It’s all about the oranges here at the moment. Christmas in Andalucia is punctuated with piles of them, in my house anyway. The smell of a freshly peeled mandarin is the scent of Christmas in my opinion, along with cinnamon it is better than any plug-in air freshener.
So, for me, any excuse for zesting an orange or mandarin and I’m there. Epecially since I have a new microplane zester which is my new favourite kitchen thing.
This is the perfect Christmas breakfast/brunch. Served with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (topped off with some champagne) and you’re ready for anything. This version is vegan but you can just as easily use eggs, I won’t be offended. It is Christmas after all. I used walnut bread for this, it’s a lovely combination with the orange and cinnamon.
This recipe was the most requested from the Blissful Bites cookbook giveaway I hosted a few months ago. It was acutally a tie between this and the coconut chocolate bars, so I will be doing those aswell. I just have to catch up with myself first. I have at least ten recipes all photographed and ready to go but am finding it difficult to find the time to blog as much as I would like at the moment. Christmas and dog walking have taken over slightly.
Orange, Ginger & Cinnamon Vegan French Toast
Serves 2, vegan. Adapted from Blissful Bites
- 200 ml (1 cup) almond/rice/soy milk
- 1 orange, zested & juiced
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or miel de cana (plus extra to serve)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp arrowroot dissolved in 100 ml soy/rice/almond milk (0r 2 eggs, beaten)
- 1 tbsp flax meal
- pinch of salt
- 4-6 slices rustic bread, ciabatta is good I used walnut bread
Whisk all the ingredients together (except the bread) in a large bowl until well combined. Put the bread slices in the mixture and leave it to soak up the liquid for at least 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 180 C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Lift each piece of bread out of the mixture and place it on the lined baking tray. Bake for 4 minutes then turn it over to bake for another 4 minutes on the other side.
Heat a small amount of olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the bread for about two minutes on each side until browned. You may need to do two batches, if so keep the rest warm in the oven.
Serve immediately sprinkled with a little more cinnamon and drizzled generously with maple syrup.
I’ve been very busy making my amaretto soaked sultana, cranberry & almond mince pies and easy mandarin jam this weekend. Here are some more of my favourite Christmas recipes that you might not have seen…..
Savoury Feta & Pomegranate Cheesecake, the perfect starter/appetizer
Festive Season Spanikopita with Chestnut & Cranberry, the best veggie main course option
Mandarin Drizzle Cake, for when you put your feet up with a cup of tea or people pop round
Homemade Panettone with Mandarin Jam, another luxurious Christmas breakfast idea
Christmas Biscotti with chocolate & cranberries, easier than you think and great for gifts
Tex Mex Eggs with chilli cheese sauce, the best hangover cure I’ve found.
Enjoy!
these flavors sound like such a good combination!
Delicious. I miss the Spanish oranges here in NZ, a few UK bloggers who live here where on a hunt for Seville oranges for marmalade this year and eventually we found a supplier! Have a fabulous Christmas Natalie. Alli
I wish I could digest those French toasts in the morning (2 little ‘burps’ in the morning means you don’t digest your breakfast). But maybe once, I can make an exception and my body will forgive me.
Oh that syrup you use looks wonderful. Love this recipe too. I got a microplane this year and it’s my favorite gadget now too.
Oh Natalie that looks soooo good. I love that you used orange zest and absolutely love your pictures.
Gorgeous but I hate to tell you… now I seriously want champagne and orange juice and i can’t open a bottle of champagne at 7,30 pm all alone at home.. can i!?.. can I?,, c
It’s Christmas so you can oficially open a bottle of champagne before 12 noon if you like! Merry Christmas!!
I learn so much from your posts, Natalie. I didn’t know a thing about the arrowroot dissolved in soy/rice milk! I’ll give it a try! This sounds just wonderful, and I also appreciate the nice list of previously posted recipes you include at the end. I thank you, and so does my family! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Natalie. And give Rufus a big hug, too! Debra
The flaxmeal is an important part of the egg replacement too. Hope you and your family have a fabulous Xmas!!
This one sounds AMAZING guapa !! Particularly like the champagne option with O.J…xx
Oranges are pretty hectic here at the moment too, but must be careful too much vitamin C seems to be turning my hair grey (er) !!
Gorgeous – will have to make these for my mum and dad. And I´ve been checking out your Christmas recipes (mandarins…love them!) from last year and now need another week to get organised as I want to make them all!
What a great recipe.
🙂 Mandy
Mmmm….it looks amazing and then when I read you used walnut bread, even more so!! This will be a wonderful holiday breakfast treat – the syrup definitely tops it off nicely!
this is my kind of breakfast! i love orange and ginger together! gorgeous!
Oh how come your french toast looks so juicy! I really want this for breakfast 🙂
My orange trees and the neighbor’s trees are over flowing. I’ll be making this. Thanks for the inspiration.
Rave reviews on Christmas day! Thanks so much.
Love oranges too, any citrus really. This may well get a run for New Year’s Day breakfast 🙂
Orange is my FAV citrus flavor! I’d be all over this French toast like white (or brown, I suppose!) on rice! 😀
I love the flavor combonations and will try your zest idea in my gluten-free pancakes.