Instead of a Valentine’s Dinner, how about a Valentine’s breakfast? Or brunch? Or breakfast for dinner? Here’s a simple idea that looks pretty on the plate. I took slices of regular whole-grain bread, cut them into heart shapes, made them into vegan French toast, and sandwiched a simple fruit mixture between them. Fresh strawberries are so romantic!
Here’s how it’s done:
Fruit-Stuffed French Toast
(serves 4)
Sliced whole-grain bread (about 8 slices)
1 cup Soymilk
1 Tbsp. Flour (may use corn starch)
2 tsp. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Nutritional yeast flakes
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Rum extract (may substitute vanilla)
8 large Strawberries, sliced (more for garnish)
2 Bananas, sliced
2-4 Tbsp. Maple syrup, to taste
1/8 tsp. Coconut extract
Cut the bread into heart shapes, if desired. Whisk together the soymilk, flour, sugar, nutritional yeast, salt and rum or vanilla extract. Dip slices of bread into the mixture to coat well, but do not soak. Heat an oiled, non-stick skillet and fry until golden brown and crispy on both sides.
While the French toast is cooking, mix the strawberries, bananas, syrup, and coconut extract together. When the toast is done, serve with fruit mixture between two slices of toast and more on top.
Since strawberries, like other berries, are high in antioxidants and phytonutrients, I decided to use this as my entry for Sweetnicks weekly event, Antioxidant-Rich Tuesdays (ARF/5-A-Day), that encourages us to eat our antioxidant-rich foods. If you’re looking for other ways to prepare healthy fruits and vegetables, check out her round-up tomorrow.
peyo
Must admit, been lurking for a while, but wanted to thank you so much for developing this french toast recipe. Carnivorous bf is allergic to milk and egg yolk, so I made this for V-day (did not initially tell him it was vegan). He loved it!
Chilli
Hey Susan! Thanks so much for this recipe-I have been waiting for SO LONG to find a low-fat healthier french toast recipe! A few questions, though-what purpose exactly do the yeast flakes and flour serve in the recipe? Can the french toast still do fine without them? And how much cinnamon do you reccomend to be added, if chosen to be?
SusanV
The nutritional yeast adds the flavor and the flour helps it stick to the bread. How much cinnamon is a matter of taste. I think I would probably start with 1/2 tsp. and add more if necessary. Enjoy!