cornstarch. But in this article, we’ll stick to a cornstarch and egg-free recipe.
How to Pick The Ingredients For Your Eggless French Toast
For a simple dish like French toast, spending time picking the right ingredients will make all the difference.
Bread
Picking the right type of bread will make all the difference when you’re making French toast.
Thick, hearty, and a bit sturdy bread will absorb the milk and all the flavors you add to make your French toast tasty and soft. It won’t turn mushy as you let it soak into the batter while you’re flipping it over.
Make sure that your bread can withstand soaking and pan-frying so it doesn’t fall apart while you’re preparing it. Stale bread works best because it has lost some moisture.
Brioche bread is an excellent option to pick because it’s dense, so it can soak in all the ingredients. A stale baguette also works because it becomes harder, so you can let it soak in the milk without worrying about your bread falling apart.
Some people also choose sourdough bread because the tanginess adds a special taste to your sweet French toast.
Milk
In order to prepare hearty and soft French toast with a delicious golden crust, you need to soak it in a batter made of milk and other flavor enhancers.
Full-fat milk is another key ingredient to use. Skim milk doesn’t add the richness you expect from your French toast, so it won’t feel tasty.
However, if you’re vegan, you can try oats, coconut, soy, or almond milk. These types of milk will slightly change the flavor, but they will make your French toast taste amazing.
Each type of milk has its own flavor and consistency, so you might need to experiment with various kinds until you find your favorite one.
Coconut milk has the closest consistency to dairy milk, but it has the nutty flavor and aroma of coconuts.
Oat milk is creamier and a bit sweeter, so it will work for you if you prefer the sweet taste.
Almond milk also has a nutty flavor, and you can buy the unsweetened or sweetened version. You can also pick chocolate almond milk for a twist.
Eggs
The last key ingredient in the original recipe is the eggs. The eggs make the soak slightly sticky, so it can coat your bread before frying it.
Moreover, eggs are packed with proteins, vitamins, and minerals, so they make your French toast healthier.
Yet, without eggs, you can still prepare mouthwatering French toast.
It’s important to note that your eggless French toast won’t taste the same, but this doesn’t mean that it won’t taste good.
Other ingredients like nutritional yeast will thicken the batter’s consistency, so it doesn’t feel different from your regular French toast.
How to Make French Toast Without Eggs or Cornstarch
The eggless French toast will feel lightweight and taste amazing, and it will also work for you if you’re allergic to eggs. It takes a total of 20 minutes to prepare, so it can work as a breakfast or quick snack recipe.
There are actually two versions of this recipe.
The first one skips the eggs but uses cornstarch. The cornstarch will help thicken the milk so it sticks to the bread and create a nice golden coat.
Yet, there’s another alternative that you make without eggs or cornstarch. In this alternative recipe, you can use nutritional yeast to thicken the milk mixture.
Not only will the nutritional yeast help thicken the batter of your French toast, but it will also add more nutrients to your eggless French toast. It’s rich in vitamin B and several minerals, and it will make your French toast tasty.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of regular or dairy-free milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder or extract
- 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
- 2 slices of bread
- 1 or 2 tablespoons of butter or any other vegan alternative for pan-frying
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients except for the bread in a bowl.
- Whisk all the ingredients until the nutritional yeast has dissolved.
- Soak one slice of bread until it has been perfectly soaked.
- Flip it on the other side until both sides are coated.
- Repeat the process with the other slice.
- Heat a large nonstick pan and add the butter.
- Make sure that the butter has melted but doesn’t turn brown.
- Place the two slices of bread in the pan and cook until golden brown. This usually takes about five minutes.
- Flip the bread slice using a spatula and cook until the other side is golden brown.
- Remove from the pan, and add your favorite topping.
Which Topping Should You Add To Your Eggless French Toast?
There are several cool ingredients to add on top of your Eggless French toast. Here are some cool options to consider.
- Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top of your French toast.
- Add some maple syrup or honey and top them with some strawberry slices and blueberries.
- Top your French toast with whipped cream and some fresh fruit.
- Sprinkle some chocolate sauce and nuts on top of your toast.
- Try a savory topping and serve your French toast with a slice of ham and a poached egg.
- Spread some avocado on top of your French toast, and add a slice of smoked salmon.
Can You Store Your Eggless French Toast?
You can easily prepare a large batch of French toast in advance and reheat it when it’s time to serve breakfast.
Once you’ve cooked your French toast, allow it to cool down, and then wrap it in parchment paper. Keep the wrapped French toast in a freezer bag, and it should hold up in the freezer for up to two months.
When it’s time to enjoy this tasty dish, bring your precooked French toast out of the freezer and reheat it in an oven or in the toaster for about eight minutes. Add your favorite topping, and it will be ready to serve.
Final Thoughts
French toast is an easy and tasty breakfast that you can serve with numerous toppings. Whether you decide to serve yours with some powdered sugar, fruits, maple syrup, or nuts, you can prepare your French toast in a few minutes to enjoy a delicious meal.
Eggs represent a key ingredient of traditional French toast, but you can prepare an eggless version that tastes amazing. You can also substitute dairy milk for another vegan alternative.
Just use nutritional yeast instead of eggs, and it will thicken your batter and make your eggless French toast taste divine.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.