Vegan French Toast + Mixed Berry Compote

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I honestly do not know why it has taken me this long to experiment with vegan french toast. Shame on me. However, I am SO excited about how this recipe turned out, and I hope you all will enjoy it, too!

This french toast breakfast is not only bursting at the seams with flavor, but is also rich in nutritional elements, so even though you are sure to be full after eating it, your stomach will not ache from eating an excess of processed sugars.

Let's go ahead and break down all of the benefits, shall we?

• Berries: In addition to tasting positively delicious, berries also offer a plethora of nutritional value. Berries such as blueberries and raspberries contain more antioxidants than almost any other fruit, which helps to control free radicals in the body. This, in turn, protects your body from many diseases and has also been shown to benefit skin health. Strawberries are also exceptionally high in Vitamin C, which is known to support immune health--Lord knows we can't get enough of this. In fact, this recipe alone contains approximately 150% of your recommended daily Vitamin C intake (more info here). Finally, these berries are also rich in fiber to help keep your digestion moving and regular!

• Seeds: This recipe contains chia and flax seeds, both of which are highly nutritious. Both provide a decent amount of protein. Flax seeds are particularly high in omega-3-fatty-acids, which contribute to overall heart health. Chia seeds are a good source of fiber, which, again is wonderful for digestion, and also provide a significant amount of calcium, which is beneficial for bone health and strength.

• Cinnamon: A crucial ingredient in any french toast, cinnamon backs the other nutritional elements of this recipe with more antioxidants and immune-boosting power.

I tried to remain health-conscious while creating this recipe for no other reason than to offer you a dish that not only tastes great, but makes you feel great with ingredients that are proven to improve various aspects of your overall health.

Lastly, I want to add a tip or two regarding the making of french toast that is to-die-for.

1. Thick slices of bread. If your bread slices are too thin, they will be easily weighed down when dipped in batter, and are likely to end up looking more like flapjacks with a crust than hefty french toast slices. I bought a loaf of freshly baked bread that had not been pre-cut so that I could create nice, thick slices.

2. Slightly stale bread is actually a good thing. Though you wouldn't want a piece of stale bread under most circumstances, bread that is a day or two old can help prevent your french toast from becoming super soggy. I recommend slicing your bread the night before and leaving it in a bowl covered with a paper towel or dish towel overnight.

3. No need to soak the bread in the batter. Though you may think that allowing the bread to soak up more batter will benefit the flavor of your french toast, this is actually another common mistake that results in soggy french toast. Just a quick dunk to coat both sides of the bread is all it needs before throwing it on the griddle. I promise it will still be wonderfully flavorful and will remain more crispy as it cooks.

With that, I think you have more than enough background information to successfully create this scrumptious breakfast dish. Pick your favorite bread, slice it nice and thick, and you are in for a real treat with this recipe!

Enjoy, and as always, stay happily healthy, friends!

Vegan French Toast with Mixed Berry Compote

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 25 min

Total Time: 40 min

Serves: 6-7 french toast slices,

3-4 servings of compote

Ingredients

Berry Compote

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 cup fresh raspberries

1 cup fresh strawberries, quartered

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp maple syrup

1 tbsp chia seeds, ground

French Toast

Day-old bread of choice (I used a loaf of sourdough and cut into slices ~1"-1 1/2" thick)

1 cup oat milk

1/4 cup ground flaxseed

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

dash of salt

Instructions:

1. Add all compote ingredients to a medium pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. This should take ~10 min. Once boiling, reduce heat to simmer and allow to simmer 10-15 min until berries are largely broken down (blueberries will not break down as much). Continue to stir regularly as it simmers. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. The compote will thicken as it cools a bit.

2. In a small mixing bowl, add oat milk and ground flaxseed. Use a fork or whisk to combine, and allow to sit for ~5 min to thicken.

3. As batter thickens, heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. We want the pan to be nice and warm when we place the french toast slices on it to ensure even cooking!

4. Add vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the batter. Whisk again to combine.

5. Dunk bread slices briefly in batter (do this quickly, as allowing the bread to soak in the batter will result in soggy french toast - bleh). Lay dipped slices on griddle and allow to cook ~4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and slightly crisp on the outside.

6. Plate your french toast! Top with a large spoonful or two of mixed berry compote, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar if you like! Yum!