Sourdough French Toast with Berries

This delicious dairy free French toast isa bit lighter and uses healthier, more nutritious ingredients like sourdough bread and orange zest. Extra cinnamon, almond and vanilla extract in the batter add flavors that pair beautifully with fresh berries and maple syrup. Light coconut milk provides a custardy, sweet flavor. But almond or oat milk work just as well. Sourdough bread is not only tasty. It offers many underappreciated health benefits. It’s low on the glycemic index, meaning it won’t spike your blood sugar in the same ways as white bread. It’s a great option for blood sugar management and for those who are pre-diabetic or diabetic. It is also easily digestible and contributes to gut health. It has less gluten than regular bread, it’s rich in vitamins and minerals, and it has a long shelf life. Coconut milk contains medium chain fatty acids that are easily broken down for energy and contribute to a feeling of fullness. It is also rich in vitamin B12, essential for energy, and in vitamin D for bone health and immune support. Adding a variety of berries to your French toast contributes plenty of antioxidants and vitamins C & A.

Makes: 3 servings
Time to cook: 25 minutes (10 minutes prep, 15 minutes cooking)

Ingredients

· 2 eggs

· 1 cup light canned coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk

· 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or brown sugar

· ½ tablespoon vanilla extract

· ¼ teaspoon almond extract

· ½ tablespoon cinnamon

· Optional: zest from 1 orange

· 6-8 slices thick sliced sourdough bread or sprouted whole grain bread

· 1 tablespoon butter, plus more if necessary (or sub vegan butter or coconut oil) 

For topping:

· Pure maple syrup

· Strawberry slices

· Raspberries, Blackberries or Blueberries

Cooking Instructions

1. In a shallow bowl, add your eggs and slightly whisk them. Then add in your almond milk or coconut milk, brown sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and cinnamon.

2. Add 1 tablespoon butter to a skillet and place over medium heat.

3. While the butter melts, dunk a slice of bread gently in the egg mixture and then flip to make sure you coat both sides of the bread; do not leave bread in the mixture for too long. 10-15 seconds max.

4. Place dunked slices on the hot skillet and cook until golden brown on each side. Repeat with more slices. You should be able to get at least 6 slices. Top with berries, nut butter, yogurt or a drizzle of maple syrup.

Nutrition per serving
324 calories; 9.5 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 50 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 13 grams sugar; 14 grams protein; 156 milligrams sodium

Recipe by Monique Volz, Ambitiouskitchen.com

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