Classic Dairy-Free French Toast Recipe

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If you're looking for a brunch-worthy breakfast that feels classic and indulgent, this dairy-free french toast delivers. This recipe was tested multiple times to guarantee all the deliciousness that french toast is expected to deliver: cinnamon-y sweetness, a creamy coconut milk-egg dip for a final souffle-like texture, and of course, crispy edges!

Stack this coconut milk french toast up to any other french toast recipe, and I bet you you will be wondering how it is so much better. It's too easy not to try, so let me treat you to the dairy-free french toast experience you deserve!

A plate of dairy free french toast with berries, powdered sugar, and maple syrup ready to eat!

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How to make it (with photos)
Expert Tips + Troubleshooting
Recipe FAQs
Related dairy-free breakfast recipes...
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Why you'll love this Dairy Free French Toast recipe:

It has the BEST mouthfeel for a french toast: a decadent souffle-like texture with a crispy outside!
Minimal prep and cooking time
Coconut milk imparts richness without overpowering the delicious flavors of cinnamon, vanilla, and honey
Gluten-free and dairy-free by design, but it will delight all kinds of eaters, including the non-allergen crowd!

This simple gluten-free dairy-free french toast recipe is a wonderful base for tons of toppings that you can customize to your heart's desire! My favorites are melted chocolate drizzle, strawberries, or simply topped with maple syrup.

How to make it (with photos)

Ingredient Notes + Substitutions

This cinnamon dairy-free french toast recipe uses many of the same ingredients as classic french toast. The main substitutions are swapping milk for full-fat coconut milk and butter (for frying) with coconut oil. I recommend other substitutions for these ingredients in the ingredients list below.

The ingredients needed to make dairy-free french toast, measured and ready for cooking.

Bread

To make it gluten-free, you'll need gluten-free bread. I prefer a white bread variety over multi-grain to bring out all the delicate flavors that you know and love!

If you're not gluten-free, crusty, slightly stale sourdough bread makes an awesome base for this classic french toast recipe.

Using a slightly drier or stale bread is best because it absorbs more of the egg and coconut milk mixture without becoming soggy. But when I only have fresh bread around, that works well too!

Dairy-Free Milk

Full-fat coconut milk will give you the creamiest texture, but you can also use low fat coconut milk.

If using another dairy-free milk, I recommend thicker and creamier milk bases like oat milk, cashew milk, or homemade almond milk.

To make this recipe, you also need eggs, honey (or maple syrup as a substitute), vanilla, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. For frying, I recommend coconut oil as needed or dairy-free butter.

See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.

Fresh berries, maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and dairy-free whipped cream make amazing toppings for this coconut milk french toast recipe.

Pouring maple syrup over slices of dairy-free french toast with berries and powdered sugar.

Variations

The beautiful thing about this basic dairy-free french toast recipe is that you can make it your own!

Pumpkin Spice: If you're feeling the autumnal vibes in October (or whenever, we don't judge), add pumpkin spice and top with pumpkin pie filling.
Peanut Butter and Jelly: Looking for something different to excite the kids? Top with peanut butter and jelly!
Churro: You can also add cinnamon sugar as a topping for a churro-themed french toast.
Chocolate Banana: Drizzle it with chocolate and add sliced banana.
Cinnamon Apple: Fry some apple slices in your coconut oil and layer them on top.
Try Savory: If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, leave out the cinnamon, vanilla, and honey and use this theme to make it savory!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Learn how to make Dairy-Free French Toast in 3 easy steps: whisk, soak, and fry!

How to make dairy-free french toast in three easy steps.

First you'll whisk the eggs, coconut milk, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl.
Next you'll soak the slices of bread in the mixture. Make sure they soak on each side for 30 seconds.
Finally, heat some coconut oil in a pan on medium-low heat and add the soaked bread slices to your pan to fry. Flip the pieces after 2-3 minutes, cover with a lid, and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Okay, I guess there's a fourth step: add your toppings and enjoy!

A fork cutting into a stack of dairy-free french toast.

Expert Tips + Troubleshooting

Make excellent dairy-free french toast on the first try with these expert tips and troubleshooting tips!

To get the best texture...

