Apple French Toast
French Toast was one of those tricky foods to make when going gluten-free because I wasn't sure if it would work with gluten-free bread. French toast is made with one of two kinds of bread: a thick, hearty bread like Challah or sliced wheat loaf bread. Both are good, though the loaf bread was always quicker to make. I have since tried it with gluten-free loaf bread, and it turns out just like wheat bread, though the slices are smaller, so maybe cook an extra slice than you would if you were making this with wheat bread. There is nothing missing with this french toast; it's made with dairy-free milk, cinnamon, sugar, and eggs. It's made dairy-free easy; just swap out the milk for your choice of dairy-free milk. I like coconut milk the best, but any milk can be used; you can even make your own milk and then use that. How do you make your own milk? Find out about my homemade coconut milk recipe here.
Since most gluten-free breads in the store are in the freezer, you'll need to thaw your gluten-free bread before using it. You can even speed up the process by warming them in the oven just until thawed; you don't want them toasted. Once thawed, you'll be able to dip each piece in the egg mixture like normal. Combine all the ingredients for French toast in a bowl (eggs, milk, cinnamon, and sugar). Whisk until mixed. Dip each piece one at a time and then put into a hot, greased skillet (I don't care for non-stick pans and prefer stainless steel; they last longer, and you won't eventually end up with a non-stick coating on your food). For longevity in your cookware, I like stainless steel. I use stainless steel spatulas, spoons, pans, etc., and you don't necessarily have to spend a fortune on them. You can find good-quality pans that are affordable and cost less over time, but they still aren't cheap. Cuisinart is a good-quality stainless steel brand that will last a long time but is pretty affordable. I say look for the sales.
That said, back to the toast: cook each piece until golden brown on each side. You'll want to turn the oven on to the warm setting or to around 275°F to keep the pieces warm until you're done cooking them all.
The best topping to add to French toast is cinnamon apples. If you're looking for more apple recipes, check out Cinnamon Apple Pancakes. Apples are sweet and tender, and you can use any apple you choose; I tend to use Granny Smith's or Gala apples. Peel and slice the apples, put them into a small sauce pan with some water, and cook until tender. Place the cooked apples in a separate bowl while you make the filling with the remaining water. This is a quick and easy one-pot way to make the filling for the apples. In a small bowl, add the water with the arrowroot starch and stir to dissolve. Add the cinnamon and sugar to the pot, and then add the arrowroot starch and water. Cook until thickened. Add the apples back in and stir. Get a plate to place your warm French toast on, and then top with the apples. Enjoy this warm, delicious, toasty, golden brown outside and custardy inside French toast breakfast that's sure to make you want gluten-free French toast more often.
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Ingredients
4-6 slices gluten free bread
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut milk
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 apples peeled and sliced
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
Crumb Topping
1/4 c Gluten Free Flour
1 tbsp Olive oil ( Coconut Oil Works too)
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tbsp water
2 tbsp Sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 275°F.
Line a sheet pan with foil and grease it.
Most gluten-free bread I’ve found comes frozen, so what I do is just thaw each piece in the toaster on the lowest setting. They may get a little toasted, which is fine and helps them keep their shape while transferring to the skillet. Then I dip each piece in the egg one piece at a time as I cook them so they don’t get too soggy.
In a bowl, combine the egg, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Whisk to combine. Dip each piece of bread in the egg mixture. On medium heat, spray or oil a skillet.
Cook each piece until brown on each side. Don’t worry if it’s not cooked all the way through. You’re going to put them in the oven to keep them warm while you cook the apples, and the toast will cook the rest of the way then.
Place each piece of browned toast on a sheet pan and place it in the oven.
Tip: You can skip the skillet step and put the french toast straight into the oven to cook. Just increase the temperature to 400°F, place on the bottom rack, and cook for 6-7 minutes, then flip to the other side. Cook for another 7–10 minutes. French toast will be a bit crunchy around the edges.
For Crumb Topping
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl or in a food processor. Add oil, and if using a bowl, you’ll need a fork, and just mix until it begins to look like coarse crumbs, then mix in the water.
In a Food processor, add the oil and water and pulse a few times until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Place on a baking sheet (line with foil or parchment for easy clean-up) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes.
In a small sauce pan, cook apples on medium-high heat for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tender. The remaining liquid will have a syrupy consistency.
Take the French toast out of the oven and begin to plate.
Top the french toast with the apples.
Sprinkle crumb topping
Enjoy
