If you're trying to increase your protein intake but still want an incredibly delicious breakfast, these protein French toast are perfect. With 23 grams of protein per serving, they taste just as good as classic French toast. They are soft on the inside and perfectly caramelized on the outside with a delicate vanilla flavor.
If you like switching up your breakfast, have a look at these 10+ breakfast recipes using protein powder. I personally like to make protein French toast on the weekend and meal prep overnight oats with protein powder during the week.
Jump to:
Why you'll love this recipe
- These French toasts are made in a pan for an extra crispy result and are quicker to make than a French toast bake.
- They make a nutritious breakfast combining carbs, healthy fats and protein.
- They will leave you feeling full until your next meal.
- This vegan French toast recipe is made without eggs. It's perfect if you're on a vegan diet or if you don't like the eggy flavor of regular French toast.
- It can easily be made nut- and gluten-free.
Key ingredients and substitutions
Plant-based milk is the base of the batter. I like to use unsweetened soy or almond milk.
Protein powder turns this recipe into a high-protein breakfast. Feel free to use your favorite protein powder (whey and collagen work, too, if you're not vegan).
Ground flaxseeds (also known as flaxseed meal) replace the whole egg in this recipe. They are great to thicken the egg mixture and packed with nutrients.
Almond butter adds extra protein and a subtle nutty flavor. You can replace it with peanut butter or leave it out completely.
Maple syrup is great to sweeten the batter. You can replace it with any other liquid sweetener, or sugar or leave it out completely. I would omit it if you're milk and/or protein powder are already sweetened.
Bread. Use white bread for an authentic white French toast flavor or whole-grain bread for extra fiber. I use gluten-free bread to suit my dietary restrictions.
Elo's tips
- Use a cast-iron skillet for crispy edges and a perfect caramelization. I found that a non-stick pan leaves the French toasts softer and simply doesn't yield the same result.
- Choose the right type of bread. You want a sturdy bread that won't fall apart when soaked in liquid. Toast bread doesn't work here. Stale bread that's getting a little hard and dry is great to make these protein French toasts.
- Make the batter in a large dish. A rectangular baking dish with a flat bottom will make it easier to soak one or mor bread slices in the milk mixture.
- If you're protein powder clumps up, blend the mixture with a stick blender or in a small blender.
Step-by-step with pictures
STEP 1: Combine all the ingredients except the bread and butter in a large bowl or dish. Add a splash of vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon for extra flavor.
STEP 2: Whisk up the French toast batter. Let it sit for 10 minutes. The batter should slightly thicken and resemble an egg mixture.
STEP 3: Soak the bread. Dip one or two slices of bread in the milk mixture. Let it sit for 1 minute.
STEP 4: Flip the bread. Let it soak for another minute. The bread should be really wet but should not fall apart. The soaking time will therefore depend on the sturdiness of your bread.
STEP 5: Cook the French toast. Heat a skillet or non-stick pan with a little vegan butter, coconut oil or cooking spray. Place 2 slices of soaked bread in the pan and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
STEP 6: Flip the bread slices. Cook for another minute or until the other side is golden brown.
Elo's tip: sprinkle a little sugar on top before flipping the slices for the perfect caramelization.
Watch the video!
French toast toppings
- Yogurt makes a great topping. I like using plain plant-based yogurt and adding a dash of cinnamon on top. Greek yogurt works too, if you're not vegan.
- Fresh fruit is perfect for a vitamin packed breakfast.
- Nut butter adds an additional few grams of protein and makes the most delicious, creamy topping. Pair it with some raspberries and it will be penomenal.
- Granola is perfect if you want a crunchy topping to go with your French toasts. This homemade almond granola is my personal favorite.
Frequently asked questions
You can make French toast 2 days ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a pan to crisp them up and prevent them from being soggy.
Regular French toasts usually have less than 5 grams of protein per serving. Adding protein powder and other protein-rich ingredients such as almond butter to the batter can turn French toast into a high-protein breakfast with more than 20 grams of protein per serving.
By being rich in carbs, healthy fats and protein, these protein French toasts are perfect to get you through a workout.
Don’t forget to join the Cooking With Elo newsletter. You’ll get gluten-free and vegan dinner ideas sent right to your inbox.
The recipe
Protein French Toast
Ingredients
- ½ cup plant-based milk
- 1 scoop vegan protein powder
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
- 1 tablespoon almond butter optional
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- 4 slices sturdy bread gluten-free
- 1 teaspoon vegan butter or coconut oil
Instructions
- In a large baking dish, whisk the plant-based milk, vegan protein powder, flax seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Dip each slice of bread in the French toast mixture for 1 minute. Flip and wait another 30 seconds to 1 minute. The sturdier the bread, the longer you should soak it.
- Heat a large pan or skillet with a little vegan butter or coconut oil. When hot, transfer the slices to the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side over medium heat.
- Serve with fresh fruit, yogurt, icing sugar or maple syrup.
Video
Nutrition
More protein recipes
Loved it? Please rate it!
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe from the blog, make sure to let me know how you liked it by leaving a star rating and a comment below. Your feedback really matters! To never miss a recipe, follow me on Instragram, Pinterest and Facebook.
This protein French toast was so delicious that I couldn't even tell that it was made with protein powder! It tasted like regular French toast to me. The batter turned out to be a bit too thick so I added some extra almond milk, but aside from that, it was perfect. I used some soft whole wheat bread and it held up well. I topped it with chocolate chips and nondairy whipped cream. I will definitely be making this again! It's a delicious way to get in some protein.
So happy to hear that you liked it! Thanks for letting us know that you added some extra almond milk. I'm sure that can vary depending on the protein powder you're using 🙂