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Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Crunch

Saturday night on Facebook – I asked for a little last minute help coming up with a *fancier* breakfast recipe for my in-laws who were visiting from out of town… and boy, did I get some help! There were over 150 ideas…I’m so incredibly thankful for all of you out there who have found this blog and are following along. Thank you for inspiring this recipe!

Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Crunch

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I’ve made baked french toast years before, but always with inferior white bread, a lot of butter, heavy cream and sugar. This version is completely clean, has a beautiful crunch and uses one of my favorite breads – Ezekiel Sprouted Cinnamon Raisin.

What makes this bread so unique (and good for you!) is that it is made from a complete whole grain before it is even ground up into flour. The grain is sprouted to increase the living beneficial enzymes and vitamins, which creates a natural change that allows the protein and carbohydrates to be assimilated by the body more efficiently. They even use a special baking process that retains all the valuable nutrients.

You can find Ezekiel bread usually in the freezer section of most health food stores. Since this bread is “alive” – it needs to be kept cold until ready for use and to make it last longer before going bad. I like to thaw half a loaf at a time in the fridge each week.

Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Crunch
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 10 slices ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread (thawed)
  • 1½ cups almond milk
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 apples thinly sliced
  • ½ cup walnuts chopped and toasted
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • maple syrup and coconut oil/butter to serve
Instructions
  1. The night before, in a bowl beat eggs, milk, vanilla, sea salt, nutmeg and cinnamon together.
  2. Butter or oil in a medium sized baking dish (9 inches)
  3. Place 5 slices of bread down into dish (breaking up pieces to fit in every nook and cranny)
  4. Top layer with half of egg mixture
  5. Layer ¼ cup of walnuts and one of the sliced apples on top
  6. Then repeat this process ending with apples and walnut on stop
  7. Refrigerate dish overnight or at least 8 hours
  8. In morning, when ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees
  9. Bake dish for 30-40 mins covered with aluminum foil
  10. Serve with hot maple syrup mixed with butter or coconut oil
Notes
*please choose all organic ingredients if possible*

 

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This is probably the first time I’ve ever put a picture of bacon on this blog!  I served some with the french toast because it is my father-in-law’s favorite breakfast food and we did stay up really late! I made sure to choose an organic variety, with no nitrates or MSG. I baked it in the oven on a rack for 25 mins at 400 degrees.

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This is a perfect make ahead dish for a busy morning… or maybe even on Valentine’s Day for your sweetie pie.

Bon Appétit!

Food Babe

P.S. – Ezekiel just came out with a flax bread that is out of this world for sandwiches – I highly recommend checking out.

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157 responses to “Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Crunch

  1. I can’t rate the recipe yet, since I’ve yet to try it, but I do have Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread in my fridge in the waiting.
    I was hoping some people had made the bread and we’re commenting based on the number of comments; however, with as vigilant as Food Babe is in avoiding chemicals and hormones, ya’ll are still lambasting her over the bacon, she cooked for a beloved family member. I personally don’t eat bacon for ethical reasons, but it’s a personal choice.
    If it’s not the bacon, it’s the eggs, if it’s not the eggs it’s the soy. Yikes, I’m all for clean eating, I buy my beef grass fed, and eggs free range, eats, but there’s such a thing as overkill, and moderation is key.

    1. I agree with Kim. If you don’t like it one way, make it the opposite way. Vegan, non vegan, soy vs dairy, gluten or free, whatever. The nice thing about most of these recipe s on FB, is that they’re ripe for improvisation. You don’t need Vani’s blessing to try these with your own diatery preference changes. Got to admit, those bacon slices were looking mighty fine. Remember, what brought us all together is the clean eating. It varies from person to person. Good luck to all. I have to go now and brush my teeth with bacon toothpaste

  2. I eat two eggs a day organic free range from my coop, with two slices of BACON that i harvest from my slaughtered pigs.
    i eat all organic mushrooms and vegitables and fruits that I grow and harvest.
    I Never Consume Gluten in any form what so Ever.. and I Never consume Soy, Ever! Anyone who shops at a super market Has no say in what Food babe posts or cooks. Wake up. you shop in a supermarket. your no health concious. your buying into the corporatism thats destroying food in the first place. wake up sheeple

    1. Ummm, if everyone had the room to do that it would be great, wouldn’t it? But not everyone does…so, off your high horse.

      1. Sorry Susan & Debbie, “you’re” both wrong. Tracy using “your” means “belonging to”. Please re-read with your change; But not everyone does…so, off (your) “you are” high horse.

      2. This is in response to Mary Anne..Susan was replying to Bob, not Tracy..and she’s right.

      3. Thanks for pointing that out, Susan. The whole sentence had problem, LOL.

        “your no health concious” I believe was supposed to be “You are not health conscious.” So 3 wrong things.

        Sometimes I wonder why people do not proofread their words before putting out there for the world to see! 🙂

    2. that is very smart Bob. I think that leaving those ingredients alone, altogether, would send a huge message to the big Conglomerates that are ruining our soil!
      WE DON’T WANT ANY!
      Whole Real Foods is where good health and nutrition lie. Grow it yourself, and you are Assured of where it comes from. so I say you are definitely “Voting with your Dollars” by not spending them on Inedible (in my opinion) foods.

    3. I believe we are making an effort and working towards the changes despite what restrictions we have. Unfortunately, in many parts of the country supermarkets are more a reality than having a working farm at our fingertips. I hope ignorance is not a side effect of becoming healthier, otherwise I will keep eating GMOs—-unbelievable

  3. I really like this recipe, bacon and all!

    I like that you are promoting sprouted and fermented things, insofar as they help to break down and “pre-digest” the nutrients so we can more quickly and fully absorb and assimilate them. And telling those who want to eat meat that you would only make and serve organic. Me, too!

