Whether you’re looking for an easy breakfast or something that reminds you of a Sunday morning when you were a kid, this gluten free + dairy free french toast recipe has you covered. If that’s enough, not only is this a French toast recipe with no milk, but there’s also no eggs. That’s right, gluten free + vegan French toast.
This recipe is incredibly inclusive, leans into simple ingredients, and it’s easy to make, so let’s get started.
Allergy Status
Free From: Wheat/Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Soy, Tree Nut (including Coconut), Peanut, Fish, Shellfish, Sesame, Top 9 Allergens, Alliums, Apple, Avocado, Banana, Beans & Lentils, Berries, Buckwheat, Cane/Refined Sugar, Carrot, Celery, Citrus, Corn, Cruciferous, Garlic, Latex Cross Reactive Foods (H/M), Legume, Lupin, Mushroom, Mustard, Nightshade, Oat, Onion, Pea & Pea Protein, Potato (Nightshade Variety), Poultry, Red Meat, Rice, Stone Fruits, Strawberry, Squash & Gourd, Sweet Potato & Yam, Tapioca/Cassava/Yuca/Manioc, Tomato, Yeast
Friendly To: EOE, FPIES, Paleo, Vegan
Compatible With: Seed Free, Low Histamine
For Seed Free & Low Histamine: Omit the nutmeg. This will impact the overall flavour, but I think you’ll still be happy. If you enjoy ginger, and it’s tolerated (low histamine) you can add a pinch of that instead.
Soak Ingredients For Your Gluten Free & Dairy Free French Toast
- 230mL Milk of Choice (8 ounces/1 cup)
- 85mL Organic Maple Syrup (3 ounces)
- 1 tsp Organic Ground Cinnamon
- pinch Organic Ground Nutmeg
- pinch Sea Salt
Optional: splash of Organic Vanilla Extract
You’ll Also Need
- Dairy-Free Butter of Choice for Cooking
- Safe Bread of Choice
Ingredient Notes
Milk: I use homemade oat milk from a NutraMilk (using gluten free, purity protocol oats). You can use any plant-based milk including almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, and so on. If you can have dairy milk and want to use that instead, you can.
For best results, I don’t suggest full fat canned coconut milk when selecting a dairy-free alternative. You’d be better off using a light coconut milk (like the kind that’s sold in boxes and is more watered down).
Bread Choices: When it comes to making French toast and selecting the best bread slices, you want a bread that can hold up to the soaking, or you’ll need to reduce the soak time. You can add a sauce after that reinforces the flavours if needed.
Whilst some may argue that you have to use a specific type of bread to have traditional French toast, I’d push back and simply say: eat the food you love. With that in mind, here are some types of bread to consider:
- Texas Toast (you can purchase a gluten free version in the freezer section of some grocery stores)
- Fresh Bread (when I bake bread at home, after its cooled completely, I sometimes make French toast with it)
- French Bread (if you bake at home, you can make this gluten free)
- Whole Wheat Bread (assuming you can tolerate wheat)
- Spelt Bread (sold in the freezer section, spelt is a type of wheat)
- Challah Bread
- Sourdough Bread (Rustic Scoop offers online courses for making amazing gluten free sourdough)
Dairy-Free Butter: There are a lot of dairy-free options for butter these days. You can use any type that you enjoy when cooking the bread. If you don’t have a safe dairy-free butter, you can also use a low flavoured oil such as organic tiger nut oil. I’ve done this before and for those who need it, I promise you’ll love it.
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes for the Whole Family
If you need gluten free, allergy friendly recipes, I’ve got you covered.
- Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free Pancakes
- Easy French Toast Recipe (AIP Paleo Compatible, Truly Corn Free, and more)
- Egg Free Breakfast Casserole (a vegan take at a breakfast classic)
- Paleo Pancakes (Gluten Free, Grain Free, Top 9 Free, Low Histamine, Truly Corn Free, and more)
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Directions
Combine all of the Soak Ingredients together in a large shallow dish or shallow bowl and mix them all together. For this recipe, I use a glass baking dish. Place a slice of bread in your mixture, press down, then flip it over. The idea is to have it well coated on both sides. Do this with as many pieces of bread that will fit in your dish.
Allow your bread to soak for up to 10 minutes. The soak time will be determined by how sturdy your bread is. Next, heat a nonstick pan on medium heat. Add a bit of your dairy free butter and allow it to melt (think 2 teaspoons or a small cookie dough scoop). Once ready, add several slices of soaked bread to your pan. Cook for several minutes on both sides. You want the bread to have a nice sticky dry coating and be golden brown. That’s it!
I suggest serving with maple syrup. I’ve made french toast dairy free, egg free, and top 9 free for years and everyone loves it. You can make this recipe with homemade bread or a store bought bread you enjoy.
French Toast Storage
Generally, you don’t want leftover French toast since it tastes best fresh. However, if you need to store leftovers, the best option is to freeze your French toast after its cooled. To freeze:
- Cover a large baking tray with parchment paper.
- Place individual slices of cooked and cooled French toast on the tray. It’s OK if the sides are touching.
- Cover with another large piece of parchment paper, then add another layer of individual slices. The parchment will prevent the bread from really sticking together.
- Freeze the entire tray of French toast.
- Once solid, transfer to an airtight container and label.
To use your frozen French toast, I suggest heating in an oven or toaster oven to help preserve the little crunch that usually forms. You’ll want to reheat from frozen. This could be a great option for busy morning, or the perfect Sunday morning breakfast with fresh fruit on the side.
More Ways to Enjoy Your Dairy Free & Gluten Free French Toast
Here are just a few ideas on how you can have fun with your gluten free + vegan French toast:
- French toast sticks dipped in crunch peanut butter sweetened with a little brown sugar, a little bit of coconut sugar, or a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Fluffy French toast topped with whipped coconut cream and fresh fruit.
