My love affair with rediscovering french toast continues. Last week it was Apple French Toast, a pile of french toast dripping with self saucing stewed apple syrup. The week before it was Parmesan French Toast (insanely delicious!). This week it’s french toast sticks – eat it with your fingers (tick), tastes like cinnamon doughnuts but a whole lot healthier (double tick)!
Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
I’m loving coming up with fresh takes on french toast! Growing up I always adored french toast but it was always the classic version drowning in syrup. When I was in uni, I discovered how good it was to pile bacon onto it, and yes, still drown it in maple syrup. I used to call this a “Heart Attack On A Plate”. This was before the day when “sweet and salty” became all the rage and everyone I made this for were dubious until they took their first mouthful – then they were converted for life.
I digress. Back to these French Toast Sticks. Two big things it has going for it:
1. Food you eat with your fingers. Need I say anymore?
2. Tastes like cinnamon doughnuts. I can’t admit to any of my friends that I secretly love cinnamon doughnuts, deep fried puffy goodness dusted with sugar. It’s on my list of what I call “Dirty Foods”, food that is oh-so-bad-for-you-I-know-I-shouldn’t-eat-but-secretly-love. Throughout this blog there is no doubt that I will be disclosing many of my favourite Dirty Foods. You will probably be horrified. Or maybe not. Maybe a lot more people than I think secretly love KFC Popcorn Chicken.
The key to french toast sticks that are stiff enough to pick up without flopping is to use stale bread and to use a block loaf you can cut yourself into thick slices (the thicker the sticks, the less they flop). This is the way I like my french toast sticks, but if you don’t have a stale block loaf, it still tastes just as delicious using pre-sliced sandwich bread, it will just sag a bit when you pick it up.
I really do recommend using stale bread where possible for french toast – any french toast. It makes a huge difference because fresh bread soaks up too much egg mixture – even if you dunk it in really quickly – and you’ll end up with french toast that is soggy on the inside.
This recipe only takes about 15 minutes to make, and is super easy. French Toast you can eat with your fingers – something that no kid, big and small, can possibly resist! – Nagi x
Cute spins on French Toast
-
Monte Cristo (Ham Cheese French Toast Sandwich)
-
And also – Classic French Toast!
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Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
Ingredients
- 4 thick slices white bread, preferably stale (Note 1)
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- Salt
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 3 tbsp butter
- Maple syrup to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Remove crust of each slice, then cut each into 3 equal thick batons.
- Combine the eggs, milk and a pinch of salt in a bowl large enough to roll the bread sticks in.
- Combine the cinnamon and sugar on a plate.
- Melt 2 tbsp of the butter in a large pan over medium high heat.
- Roll the sticks in the egg mixture quickly (do not soak them), shake off excess and place in pan. Cook in 2 batches.
- Turn to cook each side until golden.
- Immediately transfer to the plate with the cinnamon sugar and roll to coat. It's important to do this quickly while they are hot straight out of the pan so it sticks.
- Melt remaining butter and cook the remaining french toast sticks.
- Serve immediately with maple syrup to dunk the sticks in.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More Tasty French Toast Recipes
Great recipe just finished trying it and the kids took it in the lunch bag was a definitely thumbs up . Thank you very much
My children have been in a habit of telling me they are “not hungry” these last few mornings. Today we made ‘dougnut bread’ they most definitely were hungry and one even licked the plate clean. Cinnamon Dougnuts are one of our favourites and this really hit the spot. Thanks for the great ideas for spicing up french toast.
Wahooo, that’s perfect Zee!!!
Can you freeze these and reheat them for another time?
How do u dry out bread to make it stale my family loves French toast but mine always flop.
You can love it out overnight or chuck it in a low oven for 10-15 minutes – N x
Great recipe! My family and guests loved these. I got a loaf of cinnamon chip bread on a trip to the bakery, then I cut it into thick slices and let them sit out to dry out a little the night before. The sticks turned out perfect!
Sounds divine Diane!
I used a loaf of french bread and cut the crust off. This was so good and much better than my usual french toast. Thanks for this recipe!
You’re so welcome Racheal!
I just made these a few days ago and my entire family loved them! I used homemade gluten free bread instead of the bread you suggested and it still turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!
Terrific to hear Elizabeth!! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback – N x
Delicious! Bit time consuming when making a double batch but they turned out perfect. Tastes like a sugary donut, yum yum. I never liked French toast as I found it too soggy. Now I know to let my bread sit out overnight and then no soggy mess. Thank you for your creativity!
Could you bake them in the oven?
I tried this at home and paired with Iced Coffee. My kids loved it! Thank you.
Yesssss! So glad the kids love this Arlene! N xx
I am so excited about this recipe, my boyfriend brought me real Vermont maple syrup. I will make these French Toast sticks tomorrow night, breakfast for dinner. Best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Will let you know how it goes.
Oooh hope you love it Joyce! N x
I am so excited to find this recipe. My boyfriend brought me real Vermont maple syrup, so I am making these tomorrow night, breakfast for dinner. You know the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Wish me luck. Will let you know how it goes.
Hope you love it! N x
What’s the best way to make this in advance for a brunch? Can I make them the night before and heat them in the oven in the morning?
Hi Laura! Best made fresh 🙂 N x
Is there any way o keep these warm without getting soggy while I make a large batch?
Hi Kris! I place them on a rack in a low oven 🙂 N x
When you say heat the batter what do you mean? Once you make the egg batter, you just take your wedges and dunk and fry right? Or do you do something else with the batter first?? I haven’t tried it but would like to.
I mean melt the butter!
My extremely picky 5 year old is eating these right now. Thank you for this recipe! I’m going to try toasting them before hand next time. I also used while grain bread but cut most of the crust off.
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for the great review Kelly! N xx
Here’s a trick to make store bought sliced loafs thicker. Cut each slice of bread in half, then to a half and fold it over and mold into the end until secure the just follow the recipe. Doesn’t crumble and easy to eat all the same as a thick slice.
That’s so clever Abby! Thanks so much for sharing that! 🙂 N xx
Nagi,
This was soooo yummy. I made them and my 10 year old loved them. It was pretty easy to make. 🤗
Gisella
That’s fantastic to hear Gisella! Thank you for letting me know – N xx
They turned out great and they are so delicious
Glad to hear you enjoyed it Nathaniel, thanks for letting me know! N xx
Its called texas toast on the bread not just regular white bread, which is never that thick. This looks like a pic of frozen ft sticks….
Thanks for the info Tammy! We don’t have a name for thick bread like that here in Australia!
How do you have all of the nutritional facts also for homemade? Do you maybe make homemade but these are pics of frozen and the nutritional facts off the box?
Gosh no! I use a nutritional calculator and I take all photos myself 🙂 Always have!
Nagi, thank you so much for this recipe! I use a whole grain loaf because it’s a little more dense – and if not stale, just toast the slices first. We bake and cook a lot in our home but my husband says this is by far his favorite food we’ve ever made! Picky two year old likes it as well 🙂
Thanks for trying my recipe, and for taking the time to come back and let me know you enjoyed it! N x
Im Very confused to how to make it, it say’s to melt the butter but doesn’t say what to do with it I need help
Hi Lilian! You melt it in the skillet 🙂
What is the purpose of the butter? It’s literally unmentioned.
Hi Michael! It’s to cook the french toast in the skillet 🙂