Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole

It's apple picking season! So, say hello to this Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole! It features alternating layers of vegan french toast, maple syrup-cinnamon coated apples, and a crunchy oat-pecan topping. YUM!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

Apple Filling

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or neutral cooking oil of choice
  • 4 medium apples, sliced (I recommend a crisp variety, such as Fuji, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Jonagold, or Gala)*
  • 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

French Toast

  • 1 large loaf French bread (about 16 ounces), sliced (not too thick or thin) or torn into pieces**
  • 2 cups oat milk (or other creamy plant-based milk)
  • 8 ounces silken soft tofu
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional but adds a nice rich body)
  • 2/3 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • 2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp freshly grated or ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
  • 1 tsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)

Crisp Topping

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • a pinch of sea salt
  • 3 tbsp sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, or other neutral-flavored oil

For serving (optional)

  • non-dairy yogurt or whipped topping

Instructions
 

  • Make the Apple Filling. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the apple slices, maple syrup, and cinnamon, and mix to evenly coat. Cook for 10 minutes, until apples are soft but not falling apart. If you are using a good nonstick skillet, you can skip the oil, but be sure to stir frequently.
  • Lightly grease a large rectangular baking pan (about a 13×9-inch pan) with oil or nonstick cooking spray.
  • Make the French Toast. Arrange the slices of French bread in the greased baking dish so the tops are facing up.
  • In a blender, combine the oat milk, tofu, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, baking powder, and arrowroot powder (or cornstarch). Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and no lumps remain.
  • Pour the oat milk mixture evenly over the bread, making sure to moisten each piece completely. Pour the apple filling on top of the soaked bread and stir to combine, or carefully layer the apples between the slices of bread, as shown in the photos.
  • Make the crisp topping. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl using a spatula or your fingertips. Sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the French Toast.
  • Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20-30 minutes, until the crisp topping is golden browned and the casserole is completely cooked through.

Notes

This French toast has rich warming spices folded into each component, from a winning trio of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in the French toast, along with a generous amount of cinnamon in both the apple filling and the oat-pecan topping. If you want to keep things even easier, replace the individual spices with pumpkin spice (use about 4 teaspoons instead of the cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg called for in the French toast).

Recipe from Rainbow PlantLife

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!