VEGAN NUTELLA STUFFED THICK FRENCH TOAST

Every once in a while you want to treat yourself to an all-out, decadent breakfast. This is it.

These VEGAN NUTELLA STUFFED THICK FRENCH TOASTS are perfectly sweet and salty. Prepare to indulge!

I mean, come on! Nutella for breakfast?! You know I’m down for that any day!

You may be thinking “but, Nutella isn’t vegan”, and you’re right. But it’s 2021 and the world is a much better place. We have vegan alternatives that taste just like the original stuff. Except they’re better because they’re made with organic ingredients and have less fat, calories and sugar than the original with a more hazelnut-y and chocolate-y flavor. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself.

Click here to see the one I use.

Anyway, now that I have your mouth watering, let’s talk about what makes this recipe magic: the hazelnut spread is INSIDE THE FRENCH TOAST! It’s like a perfect little treasure that you find when you go digging into that delicious batter-covered piece of bread. This trick is simple to achieve. Buy a loaf of sturdy bread instead of the pre-sliced kind. Then, you slice it yourself making each slice double the size than what you normally would. Once your slices are cut, cut a slit in the bottom to make a pocket in the middle of each one. Be careful not to cut all the way through. Then just spoon some of the hazelnut spread inside that pocket. That’s it!

Once you‘ve stuffed each slice of bread, you’re ready to dip them in the batter and fry them to perfection. The batter is quite simple to make and requires few ingredients. The most important one being mashed ripe bananas. The bananas will caramelize and will not only provide a sweet flavor, but they will also produce a crispy covering around your bread that mimics an egg-based batter. It is unreal!

Soak your stuffed bread slices in the batter for about 15 seconds on each side before transferring them to a frying pan with vegan butter.

Finally, cook them until golden and crispy on both sides. The saltiness from the butter will contrast nicely with the sweetness of the caramelized banana and the hazelnut spread.

Once done, top with your favorite fixings and drizzle some maple syrup over them.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to dig in. Let’s get cooking!

VEGAN NUTELLA STUFFED THICK FRENCH TOAST

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 1 or 2 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1/2 cup)

• 1 1/4 Cup unsweetened plant milk

• 1/2 Tbsp flaxseed meal

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• Loaf of thick, hearty vegan bread

• Hazelnut spread (I use this kind)

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

• 1 Tbsp almond flour (optional)

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Mash bananas in a large shallow bowl.

2. Add milk, flaxseed, cinnamon and stir. Add vanilla, if using. The batter should be quite liquid. If it’s too thick, add more milk to thin it out.

3. Set the batter aside while you prepare your bread. The batter should rest for at least 5 minutes.

4. Slice your bread making sure that each slice is double the size of how you would normally cut them.

5. Cut a slit at the bottom of each slice to create a pocket inside each that is deep enough to fill with the hazelnut spread, but be careful so you don’t cut the slice all the way through.
   

6. Fill each pocket with the hazelnut spread using a spoon. Set aside.

7. Heat your skillet to medium heat. Once hot, coat generously with vegan butter.

8. Dip each slice of bread into the batter for 15 seconds on each side, making sure it's fully submerged (If using sandwich bread or thinner slices, soak for 5-10 seconds per side). Transfer immediately to your skillet. You can also sprinkle the freshly-dipped sides with some almond flour for added texture.

9. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until evenly golden brown. Flip carefully using a spatula since the banana mixture can be a bit sticky.

10. Serve immediately with desired toppings.

11. Enjoy!

Let me know if you make this! Tag me by using @mindfulgrub or the hashtag #mindfulgrub when you share your creations on social media. I‘d love to hear how it went for you!

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