The Ultimate Vegan French Toast Layered With Berry Cream Cheese
When I think brunch, I immediately think of French toast. It’s no secret that it’s easy to make, so why not level it up by taking one more simple step? This vegan French toast is layered with a super simple berry cream cheese filling. It is so luxurious, yet almost effortless to put together.
Thick, Hearty White Bread Is Key
This French toast tip may or may not surprise you, but good quality bread is essential when making French toast. I always opt for hearty, crustier, white bread because it can soak up a lot of the batter, AKA flavor! I almost always have a batch of my 4-Ingredient Super Easy Homemade Bread on hand. It is the perfect bread for this recipe.
Zero Eggs, Zero Dairy
Instead of dairy milk, I use plant milk. Instead of eggs, I use something called flax meal. If flax meal sounds like an odd ingredient to you, I promise it really isn’t, and it can be found at almost any primary grocery store nowadays. It’s the perfect binder for a recipe like this. Two other key ingredients I throw into this batter are baking powder and cornstarch. The baking powder adds a touch of fluffiness to the outside of the bread, while the cornstarch gives it some extra crispiness. The rest of the ingredients are all ones you would expect, like ground cinnamon and vanilla extract.
Berry Cream Cheese Filling
Like with the batter, you may be wondering what could she possibly use to create a vegan cream cheese filling??? The answer starts with vegan.. cream.. cheese! Of course, you can 100% make your own from scratch, but I gravitate towards the Kite Hill plain cream cheese. It is my favorite store-bought one currently, and it helps keep this dish quick and straightforward. Then, I fold in a wild berry jam, fresh berries, and a touch of freshly squeezed lemon.
If you make this French toast layered with berry cream cheese, don’t forget to post a picture to Instagram, tag me @chefsummerstorm, and #gardengrub so I can see your recreation!
Vegan French Toast Layered with Berry Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 7 slices hearty white bread, cut 3/4 inch thick
- Vegan butter, as need to cook
Berry Cream Cheese Filling
- 1/2 cup vegan cream cheese, plain (Kite Hills' is my favorite!)
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp berry jam/spread, of your choice
- 1/4 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/4 cup fresh strawberries, quartered
French Toast Batter
- 1 cup almond or soy milk, plain, unsweetened
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, 100% pure
- 2 tsp vanilla extract, 100% pure
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp flax meal
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
Berry Cream Cheese Filling
- In a small bowl, stir the vegan cream cheese, jam, and lemon together juice until smooth. Fold in the berries.
- Set this in the refrigerator to chill while you batter and cook the French toast.
French Toast Batter
- Whisk the ingredients together in a large shallow bowl until no visible bits are showing.
How to Cook the French Toast
- Set 2 pieces of bread at a time into the batter for 30 seconds on each side.
- Place a large saute pan over medium/medium-low heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Drip off the excess liquid from the bread and place it into the pan. Cook each side of the bread for 3 minutes. Each time you cook more French toast, you will need to add more butter.
How to Assemble the Stuffed French Toast
- Lay down a slice of French toast and top with 1/4 cup cream cheese filling.
- Set another slice of French toast on top and then another 1/4 cup cream cheese filling.
- Top with one more slice of French toast, some fresh berries, and lots of maple syrup!
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