Vegan, Gluten Free Slow Cooker French Toast Bites (+MeatlessMonday)

Whoa Nelly! Hold the phones, stop the music... whatever you need to do so that I have your full attention here! This vegan and gluten free French toast is so easy, and so flexible. You could pop this in the crock-pot on Sunday afternoon and eat French toast for breakfast on Monday. I used several slices of my Gluten Free Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Bread, and then jazzed it up with apples and coconut flakes and cashews. But you could use any vegan and gluten free bread you like and add other things like bananas, sweet potatoes, dates, cranberries, etc.

I ate this every morning for four days straight, and didn't tire of it, it's that good!  I also added some of the chunks into a chocolate chili I made, and it was fantastic (also, stay tuned for that recipe for Chocolate Chili ;p )

For those of you without crockpots - I have yet to try and make this as a French toast casserole in the oven, but I'm pretty sure you could bake it in a casserole dish for 45min - 1 hr instead if you don't have a slow cooker.



Now these ended up being more like chunks of French toast rather than whole slices, but that's just because I was too lazy to coat the slices before I put them in the crockpot, I just poured the French toast mix over top, then tossed it halfway through. If you want slices, you could coat the slices first then arrange them in the crockpot.

 

Ingredients for Vegan, Gluten Free French Toast (serves 4-6)

8 slices Gluten Free Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Bread or vegan, gluten free bread of choice
1.5 c vegan milk of choice
1/4 c ground flax seed
2 Tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar (more for extra sweetness if desired)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
Small pinch each of nutmeg, cloves, and salt
Oil or dairy-free butter to grease crockpot

Optional: 1 diced apple, 1 sliced banana, 1 small diced sweet potato, 1/4 cup raisins (if not in the bread), cranberries, dates, etc.

Optional Toppings: Coconut flakes, chopped nuts, more diced apples or pears, maple syrup


Directions:

1. Grease the crockpot with dairy-free butter or oil. You may either keep the toast slices whole or cut into quarters.

2. Whisk together the remaining ingredients.

3. If using whole slices of bread, dip them in the milk mix to coat, then arrange a layer in the slow cooker, top with a portion of the optional add-ins (apples, raisins, etc), then repeat and top with remaining milk mix. If using chunked bread, add the bread chunks to the slow cooker. Scatter with optional add-ins.Pour milk mix over all and toss to combine.

4. Cook on low 4-5 hours, or high 2-3 hours. You will need to check on it after the first couple of hours, and toss once in the last hour or so. This will vary depending on the crockpot and the bread used.

Serve with optional toppings and enjoy!!

This keeps for several days in the fridge. 

I haven't tried cooking this overnight, but I don't think it's a good idea because it doesn't need a long cooking time, and is likely to burn. I recommend making it early in the day, or the night before you want to serve it. 

Do you have a favourite comfort-food breakfast?

How do you like your French toast?

 Have you seen my gluten free pasta book  Recipes for Unusual Gluten Free Pasta: Pierogis, Dumplings, Desserts and More! ? Get yourself a copy and start making GF won tons, pierogis, dumplings, and orzo today :)  
 

This post was shared on the following great link parties: MeatlessMonday with FitFoodieMama,  MeatlessMonday with Tina Muir and Confessions of a Mother Runner,
Allergy Free Wednesday, The Plant-Based Potluck Party,