- Delicious golden brown French toast with a smear of a chocolate spread and fresh berries on top. Note: there are several brands that make nut free faux hazelnut spreads.
- Make a French toast sandwich! You can pop bacon and tomato between slices of French toast and have a super tasty breakfast sandwich.
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Vegan Pancake & Waffle Recipes
Each recipe is wheat free, gluten free, and top 9 free.
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Answering Your Gluten Free & Dairy Free French Toast Questions
Will this recipe work with gluten free white bread?
Usually, yes, this recipe will work with gluten free white bread. Some GF white breads are super squishy and some are on the more brittle side. If your bread seems to be a little bit brittle, keep a close eye on it during the soaking step, and be super duper gentle when you transfer the soaked bread slices to your hot pan for cooking.
I’ve made this recipe with store bought gluten free white bread and homemade gluten free (top 9 free) bread and it turns out fine each time.
What’s the best type of bread to use if I’m gluten free and egg free?
You’ll want a sturdy slice of bread if you’re gluten free and egg free. The most popular gluten-free bread options all contain egg, so you’ll be using a brand such as Little Northern Bakehouse, O’Dough’s, or Happy Campers. There are more, but those are the first three that come to mind.
Also, you may not even like those options and just decide to make bread yourself at home (it’s not hard, I promise). If I had to choose a store bought brand this instant that’s GF EF, I’d go with B-Free Foods or O’Dough’s. I’m choosing them based on general taste, and sturdiness.
Can I use stale bread when making this recipe?
I don’t suggest it. Rather than use your stale bread for a fresh French toast, I’d encourage you to make French toast croutons instead. My kids think they’re one of the most amazing things I’ve ever made, and you only need a few basic ingredients, a bowl, and a baking sheet to get them made and baked.
Will thick bread work in this recipe?
Thicker slices of bread will absolutely work for this recipe. When you’re gluten free, one of the bigger concerns is that your bread will fall apart during the soaking phase. Thick slices of bread are a little less likely to fall apart simply because there’s more structure. Just be sure to keep an eye out for signs of crumbling during the soaking step.
I’m new to being dairy free. Which milk alternatives are best?
This is a great question, and ultimately, it’s going to come down to personal preference when choosing a dairy-free milk. Overall, they all generally perform the same, with the exception of soy milk (it bakes up a little differently).
Assuming you’re not allergic to tree nuts, there are SOOO many choices. My child with a milk allergy did a review of several options and you can watch them here.
Personally, I like to get dairy free milk that’s unsweetened and has minimal ingredients so I can then use it in a wide range of applications. Also know that some milks taste much better than others when drinking straight. If you only plan to cook/bake, you won’t mind too much. However, if you plan to drink straight or have with coffee or cereal often, this will be a big point for you.
If you fall into the 30% group of people who can’t have food made on shared equipment with what they’re allergic to, your options are a lot more limited. Most plant-based milk is made on shared equipment with milk and other major allergens, so call/email before purchasing.
If you’re into super clean ingredients, your options will be limited there as well. You’d want to look into grands such as Malk or Three Trees. However, there does come a point where making it yourself is just easier if you ask me, but to each his own.
Can I cook French toast in a toaster oven, rather than on the stove top?
To have something like an authentic french toast, you’ll need to cook your soaked bread slices on the stovetop in a hot pan. However, the good news is that you can still have a delicious French toast adjacent final product, in the toaster oven and here’s how:
- In advance, soften butter. Usually, this means letting it sit at room temperature for several hours. It needs to be spreadable.
- In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, a granulated sweetener of choice, a pinch of ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Make sure it’s mixed very well.
- Remove gluten free bread from the package and slather on softened dairy free butter.
- Sprinkle your cinnamon mixture all over the bread, forming an even layer.
- Pop this into your toaster oven and use the settings you normally would for toast (the level of crunch etc. you enjoy).
It’s important to know that you either need to start with soft spreadable dairy-free butter, or with a gluten free bread that’s frozen. The goal is to prevent the bread from tearing. If this is something you plan on doing often, I strongly suggest getting a shaker like this one. I have several and love them.
How can I make this recipe special for a special occasion?
There are a few ways to put a spin on a classic French toast recipe that will have it dressed up for your special occasion. First, consider making an amazing sauce or something like a chantilly whipped cream with fresh vanilla beans. Bringing in classic French pastry techniques are a sure way to make this extra special.
Think about transforming the bread soak into something else all together. Could you imagine a lavender and lemon French toast? Something like that could really make this feel extra special.
Another option: change the look of your homemade french toast. Rather than serve whole slices of bread or French toast sticks, create some kind of design with the bread itself. You could use cookie cutters to make hearts, flowers, and so on.
Can I cook this in coconut oil rather than vegan butter?
Technically, yes, you can cook your soaked bread slices in coconut oil. Since one of my kids is allergic to coconut, I can’t tell you if this will be the best French toast you’ve ever had, or if it will taste too much of coconut.
What I would suggest is doing a test cook. Heat your coconut oil in a large skillet. Once it’s melted, add one of the soaked bread slices and cook. If you like it, keep going. If you don’t, you’ve only lost one slice rather than the whole lot.
Will my local grocery store have a good selection of gluten free bread to choose from?
It really depends on where you live and the demographics. For example, if you live in the SF Bay area, there’s a great chance that your local grocery store will have a good selection, or that you won’t have to drive too far to find some.
On the other hand, if you live way out in the country or in the middle of a state, there’s a chance your local grocery store won’t have much to choose from. In that situation, I’d suggest checking out online sites like Gluten Free Mall to see if they carry bread you can have shipped. I know some companies such as Canyon Bakehouse (a super popular GF bread brand) ships nationwide.