    Please, Vani — get back in touch with me. I would like you to vet what I propose is the VERY best supplement on the market… for many reasons. I invite you to click the brochure on http://OrganicsForFree.com, and read ALL the ingredients (and benefits) in just ONE supplement. It’s all made of whole, organic foods, and includes 10 strains of probiotics, active enzymes, cultured minerals, and is ALL FERMENTED! These fermented, probiotic-rich foods help us process and render less toxic the GMO’s that we sometimes unwittingly consume.

    Thank you for all you do, Vani!

    1. Great sounding recipe. I’m going to try it with stevia, Turkish apricots, apples, and tart cherries. As to the Akea supplements…I’m sure they’re wonderful, but there are plenty of great whole food supplements without having to pay huge markups through an Amway – type MLM scheme. Stick to great food, great recipes.

      1. Lee, all companies’ products have mark ups, as profit is necessary to conduct sustained business.

        Akea is not just superfood powder like many companies sell. It is from whole foods that have all been fermented together. This fermentation process provides MUCH greater nutritional value and bioavailability, and necessitates a somewhat higher cost. No other company sells a product like this.

  4. @ bob, stop being such a food snob. Not everyone has the resources to keep chickens and pigs on their property. I am not a sheep. I am well aware of what’s going on with the supermarket world, gmo

  5. Any suggestions on what type of apples to use in this recipe? I’m torn, but want to prepare this for out of town guests this weekend. Help!

    1. Alexandra, I used Pink Lady apples. They are a crisp apple and to some people’s thinking, they might not have been cooked “long enough” as they remained a bit firm. Also, I tried to increase this recipe by half again and it was a little too dry. I wish I had added another egg or a little more almond milk. Overall, it was wonderful however, and I’d definitely make it again. Kate

  6. This recipe looks awesome! Does anyone know of a suitable substitute for eggs in this type of baking?

    1. Lauren, both chia and flax seeds can be used as an egg substitute. I believe soaking is required, though.

  7. I made this and it was awesome! I added bananas and infused my syrup with orange peel.
    Loved it so much I made it 2 days later but with fresh pineapple and coconut. Easy, flawless and so delicious 🙂

  8. Thank God for me that I can use real butter from grass fed, non GMO Jersey cows my farmer raises and the heavy, creamy, silky delicious cream from those cows when making this! All loaded with healthy fats and CLA! Yay!

  9. This was easy and YUMMY!!
    For the milk we did BUTTERMILK, it was perfect.
    We used 12 slices of bread as 6 slices per layer fit perfectly in a 9×13 casserole pan.
    I did walnuts in middle layer and sliced almonds on top layer.
    I may try other fruits as the apple slices needed a longer baking time to soften — or need to slice them more thinly.
    Now that it’s summer, apples are not in season. Perhaps this would be good with a layer of sliced peaches or similar!!

  10. What is wrong with grass fed butter? This gets a 5 star just for how delish it looks but have yet to make it as I just read it. I will have to make this, thanks for sharing.

  11. I challenge anyone to come up with a raw version, as I love cinnamon toast. I have gone raw for health and miss some of my old time faves. I like the crustiness of the sweet bread.

    1. Challenge accepted: Substitute 1/4 cup of unsweetened organic applesauce for each egg. Also, instead of apples on top, slice a banana or two. Drizzle gently with cocnut nectar. Cheers.

  12. I am going on a Labor Day camping trip. We are assigned making breakfast for about 15 people. I love all your recipes so was trying to come up with some ideas. This sounds great. Do you think it would work on a grill?

  13. Hi,I live in stockton California and my trader joes stopped caring Ezekiel bread where else beside ordering online can I go to get the bread?!?

  14. Looks Delicious!! I am so ready to make this next time I go to the store and buy some ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread. Thanks for the great recipe!

  15. Just wondering if there has been any investigation into Cinnamon. I heard there are many different kinds but the kind at Costco is very bad for us, especially on our liver and kidneys. I’ve been using it to lower cholesterol and blood sugar. Have you investigated cinnamon and what can you tell me about it? Thank you very much in advance for all of your investigations so far, they have been very helpful and I am now on the road to better healthy living. Just when I thought I had it all figured out!

    1. Angel, my husband is diabetic. Since this would not be made every day, I would make it for him, even with the maple syrup. He eats Ezekiel cinnamon bread and their english muffins on a regular basis. Just keep the maple syrup to no more than a tablespoon.

  16. I made homemade cinnamon raisin bread tonight (we do eat wheat) and am sticking this in the fridge for in the morning! Sounds soo good! We can’t do nuts in our house b/c of very severe allergies, but I think it will still be tasty without. Thanks for the recipe!

  17. I was disappointed after making this. After following directions, the eggs were not cooked and runny. After making, I scrolled down and saw she cooked at 400 for 25 minutes instead of 350. I wish I’d seen that before I cooked it. The recipe should have been revised accordingly.

    1. Ditto, Lauren. I’m making this 2 days after you and had the same issue. Had to bake it nearly an hour (!!!) before it wasn’t runny anymore. I, too, wish thar simple revision would’ve been made in the original recipe. I’m a busy mom and don’t have time to read all the comments before I make something! 🙂

  18. Our family enjoys this recipe but 40 minutes is never long enough to get it done. My recommendations would be 50 to 60 minutes.

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