Who doesn’t LOVE French Toast? I am sure there are some people out there… however, let’s be honest it is very hard to pass up! Unless you don’t eat gluten, it can be hard to find a recipe that works. Also if you don’t at dairy it can be hard as well, but with a lot of milk alternatives it can make it easier to enjoy! However, if you are vegan– it is VERY hard to find a delicious French Toast recipe… I mean eggs, milk, bread– that makes up French Toast right? Yes… but then again no. This recipe PROVES it can be done and done so stinkin well might I add! Cinnamon Caramel Vegan French Toast Sticks passed the test of not only Ainsley and my mom, but also my dad…. which if you are new here it is hard to please him with healthy foods. Don’t even start him on kale.. 🙂
When I asked you guys on Instagram recipes you were wanting to see for the new year, a lot of you guys mentioned egg allergies, dairy allergies and gluten allergies. How it was hard for easy breakfast recipes when that was the case. That is why I took to the kitchen to create these. I am SO excited about these, they freeze well, and are easy to pop in the toaster oven for breakfast that morning!
These will be a staple recipe in your house hold!
What makes these Cinnamon Caramel Vegan French Toast Sticks— taste caramel– y?
Now I know you all are saying “Alaina if they are vegan how can they be Cinnamon Caramel flavored?” Well yes, the secrets out, it isn’t REALLY caramel, but they sure taste like it after they have fried in the frying pan! Why? Because of Date Syrup! That is my secret 🙂
What is date syrup?
It is a fruit syrup extracted from dates and is a natural sweetener. What is also amazing about it, is that it has so many health benefits. 1 tbsp of date syrup actually has twice the potassium, magnesium and calcium than maple syrup or honey. It has is jam packed with antioxidants 10 times more than other natural sugars.
So why does it taste caramel–y using date syrup?
Date syrup tastes like a mixture between molasses, caramel syrup and honey. Therefore when you coat your gluten free bread in the French toast mixture that has date syrup in it, it starts to caramelize in the vegan butter. Creating this wonderful crust on the French toast, that then tastes caramel-y! So good!!
What Simple Ingredients are in these Cinnamon Caramel Vegan French Toast Sticks?
- Flaxseed
- Coconut Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- Almond Extract
- Date Syrup
- Coconut Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Gluten Free Bread
- Salt
Don’t be intimidated by Flax Seed
The flaxseed is KEY to this vegan recipe working out SO deliciously perfect! Flax seed when combined with liquid, creates the gelatin consistency of an egg without the actual egg whites, which helps bind ingredients together.
I LOVE flax seed in general. If this is your first time buying flax seed because of this recipe, I am excited for you!
Benefits of Flax Seed
+ How much nutrients in just 1 tbsp of flax seed? Packed with protein, fiber, omega 3 fatty acids & rich in vitamins and minerals.
+ Rich in lignans which is a plant compound that has been known to help lower risk of cancer and improve health
+ May help improve cholesterol and lower blood pressure
+ Not only do they contain protein, but they are seen as a wonderful source of plant based protein. Therefore is a great source of protein for those that don’t eat meat or animal products
+ Ingesting flax seed can actually reduce your feels of hunger because of the soluble fiber in flax seeds
So I bought the Flax Seed for this recipe… now what??
Flax seed is so versatile and can be used so many different ways in your cooking & baking! They do provide a little bit of a nutty taste, however baked in things, in smoothie etc. you cannot tell it is in there! Here are some wonderful ideas:
- I always add flax seed to my smoothies, a great source of that plant based protein!
- Drizzling flax seed over cereal or oatmeal in the morning
- Sprinkle on top of your go to yogurt
- Add into you muffin, bread, pancake, waffle batter etc!
- Use as an egg substitute ( like in this recipe!)
What other YUMMY Honest Grub, Honest Foodie recipes use Flax Seed?
Easy Blueberry Superfood Breakfast Cookies
No Bake Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Bites
Easy & Healthy Dutch Oven Snickerdoodle Cookie
The Best and Easiest Pumpkin Donuts
How should I store & re heat the Cinnamon Caramel Vegan French Toast Sticks?
- Cinnamon Caramel Vegan French Toast Sticks mixture can store in refrigerator for up to 5 days to use to make throughout the week.Â
- After making the French Toast cut them in strips even if you aren’t going to eat them at the moment. Then store in an air tight container and in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. During the week you can pull them out and put in the toaster oven to reheat for breakfast. They heat up perfectly! Start with 3 minutesÂ
- If you made a batch and want to freeze the sticks that works well too! You will be prepped for weeks to come. Make sure they are in an air tight container. Make sure that when you stack the sticks in the container to separate each layer by wax paper so they don’t stick. Zap them in the microwave for 5 seconds, then reheat in the toaster oven starting with 3 minutes.Â
Cinnamon Caramel Vegan French Toast Sticks
Ingredients
- 8 pieces Gluten Free Bread
- 6 tbsp dairy free milk of choice
- 2 tbsp ground flax seed
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp date syrup
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 cup dairy free milk of choice
- vegan butter use as needed with how many batches you make in your pan
Instructions
- This recipe uses 8 pieces of bread, usually the size of gluten free bread is small, so each slice yields about 3 pieces. Therefore this recipe makes 24 French Toast Sticks
- In a small bowl, add in 2 tbsp ground flax seed and 6 tbsp of dairy free milk of choice. Whish together with a fork until combined. Then set on the counter for 5 minutes while you prepare everything else. This will create your flax egg! How easy right? Letting it set will create that egg white texture.
- In a large bowl add in 1/2 cup of dairy free milk of choice, date syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, almond extract and coconut sugar. Whisk together until full incorporated.
- With your fork check the flax egg, it should have thickned perfectly by now. Pour into the large bowl and whisk to incorproate into the rest of the liquid ingredients.
- In a large skillet add in your vegan butter, turn on medium heat. Let it heat for 2 minutes before adding your first piece of bread.
- Start dreadging your gluten free bread in the mixture with a fork, pushing it down and flipping it over so both sides are dreadged in it perfectly. Then add to the heated frying pan with the vegan butter.
- Gluten free bread takes a bit longer to crisp. So start with 4 minutes and if you need to go longer on each side to brown do so. If you are making mulitply batches, the first batch always takes longer to brown because it is just warming up.
- Then cut your bread into sticks. Sprinkle powdered sugar ontop and get dunking into some of your favorite maple syrup! Enjoy!
Notes
- Cinnamon Caramel Vegan French Toast Sticks mixture can store in refrigerator for up to 5 days to use to make throughout the week.Â
- After making the French Toast cut them in strips even if you aren’t going to eat them at the moment. Then store in an air tight container and in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. During the week you can pull them out and put in the toaster oven to reheat for breakfast. They heat up perfectly! Start with 3 minutesÂ
- If you made a batch and want to freeze the sticks that works well too! You will be prepped for weeks to come. Make sure they are in an air tight container. Make sure that when you stack the sticks in the container to separate each layer by wax paper so they don’t stick. Zap them in the microwave for 5 seconds, then reheat in the toaster oven starting with 3 minutes.Â
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