A nourishing french toast made with whole grain bread is a delicious option for any day of the week. Check out this simple recipe–your family will love it!

Note: This post was first published in February 2015 when my kids were 6 and 8 years old. While I decided to keep the “retro” images, the text has been slightly updated and refreshed.

French Toast Love

My kids love French toast. They especially love the French toast sticks they serve at school sometimes. Now, this is really not my favorite school lunch, but I let them order 1-2 days a week and this is their absolute favorite! So I let them enjoy it and make sure to include a little extra protein and veggies in their morning or afternoon snack.

The Division of Responsibility reminds us that we can control what we serve at home, but it’s important to let them make some decisions on their own when outside the home. This will help them gain independence as well as our trust.

That said, soon after they declared their love for this sugar-filled school lunch, I decided to make my own version: Nourishing French Toast.

Kid-Favorite French Toast

Aside from the sweetness, I think part of the appeal of the school’s french toast is the “stick” shape, which is so easy to do at home. You just cook the french toast whole and then use scissors or a knife to cut it into strips that they can then dip into their syrup if they want.

Another fun way to serve french toast at home is to use cookie cutters to create cut-out shapes. You can then let your child fill the cut-outs with berries or sliced fruit if desired. I mean how fun is that?

Nourishing French Toast

To make this nourishing french toast I substitute whole grain bread for white bread and use extra egg to maximize the protein content. I also make sure to serve the French toast with fruit and a small amount of real maple syrup.  You can serve the syrup in a little bowl to dip into or drizzle it over—whichever is preferred. A glass of milk or a handful of nuts rounds out the meal.

A Breakfast for the Whole Family

So if you have a French toast lover in your house, or if you are looking to mix up the breakfast routine a bit, give this recipe a try. Because there is no measuring and mixing flour involved, it’s quicker than pancakes, and as you can see from the photos, you can get as creative as you like.

While this post is focused on kids, make no mistake, this recipe is for the whole family to enjoy! Let everyone add their desired toppings and perhaps rotate what is available. Your kids may not want to add slivered almonds or even berries, but the more they see you doing it the more likely they are to try it.

Also, feel free to use sourdough bread or any bread instead of whole wheat. While whole wheat is a good everyday go-to, sometimes it’s fun to mix it up, especially on the weekend or for brunch. Likewise, this recipe is easy to adjust for food allergies, simply use gluten-free bread or non-dairy milk as needed.

Other Breakfasts Your Family Might Like

• Whole Grain Pancakes
• Swedish Pancakes (Whole Grain)
• Cardamom Banana Blender Pancakes
• Nordic-Style Oat Waffles (Gluten-Free)
• Spelt Waffles

Nourishing French Toast

This nourishing french toast makes for a fun, delicious start to the day. The whole grain bread provides carbs, protein, and fiber, while the eggs and milk add extra protein and a little fat. The fresh berries provide vitamins and the maple syrup extra carbohydrate for maximizing energy and taste. It all adds up to a nourishing breakfast that your family is sure to love!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅔ cup milk or unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice
• 8 slices whole wheat bread
• 2 tablespoons butter or non-dairy spread

Instructions

 

• Whisk together eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and milk in a bowl large enough to fit the bread (or pour the mixture into a large, shallow pan).
• Put bread in mixture and turn/submerge until it is soaked.
• Heat butter in a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Place bread in skillet and heat for 3-4 minutes on each side until cooked through and golden brown. (Repeat with remaining bread.)
• Transfer to a plate and if desired use scissors to cut into “sticks” or a cookie cutter to press out a shape.
• Enjoy immediately with desired toppings. (See suggestions below).

Notes

 

 

Serving suggestions: pure maple syrup (a little bit goes a long way), coconut cream, vanilla Skyr, powdered sugar, nuts, seeds, fresh berries, sliced bananas, apple slices, or any fruit you have on hand!

Keyword breakfast, kid-approved, vegetarian, whole-grain