This berry French toast recipe was shared with us over a decade ago, and was in dire need of a refresh. It has been modified quite a bit from Vegetarian Times, a former magazine. The recipe is simply dairy free and has a few unique tricks. It uses a longer soaking time for generous saturation, is richly infused with vanilla, and has baking powder for a little extra lift.
Special Diet Notes: Summer Berry French Toast
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and vegetarian.
For egg-free and vegan berry French toast, many have good luck with chia eggs as a substitute. Or you can try my Vegan Buckwheat French Toast or Dr. Neal Barnard’s Vegan Vanilla French Toast.
Summer Berry French Toast with a Vanilla Infusion
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
This unique berry French toast recipe is a special treat that's infused with vanilla and shines with a long bread soaking time.
Author: Adapted from Vegetarian Times
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs (see post above for egg free options)
- ⅞ cup unsweetened vanilla dairy-free milk beverage
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons organic sugar, divided
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 slices whole grain bread (thick sliced, dry bread works best; can use gluten free, if needed)
- 2 tablespoons oil (your choice of type), or as needed for pan frying
- 1½ cups fresh raspberries
- 2 cups sliced strawberries or more raspberries
- Maple syrup or powdered confectioners' sugar, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk beverage, ¼ cup sugar, vanilla, baking powder, and cinnamon until thick and foamy.
- Pour the mixture into a wide, shallow baking pan. Place bread into the egg mixture. You can do a quick soak of just 1 minute per side, or 7 to 10 minutes per side for total saturation (long soaking is how they do it at Vegetarian Times and bon appetit).
- Meanwhile, put the berries in a medium bowl and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Toss to coat and let sit while you make the vanilla French toast.
- Heat the buttery spread or oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half of the bread slices. Pour half of the excess egg batter over top of the slices. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden. Carefully turn over to brown the second side. Repeat this step with the remaining soaked bread slices.
- Plate the French toast and serve topped with the macerated berries. Optionally serve with maple syrup or topped with a little confectioners' sugar.
More French Toast Inspired Recipes
Mini Maple French Toast Casseroles (optionally vegan, gluten-free & allergy-friendly)
Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Bites (optionally gluten-free, nut-free & soy-free)
Apple Pecan French Toast Muffins (optionally gluten-free & soy-free)
11 Comments
French toast has always been my favorite breakfast treat. This looks just as good as when my dad would make it when I was growing up!
This French toast looks lovely, I love the vanilla infusion. I have so many fresh berries in the garden I could use to make this!
This looks so good and we came home Sunday to our raspberry bushes exploding! We picked some before we left but we’ve never had them this good and we can’t pick them fast enough. Guess I know what we’re having for breakfast this weekend!
I wish I was at your house Sarah – I’d be happy to help out with that extra bounty 🙂
This Berry French Toast looks so delicious! It would be a wonderful breakfast for the weekend!
This dish is right up my alley- I love anything with berries on it! And that is a gorgeous photo!
My mom never made french toast, so it just doesn’t come to mind for me. But every time we travel David gets it and I think oh man I need to make this!
I love berries on anything, but you really had me at Cinnamon Sugar French Toast bites!!
Right? Those are so cool!
Loving all the fresh berries in this dish! French toast is something we need to make more often!
This looks delicious! Thanks for the tip on long soaking – I think that’s what’s been missing from my French toast recipes. Definitely going to give these a whirl using chia seeds this weekend!