We used to go out to breakfast at least once a week, and breakfast or brunch almost every weekend. But then I took over all cooking duties, started experimenting with different breakfast recipes and ideas, and just like that, we stopped going out to breakfast regularly.
Now we only really go out to breakfast or brunch when we’re traveling, and on a recent road trip, we hit up a Boudin for a breakfast on the go. I suggested that my daughter order the French Toast and when she acted unsure, realized that she had never experienced French Toast!
I felt like a breakfast failure. My husband loves breakfast burritos and my son loves pancakes, so we usually default to some variation of those — and I just never thought to make French Toast.
She ordered it with anticipation after I talked up all the reasons why she would love French Toast. But then it came and was burned and we were in a hurry, so she ate it anyway — and I promised to make homemade French Toast with a side of crispy bacon for her (her favorite) when we got home.
French Toast With a Twist
On our next weekend at home, I pulled out my recipe for French Toast and was immediately reminded why I probably didn’t ever make it — the recipe uses milk and I am newly lactose intolerant.
But that didn’t stop me. My recipe used vanilla for flavor and my daughter loves caramel, so I altered my recipe a bit to use the Vanilla Caramel Coffeemate Coffee Creamer I had in the refrigerator — which is lactose-free. I also had fresh strawberries and blueberries on hand, so I used them to top the toast and add a pop of color to the plate.
OMG. The results were amazing if I do say so myself. This was the best French Toast I have ever had.
I don’t know if it is because it has been so long since I have eaten it or made, or because the coffee creamer added that much flavor, but I’m going with the latter. This lactose-free French Toast recipe is a total keeper.
A Side Of Oven Cooked Bacon
Along with the homemade French Toast I promised my daughter crispy bacon, but it always makes such a mess! This time I decided to try a new method for cooking bacon — baking bacon in the oven.
I preheated my convection oven to 400 degrees, lined my baking sheets with parchment paper, and arranged the strips of thick-cut bacon in one layer across the baking sheet. I baked two baking sheets of bacon for 15-20 minutes, checking it often in the final minutes to avoid burning the bacon.
How gorgeous does that bacon look?! It was easy, fast, and made no mess! After removing the bacon from the parchment paper, I just folded it up and put it in the garbage. All done.
My Vanilla Caramel Sourdough French Toast With Fresh Berries was a hit with my whole family, and my daughter devoured it and her bacon in record time.
We’ll definitely be making this again!
Vanilla Caramel Sourdough French Toast With Fresh Berries
Thick cut sourdough and vanilla caramel flavored coffee creamer are the delicious secrets to this mouth-watering french toast.
Prep Time
Cook Time
Total Time
Ingredients
- 1 loaf sourdough bread
- 4 eggs
- 1/3 cup vanilla caramel coffee creamer
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Powdered sugar
- Maple syrup
- Fresh strawberries and blueberries
Instructions
- Slice sourdough into thick slices (at least 3/4 inch thick). Preheat griddle over medium heat.
- Combine eggs, vanilla caramel coffee creamer, vanilla, and cinnamon in a small bowl, whisk until blended completely and pour into a shallow container like a pie pan or cake pan.
- Dip both sides of each bread slice itno the egg mixture, place on griddle, cook until golden brown, then flip bread and cook other side until golden brown.
- Plate the cooked toast, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and then top with maple syrup and fresh berries.
Notes:
As someone who is lactose intolerant, this french toast recipe is my favorite because the Vanilla Caramel Coffeemate Creamer is lactose free!
Want a different flavor for your french toast? Try alternate coffee creamer flavors, such as hazelnut, coconut creme, or creme brulee.
