Are you looking for a cozy vegan brunch idea? This vegan JUST Egg French Toast with Grand Marnier uses vegan brioche and plant-based JUST Egg for a decadent, custardy bite. Grand Marnier brings a hint of citrus alongside the orange zest and orange juice. Top it with maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar, and you've got yourself a weekend treat.
I've been dreaming about veganizing this French toast recipe for years (what took me so long?), ever since we enjoyed a variation of it at a bed and breakfast on our travels to Colorado. The zesty orange and splash of Grand Marnier level up this incredible vegan French toast with crispy golden brown edges, a custardy soft center, with a hint of nutmeg.
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Why You'll Love This Vegan French Toast
- Egg-free and dairy-free - All the texture and flavor, none of the animal products.
- Easy to make - With just a handful of ingredients, it comes together quickly.
- Citrusy twist - Orange zest, juice, and Grand Marnier add brightness and depth.
- Perfect for special occasions - Great for brunch, Mother's Day, or even breakfast-for-dinner.
If you like JUST Egg, you will surely enjoy this Vegan JUST Egg Frittata and Vegan JUST Egg Quiche.
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make the best vegan French toast with Grand Marnier:
- Almond milk - I used unsweetened almond milk; almond vanilla milk would be a tasty variation.
- Thick slices of bread - I recommend thick bread, such as vegan brioche bread or French bread. I used a two-day-old vegan brioche to absorb more vegan custard batter, but you don't have to use stale bread. Thick slices (around ¾"-1") hold up best. Avoid super soft sandwich bread or thin slices since they can get soggy quickly. You can also try sourdough bread or leftover vegan Irish soda bread.
- Grand Marnier - This orange-flavored liqueur gives a subtle citrus aroma; feel free to omit and substitute with more orange juice. See substitutions below.
- JUST Egg - This liquid plant-based vegan egg substitute made with mung beans mimics the consistency of real eggs and works beautifully in the vegan custard for this French toast recipe. You can find this product at your local grocery store.
- Orange - Zest the orange before juicing half the orange to include in the custard.
- Organic cane sugar for sweetening the custard. You can use light brown sugar as well.
- Pinch of ground nutmeg - you can vary the spices to your taste. See substitutions below.
- Pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
- Vanilla extract - or use almond extract. If you don't use Grand Marnier, you can try a bit of orange extract.
- Vegan butter for cooking the French toast. Use any plant-based butter you like. I used Country Crock unsalted plant-based butter.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Alcohol-free: Replace Grand Marnier with additional fresh orange juice or omit it.
- Almond milk: Use any non-dairy milk you like.
- Deluxe: Try this recipe with vegan croissants cut in half lengthwise.
- Extra-rich vegan custard: Use canned coconut milk, vegan cream, or cashew cream in place of regular non-dairy milk for a creamier texture.
- Grand Marnier: Use triple sec, Cointreau, bourbon, or dark rum instead.
- Nutmeg: Stir in a quarter-teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, or cardamom instead. A pumpkin spice blend or chai spice blend could work.
How To Make Vegan JUST Egg French Toast with Grand Marnier
It's easy to make this JUST Egg French toast recipe with plant-based ingredients. Soak well, cook low and slow, and finish in the oven if you have time - preheat the oven to keep the slices hot and to crisp them up before serving. Here are the steps:
- Step 1: In a wide or shallow bowl, whisk together JUST Egg, plant-based milk, sugar, fresh orange juice, orange zest, Grand Marnier, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt until blended and the sugar dissolves.
- Step 2: Dip each slice of bread into the vegan egg mixture for 30 seconds per side. Let your bread sit a little longer if it is thick or dense. Don't rush this part!
- Step 3: Place the dipped bread in a 9x13 pan or large shallow dish.
- Step 4: Pour the rest of the vegan custard mixture over the bread slices. Let soak for at least 30 minutes, turning the bread over halfway through. This way you'll get French toast that soft in the center and golden on the outside. Preheat the oven.
- Step 5: Immediately place the slices on a wire rack on a sheet pan before cooking to drain the bread briefly.
- Step 6: Heat a nonstick skillet or large pancake griddle over medium-low heat for several minutes. Add the vegan butter and swirl to coat the pan evenly. It should be bubbling. Place the soaked bread slices (as many as will fit) on the skillet for 2 - 3 minutes per side, until golden brown - this will depend upon your range and heat.
