Crispy French Toast Sticks are a favorite kid-friendly breakfast! Quick easy crispy cinnamon bread planks perfect for dipping in maple syrup.
From our popular French Toast Bake (and it’s many variations) to Overnight French Toast to classic French Toast, no matter how you make it, it’s easy to see why battered cinnamon bread is the king of sweet Breakfast Recipes!
With over 20 french toast recipes in our collection, it’s safe to say we love to come up with new and delicious ways to turn crusty bread, an egg-milk mixture, and butter into a special breakfast. We’ve turned this yummy cinnamon bread into French Toast Muffins, Bananas Foster Bake, and even topped it with savory breakfast favorites like bacon and sausage. The classic version is still a family favorite and what better way to enjoy it than in fun, dunkable strips?
Sabrina’s French Toast Sticks Recipe
Our sweet, crispy French Toast Sticks are crispy, thick, and buttery, perfect for dipping in warm syrup. Kids and adults will love munching on these buttery sticks for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert. You’ll love them because you can whip them up in less than 20 minutes with a few simple ingredients you have in your pantry and your fridge right now. They are just as crisp and delicious made with fresh or stale bread, so what you have on hand is all you need.
Ingredients
- Bread: You can use pretty much any kind of bread that’s thick so the strips are sturdy for dunking. It’s best to use bread that’s drier, like day old bread from the bakery or let sliced bread dry out overnight.
- Eggs: Whole eggs are the base for any classic French Toast recipe. It creates a rich custard batter that holds onto the bread and locks in the flavors.
- Milk: We like to use full-fat, whole milk so that the batter is rich and creamy. You could also use heavy cream or half and half for extra decadent toast sticks.
- Spices: This French Toast Stick recipe uses ground cinnamon for that signature flavor plus a pinch of ground nutmeg for added warmth.
- Vanilla: Vanilla gives the custard a natural sweetness. Use real vanilla extract, or vanilla bean paste if you are feeling extra fancy, for the best flavor.
- Sugar: You only need a little sugar for the egg mixture to enhance the flavors of the spices and vanilla. They don’t need more than a tablespoon to make them perfectly sweet and ready for dipping in syrup.
- Butter: Is there anything more decadent than cooking rich egg custard covered bread in a ton of butter? The buttery crust on these French Toast Sticks makes them good enough to eat right out of the pan, no toppings needed.
How to Make
Time needed: 20 minutes.
- Cut the Bread
Divide each slice of bread into 4 even sticks, cutting vertically top to bottom. Remove the crusts if you don’t want them.
- Make the Batter
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract and sugar until combined.
- Heat the Skillet
Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed skillet, like a cast iron pan, over medium heat.
- Batter the Bread
Batter each stick of bread by dipping in the egg mixture, flipping as needed to completely coat. Let the excess drip off for 5 seconds.
- Cook the French Bread
Add each stick to the pan in a single flat layer. Cook until browned, about 2-4 minutes, flip and cook another 2-4 minutes.
- Serve
Serve finished sticks on a plate with a dish of maple syrup or whipped cream for dipping and fresh berries.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, these French Toast Sticks freeze well so you can make them ahead of time for kids to pop in the toaster on busy mornings. Portion out maple syrup in salad dressing containers for a breakfast on the go that tastes better than any drive-thru!
Nutritional Facts
French Toast Sticks Tips
Almost any bread will work!
Our easy French Toast Sticks are made with thick-cut white bread, but as long as you can cut your loaf into even bread strips that are about 1 inch thick, any type of bread will work. You can cut the crusts off the bread if your family isn’t a fan or to make more uniform, neater batons. We like to do this when we are serving them for parties, plus you get that crispy, buttery taste all over.
Start with Room Temperature Eggs and Milk
For a lighter, better combined batter, make sure to bring your eggs and milk to room temperature before combining everything. The eggs will break down easier when you whisk them which lets more air in and it helps them bind with the milk better.
What to Pair with French Toast Sticks
Drinks: These French Toast Sticks aren’t just good for dipping in sweet sauce and toppings, they are delicious dunked into a warm cup of cocoa. Try our Mexican Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Hot Chocolate for a sweet, flavorful chocolaty treat with these crispy cinnamon toast sticks.
Toppings: French Toast Sticks taste great with so many different toppings and you can easily make so many flavor variations. Try them with fall and winter flavors like pumpkin, apple, and even gingerbread. In the spring and summer, dunk them in fresh berry sauces or Lemon Curd. The possibilities are endless!
How to Store
Store: Leftovers need to be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking. Store leftover french toast in an airtight container. It will stay good for up to 4 days but is best within the first couple days.
Reheat: Reheat them in the oven or the toaster to make them crispy again. To use the oven, preheat it to 375 degrees and then spread the sticks on a cookie sheet. Bake until heated through. For a toaster, pop 2-3 sticks vertically in each slot.
Freeze: Once your sticks are cooked, arrange them on a baking tray covered with baking paper. Freeze for 1-2 hours, until frozen solid, then transfer to a freezer safe bag. Freezing them first prevents them from sticking and freezer burn. They will stay good for up to 3 months.
Ideas to Serve French Toast Sticks
For a classic breakfast, stack the buttery batons then top them with some powdered sugar or a dollop of Whipped Cream and serve with a side of berries and sliced fruit. These crispy French Toast Strips are begging to be dunked in sweet dips, fresh fruit sauces, and warm syrups, so try them with our favorite dessert dips and sauces:
- Apple Brickle Dip (Toffee Apple Dip)
- Cherry Cheesecake Dip
- Peppermint Bark Dip
- Salted Caramel Sauce
- Hot Fudge Sauce
- Strawberry Topping
- Pineapple Topping
- Homemade Cool Whip
Alternative Cooking Techniques
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
You can cook these in the air fryer with almost no adjustments. Prepare the batter and dip the sticks like usual. Shake off any excess liquid, you don’t want it drippy. Heat the air fryer to 370 degrees and spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Arrange battered bread sticks in a single layer without touching. Cook for 6 minutes, flip and cook another 3 minutes, or until golden and crispy
Frequent Questions
You can use homemade bread like Banana Bread or sourdough bread, or try bakery breads like brioche, Challah, French bread, whole grain bread, or even gluten-free bread. The main thing is you want the bread pieces to be thick and firm enough to soak up the egg-milk coating without getting soggy. If your bread is too soft, you can dry it out in an oven at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes before you turn it into french toast.
There are so many reasons these French Toast Sticks are about your family’s new favorite breakfast! First off, they are so quick and easy to make. The eggy batter is made in seconds and the sticks take less than ten minutes to get crispy and golden on all sides. Even clean up is easy since you only need one bowl and a large skillet.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread , thick sliced bread
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Cut each slice of bread into 4 sticks from the top of the slice to the bottom.
- Whisk together the egg, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and sugar in a large bowl.
- Add the butter to a heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
- Dip the bread sticks in the custard then remove and let drip for 5 seconds before adding to pan.
- Cook the sticks until browned on both sides, about 2-4 minutes per side.
- Serve with a small bowl of maple syrup for dipping and berries.
Nutrition
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Variations
Cinnamon Sugar: Give these sticks a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating by tossing them in a cup of white sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon as soon as they are done cooking.
Brown Sugar: Swap the white sugar with brown sugar to add a caramel flavor to the custard. You can sprinkle some brown sugar on the cooked sides of the sticks and let it melt into the crust.
Fall Spices: Give your French Toast Sticks some seasonal flavor by using Pumpkin Pie Spice. For pumpkin french toast batter, add 1-2 tablespoons Pumpkin Puree to the custard.
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