Oat Milk French Toast

This oat milk french toast is dairy free. It also uses challah bread because it makes the best French toast.

French toast is a beloved dessert in France and a favorite breakfast among Americans!

It was created, and is often still today used, as a way to repurpose old bread.

Since it is french, I'm sure a baguette would work nicely. However, many American chefs prefer using challah bread.

I personally am among those who do use challah bread. Not only do I usually have some leftover challah around, but it is also the perfect texture for French toast!

This oat milk french toast is delicious and you'll be hard pressed to tell that it is dairy free.

I find oat milk to be the most similar dairy free milk to actual milk. That said, different brands have different qualities of oat milk.

Some brands will be pretty much indistinguishable from actual milk, while others are more of an oat flavored water.

Honestly, either will work just fine for this recipe, but I prefer the ones that don't taste like oats. I personally only like the taste of oats in my oatmeal.

If you like this dairy free french toast with oat milk, you may also like my french toast with almond milk.

You may also want to check out my oat milk waffles and my oat milk chia pudding for other oat milk breakfast ideas.

History of French Toast

French toast actually dates back to ancient Rome.

A recipe from the 4th or 5th century says to fry bread soaked in milk and beaten egg in oil and cover with honey.

There is also a 14th-century German recipe called “poor knights,” a 14th century French recipe, and an Italian 15th-century recipe.

Today, it is known in France as as pain perdu, which means “lost bread,” because the stale bread that is used for it would otherwise be “lost.” 

There are 15th-century English recipes for pain perdu, which means it’s had this name for a long time. The dish made its way to England, and from there, to America.

While in America it is a breakfast dish, in France it is for breakfast, for afternoon tea, or for dessert. 

Sometimes, cheese is incorporated into the recipe and then it is served as a starter or main course for lunch or dinner.

IS FRENCH TOAST DAIRY?

Typically, yes. It often includes milk, but French toast can be made without it. All you need is a liquid to soften and saturate the bread. This recipe is dairy free since it uses oat milk.

Choosing your Brand

I have tried a handful of oat milk brands and I can tell you, not all oat milks are created equal.

Some brands taste like oats and have the consistency of water. Other brands have a milder taste and are slightly reminiscent of milk. Oatly and Alpro are my two go-to brands.

When I visit New York, I really like Oatly, which I find to taste like regular milk and to be a little extra creamy. I'd assume this is true in Canada too.

In Israel, I only use the barista version of Oatly, which is still more watery than the regular Oatly in the States. I expect it is the same in Europe because that is where it is imported from.

For Israel and Europe, I find the Alpro oat milk indistinguishable from the Oatly Barista. However, the Alpro "Not Milk" oat milk I find to be almost identical to milk but a little sweeter - which I like.

ARE EGGS DAIRY?

No, eggs are not dairy.  Dairy is milk and any food products made from milk, including cheese, cream, butter, and yogurt. 

So, while eggs are an animal product, they are not dairy. In fact, eggs fall under the protein food group.

How to tell if your eggs are still good

Fill a glass with cool water and submerge the eggs.

If the eggs sink to the bottom and lay flat on their side, they're still fresh.

If they sink, but stand on one end at the bottom of the glass, the eggs are not as fresh but still good.

An egg that floats to the top is likely spoiled.

Types of Vanilla

Vanilla comes from a pod commonly known as a “vanilla bean”, which comes from the vanilla orchids.

Vanilla pods have been used for flavoring since the Aztecs and was introduced to Europe by a Spanish conquistador, along with cocoa.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is created by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol for some time. This is the most commonly used type of vanilla.

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla sugar is common in Europe and some parts of the Middle East, like Israel. 

It is made from vanilla beans sitting in sugar, vanilla bean powder mixed with sugar, or sugar mixed with vanilla extract.

In some countries, like Italy, you can also find vanilla powdered sugar, which is used for confections.

Vanilla Paste

Vanilla paste is generally a specialty item.  It is a thick paste that contains a blend of the scraped-out vanilla pod seeds and vanilla extract. 

You can use it as you do vanilla extract and it will leave flakes of vanilla bean like you see in vanilla bean ice cream.

Imitation Vanilla

Imitation Vanilla, otherwise known as artificial vanilla or vanilla essence, is made from synthetic vanilla. 

This is the compound that naturally occurs in vanilla beans and gives it its flavor.

Can I use imitation vanilla?

Many will tell you that you should use high quality vanilla, just like they say you should use the best cocoa. 

However, most of us will probably not be willing to pay the hefty price that comes with exceptionally high-quality ingredients.

Overall, vanilla is very expensive, so the extract is as well. 

So, if you’re not going to get regular quality vanilla extract, you might as well use imitation vanilla.

Can vanilla extract be used as a substitute for vanilla beans?

Yes, vanilla extract can be used as a substitute for vanilla beans. Use about 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for each inch of vanilla bean.

How to Store Vanilla

Pure vanilla extract and other vanilla products should be kept away from heat and light, and should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

RECIPE TIP:

If you want yours soggy in the middle, double the oat milk in this recipe.  Then, let each piece sit in the mixture for a number of seconds before removing.