homemade french toast sticks
These Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Sticks are my absolute favorite breakfast treat. They taste more like dessert than breakfast. Thick slices of Texas toast get dipped in an egg custard mixture, then are pan-fried until crisp and caramelized on the outside. The inside stays soft and fluffy and melts in your mouth. After cooking they are immediately tossed in cinnamon and sugar while they are still hot. I love regular French toast but it’s even better portable. It’s so easy to dip and dunk into your favorite maple syrup and your kids will love them! These french toast sticks are super easy and come together in minutes. They are sweet enough that you don’t need any maple syrup. Then again, yes you DO need it! It’s so much fun to dunk and dip these french toast sticks. Skip the store-bought and give the homemade version a try!
Ingredients
Texas toast: I get the best results with Texas toast that is a day old, sliced into thick strips. The stale bread helps to soak up all of the egg custard. Brioche Bread is also perfect for this recipe! Eggs: French toast is also known as “eggy bread” because the bread is dipped into an egg custard mixture and then fried. Milk: Whichever milk you prefer will work in this recipe! I used whole milk. Pure vanilla extract: Vanilla brings out the sweetness and adds warmth to this recipe. Cinnamon: This warming spice gets added into the egg mixture for frying, and also the sugar mixture to toss the french toast sticks with at the end. It is delicious! Sugar: I like using a combination of granulated and light brown sugar for dipping the French toast sticks.
How To Make French Toast Sticks
Slice each piece of Texas toast or brioche bread vertically into 4 equal sticks.
Add eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
In another bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Stir to combine. Set aside. Heat skillet or griddle and spray with nonstick spray or coat with butter. Dip the bread strips into the egg mixture and allow any excess to drip off.
Add to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. (I like the outside to get crispy and caramelized.)
Immediately after cooking add the french toast sticks to the cinnamon and sugar mixture and toss to coat.
Serve immediately with maple syrup, fresh fruit, and maple syrup for dipping. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
This french toast starts off with day-old bread. I like to leave the bread out on the counter uncovered overnight. This helps the bread soak up more of the egg mixture. Also if you do not allow the bread to harden it tends to tear when you cut it. A quick fix would be to pop the bread in the toaster for a couple of seconds to crisp up. These french toast sticks keep well in the fridge if you have leftovers. Place them in the microwave before serving to heat them up. This Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Sticks recipe also freezes beautifully! This is a great recipe to make to stock your freezer. Just store them in an airtight, freezer-safe plastic bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven or in a skillet!
What to serve with French Toast Sticks
This recipe is great as a main or side dish to a brunch feast. Here are some other recipes that pair perfectly with this French Toast Sticks recipe:
Crustless Spinach Quiche Herb Scrambled Eggs Egg Muffin Cups Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Eggs Benedict Huevos Rancheros Best Easy Breakfast Bake Green Juice
Why isn’t my French toast crispy? The key to crispy french toast sticks is (mostly) in the bread! Make sure the bread is thick. Otherwise, it will soak up the egg mixture quickly and become soggy french toast which is not very appetizing! Another tip for crispy french toast is to leave the bread out overnight so that it becomes firmer, or pop it in the toaster briefly to crisp it up before frying. I also find that cooking the French toast over medium heat ensures that the outside doesn’t get too brown before the inside is finished cooking. This also keeps them from being soggy.
More Breakfast Recipes To Try
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Blueberry Streusel Muffins Pumpkin Banana Smoothie Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Blueberry Scones
