French Toast Sticks
These French toast sticks are baked to perfection and then coated in cinnamon sugar. Perfect for a weekend breakfast or brunch!
I love French toast as much as the next person, but it can sometimes take a while to cook especially if you’re using just a skillet. Lately I’ve been loving these French toast sticks because they’re so much easier to make!
This recipe delivers the classic French toast flavor you love without having to waste your time babysitting each individual slice while it cooks. They’re also coated in cinnamon and sugar, just like the ones you can buy at the store but they taste so much better!
You can make a big batch of these all at once and dig in while they’re still hot from the oven. They’re perfect for weekend breakfasts, holiday brunches, or anytime really!
Recipe Ingredients
Homemade French toast sticks are just as easy as making classic French toast. Let’s go over the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe so you know exactly what to buy:
- Bread: I recommend using a thicker bread, like Texas toast. I prefer to use stale bread in my regular French toast, but for this recipe fresh bread works better.
- Eggs: When combined with the heavy cream and milk, the eggs create a custard-like coating for the baked French toast sticks.
- Heavy Cream & Milk: The heavy cream and milk can be replaced with 1/2 cup of half and half.
- Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract will give the best flavor.
- Granulated sugar: I added a little sugar to the French toast batter to sweeten it slightly, and I also mixed some of the sugar with additional cinnamon to create an irresistible cinnamon sugar coating.
- Cinnamon: Again, the cinnamon is added to both the batter and the coating for a strong cinnamon flavor.
- Butter: Melted butter is brushed onto the finished French toast sticks before they’re rolled in the cinnamon sugar.
How to Make French Toast Sticks
You’ll need six to seven pieces of Texas Toast for this recipe. Slice each one into three pieces lengthwise, then set aside.
In a shallow baking dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. Then, add the cinnamon sugar to the egg mixture (this prevents the cinnamon from just floating straight to the top of the batter).
Quickly dip each piece of Texas Toast into the egg mixture, shake off any excess, then place on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.
The French toast sticks will need to bake at 350ºF for 10 minutes, then be flipped over before being baked for another 6 to 10 minutes. Bake just until firm and cooked through.
Once they’re out of the oven, brush the baked French toast sticks with melted butter. Then, gently toss them in some cinnamon sugar to coat them evenly.
You can enjoy your cinnamon French toast sticks as is, or you can dunk them in pure maple syrup.
Can I Freeze These?
Yes! These French toast sticks can be assembled and baked, and then frozen. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before freezing them. When ready to enjoy, reheat from frozen in a 350ºF oven for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Can I Use Another Type of Bread?
Of course! I prefer using Texas Toast, but any thick white bread like brioche or challah bread will work.
Baking Tips
- Quickly dunk the slices of bread in the batter. If the bread soaks up too much batter, it will become soggy and will take much longer to cook through.
- Make sure to line your baking sheet with parchment paper and spray it with nonstick spray, otherwise the French toast may stick to it.
- This recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd, but you’ll need to use two baking sheets.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes to Make!
Video Tutorial
French Toast Sticks
Ingredients
French toast sticks:
- 6 to 7 slices Texas toast
- 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) whole milk
- ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon (12 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cinnamon sugar coating:
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter (melted)
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- To make the French toast sticks: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, spray the parchment paper lightly with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
- Slice each piece of Texas toast lengthwise into 3 pieces. Set aside.
- In a shallow baking dish, whisk the lightly beaten eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract together until fully combined.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add the cinnamon sugar mixture to the egg mixture and whisk until fully combined.
- Quickly dip each piece of bread into the egg mixture, making sure to fully coat it. Allow any excess to drip off and place onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little room between each one.
- Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven, and use tongs to flip each one. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes or until the french toast sticks are firm and fully cooked through. Remove from the oven.
- To make the cinnamon sugar coating: Lightly brush the top of each stick with the melted butter (I use a pastry brush for this step). Using tongs, flip each one, and lightly brush the other side of each stick with more butter.
- Whisk the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon together until well combined and transfer the mixture to a large plate.
- Add the french toast sticks to the cinnamon sugar mixture and toss to coat each one. If you have any additional cinnamon sugar leftover, you can dip the sticks in it again, or sprinkle it on top right before serving.
Fantastic recipe! This recipe is so much better than standing over the griddle to make french toast. My family was happy eating it, and I was happy that it was so quick and easy.
I used the Trader Joes pumpkin brioche loaf because that’s what I had on hand, and it was perfect!
Thank you, Laura! I’m glad you and your family enjoyed the French toast sticks!