Before you flip the French toast, check underneath with a spatula to ensure it's browning. Avoid flipping the French toast more than once. If it's browning too fast, reduce the heat.
- Step 7: Place the slices on a baking sheet and finish them in the oven for 10-15 minutes. They puff up a bit and then fall slightly as they rest, leaving a beautifully custardy texture inside and a buttery crisp exterior. If you're in a hurry, you can skip this step, but it creates a crispy texture on the outside. It's worth the wait!
- Step 8: Serve this JUST Egg French toast with pure maple syrup and powdered sugar. You can also try fresh berries or your favorite toppings! This blueberry compote, cherry compote, or rhubarb compote would be delicious with this French toast.
Expert Tips
- Use thick slices of enriched bread (vegan) to prevent soggy French toast.
- Soak, don't rush - Let the bread absorb the custard for the best texture.
- Cook low and slow - Medium-low heat gives you that golden crust without burning the outside.
- Use a large nonstick skillet or pancake griddle. Melted vegan butter keeps the French toast from sticking and adds flavor.
- Avoid stacking the bread slices to prevent sogginess.
Storage
This delicious vegan French toast is best fresh, but you can store leftovers:
- Reheat: Cook in a skillet with melted vegan butter or bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or until heated.
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, keep the leftover French toast in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked slices (once they've cooled) between layers of parchment paper in a zip-top bag for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can mix the custard batter and store it in the fridge a day ahead. Give it a quick whisk before using.
Not completely. Some alcohol will cook off during pan-frying; you can substitute orange juice so everyone can enjoy it.
This recipe uses the liquid JUST Egg since it works best for this recipe to give the most classic French toast results. Results will vary with other vegan egg replacers.
You can make more French toast with it! Refrigerate it for up to two days in an airtight container. Whisk it before using it again.
Related Vegan Breakfast Recipes
If you try this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Vegan JUST Egg French Toast with Grand Marnier
EQUIPMENT
- baking sheet
- Non-stick double burner pancake griddle or large non-stick skillet
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup JUST Egg
- ½ cup almond milk or plant-based milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons organic cane sugar
- 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or triple sec, Cointreau, or dark rum
- 1 tablespoon orange juice freshly squeezed
- 2 teaspoons orange zest 1 orange, zested
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch ground nutmeg
- Pinch sea salt
- 8 slices day-old sturdy vegan bread like French bread, vegan brioche, vegan challah, or sourdough, ¾-inch to 1-inch thick
- Confectioner's sugar also known as powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- Pure maple syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make the vegan custard: In a shallow bowl, whisk together JUST Egg, almond milk, cane sugar, Grand Marnier, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Dip the bread: Dip each slice of brioche into the vegan custard mixture for 30 seconds per side. Let your bread sit a little longer if it is thick or dense. Don't rush this part!
- Soak: Place the dipped bread in a 9x13 pan or wide shallow dish. Pour the rest of the vegan custard over it. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes, turning the bread over halfway through. Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Drain the bread: Place the slices on a wire rack on a sheet pan immediately before cooking the French toast.
- Cook: Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat for several minutes (at 3 or 4). Add vegan butter and swirl to coat the pan evenly. It should be bubbling. Place the soaked bread slices on the skillet and for 2 - 3 minutes per side, until golden brown - this will depend upon your range and heat.
- Bake: Place the slices on a baking sheet and finish them in the oven for 10-15 minutes. If you're in a hurry, you can skip this step, but it makes for a crispy texture on the edges.
- To serve, sprinkle generously with confectioner's sugar. Serve with vegan butter and maple syrup. Feel free to add fresh berries or your favorite toppings.
NOTES
- Before you flip the French toast, check underneath with a spatula to ensure it's browning. Avoid flipping the French toast more than once. If it's browning too fast, reduce the heat.
- Please note the calorie count does not include maple syrup or powdered sugar topping. Trader Joe's vegan brioche bread was used to calculate the calorie count.
- Reheat: Cook in a skillet with melted vegan butter or bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or until heated.
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, keep the leftover French toast in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked slices between layers of parchment paper in a zip-top bag for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before warming.
NUTRITION
Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.
Emily Miller says
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did for brunch as well as dinner. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!