Cover the French toast with a lid after the first flip for a final soufflé-like texture with a crispy outside! The lid does not need to exactly fit the pan. I use a lid from a different pan that nestles into the skillet.

If the inside is soggy or uncooked...

With the quantities and ingredients as listed, there is little chance of the inside not cooking through.

The most likely reason for a soggy inside would be swapping a thinner milk (like low-fat coconut milk or almond milk) for the thicker coconut milk.

Here are 3 ways to fix it:

Carefully continue to cook the french toast pieces while covered with a lid. You will need to flip frequently to prevent one side from becoming too brown. You also may want to slightly turn down the heat to prevent burning.
For future french toast pieces, decrease the amount of time they are soaked in the egg mixture.
Lay the soggy pieces in a single layer on a greased or lined cookie sheet. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 3-7 minutes or until cooked through.

A bit of two slices of french toast with a fresh raspberry to show the fluffy souffle-like texture.

Recipe FAQs

Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this Dairy-Free French Toast recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.

How do you store leftover dairy-free french toast?

Store leftover dairy-free french toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

How do I make this French Toast recipe for 2?

To make this a 1-2 serving French Toast recipe, halve all of the ingredient amounts.

Can you really use non-dairy milk for french toast?

Non-dairy milk makes an excellent substitution for dairy milk in french toast. Choose rich and creamy textures like full-fat coconut milk and oat milk for best results.

Can I use water instead of milk in french toast?

Milk, even if it's dairy-free, is important for french toast because it adds extra richness and flavor. Omitting milk would make the mixture too thick, and substituting water would make it too thin. Full-fat coconut milk is the perfect texture for a smooth and flavorful classic french toast recipe.

A stack of three pieces of french toast with fresh berries, powdered sugar, and maple syrup.

Looking for more incredible dairy-free breakfast recipes like this dairy-free french toast? Check these out!

Enjoy these breakfast treats with one of our well-loved coffee drinks that can be made dairy-free, like this Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, Iced Mocha, Pumpkin Spice Latte, and Pumpkin Spice Creamer!

Or check out these other amazing dairy-free recipes: Gluten-Free Apple Coffee Cake, Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins, Gluten-Free Chocolate Muffins, Coconut Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies (GF + V), Coconut Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies (GF + V), Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vegan Chocolate Cream Pie.

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card or comment field below. Thank you!

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Classic Dairy-Free French Toast

Jamie

A gluten-free dairy-free french toast recipe with a souffle-like inside and crispy outside! We use full fat coconut milk, gluten-free bread, and just a few simple and classic flavorings so it's just like you remember... and a little bit better!

5 from 16 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 278 kcal

Ingredients

2 eggs
1 cup full-fat coconut milk liquid but not hot enough to cook the egg
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon salt
6 to 10 slices of slightly stale bread depending on size
coconut oil for frying
maple syrup for serving

Instructions

Make the egg mixture. Whisk the eggs, coconut milk, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl or baking dish.
Soak the bread slices. Soak the slices of bread in the mixture for 30 seconds per side. The easiest way is to pour the mixture into a large baking dish and lay the bread slices in the mixture several at a time. Flip after 30 seconds to get both sides of the bread.
Fry the French Toast. Heat some coconut oil in a pan on medium-low heat. Add soaked bread slices to the pan, leaving just a bit of room between the pieces.
Flip the pieces and cover with a lid. Flip the pieces after 2-3 minutes and cover with a lid. Allow to cook for another 2-3 minutes before removing from the pan.
Serve with toppings! Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, dairy-free whipped cream, and fresh berries.

Notes

Covering the French toast with a lid After the first flip gives a final soufflé like texture with a crisp outside. This texture hack is not to be missed! The lid does not need to exactly fit the pan. I use a lid from a different pan that nestles into the skillet.

Bread: Most types of bread will work well with this recipe, though white breads pair better with the delicate french toast flavors compared to brown or whole grain breads. I used gluten-free white bread and no one could tell that this recipe was gluten and dairy-free! Sourdough bread also make for a nice twist.

Storage: Store leftover dairy-free french toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 8gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 310mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 121IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 4mg

Keyword gluten free dairy free french toast, cinnamon french toast recipe, coconut milk french toast

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Classic Dairy-Free French Toast Recipe