This French Toast Sticks recipe will be your new go-to breakfast. They’re super simple to make and freeze perfectly for those hectic mornings. Not to mention that their flavor is out of this world.
Make one batch for this morning, or triple it and freeze the extras for grab-and-go breakfasts all week. We love dunking them in our homemade pancake syrup because it’s made with pantry staples and cost far less than a bottle of the name brand stuff. If your family is a French toast family our Cinnamon French Toast or Classic Cinnamon Toast Recipe are the ones to make next.
Another easy breakfast recipes try our Chocolate Chip Waffles Recipe or Baked Pancakes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Make for little hands. Sticks are easy for kids to hold and dunk, so there’s no cutting up French toast for everyone at the table.
- Freezer-friendly. Cook a big batch once, freeze the sticks individually, and reheat just what you need on busy morning.
- Pantry ingredients. Bread, eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and butter are all you need.
- Budget Friendly. A whole batch cost about $7.34 and makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
- Texas Toast – Thick slices hold their shape when dipped and give you a soft, custardy middle. Store-brand Texas toast works just as well as name brand.
- Eggs – They make the custard that coats each stick and turns golden in the pan.
- Heavy Cream or milk – Heavy cream makes richer sticks while whole or 2% milk works great and keep the cost down.
- Vanilla Extract – A little goes a long way. You can even make your own vanilla extract.
- Cinnamon and Sugar – Whisked right into the egg mixture for that classic cinnamon French toast flavor.
- Butter – It gives the outside a golden, lightly crisp finish. Cooking spray works if you are out.
How to Make French Toast Sticks
Step 1 – In a large bowl whisk together eggs, 1 cup milk, and vanilla extract. Add in the cinnamon and sugar until well mixed.
Step 2 – Cut each slice of the Texas toast into three thick slices. A pizza cutter makes this super quick, plus the kids can help!
Step 3 – Melt butter in your skillet over medium heat. You can also use cooking spray instead of melted butter.
Step 4 – Place your Texas toast sticks into your egg batter and cinnamon sugar mixture and flip over with tongs until well covered in a shallow dish.
Step 5 – Use your tongs to transfer the sticks to your the pan.
Step 6 – Cook until golden brown on each side over medium heat. Serve with fresh strawberries and maple syrup.
Recipe Tips
- Whisk until smooth. Whisk until you don’t see any streaks of egg white. Unmixed egg white cooks into rubbery white patches on the stick.
- Use slightly stale bread. Day-old bread soaks up the egg without falling apart. If your bread is fresh, lay the slices out on the counter for a few hours or overnight before cutting.
- Don’t crowd the pan. Leave a little space between sticks so they brown instead of steam.
- Cook in batches and keep them warm. Hold finished sticks in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest so everyone eats at the same time.
- Add cinnamon sugar at the end. If you want a sugary crust, toss the sticks in cinnamon sugar after cooking.
Variations and Substitutions
- Bread – Thick bread works best such as Texas toast, brioche, or sourdough. Day-old bakery bread is a great way to use up a loaf before it goes stale. Regular sandwich bread works in a pinch; just cut each slice into 2 sticks instead of 3 and dip quickly, since thin bread soaks up the egg fast.
- Milk – Swap the heavy cream for any milk you have, including unsweetened almond or oat milk for a dairy-free version.
- Cinnamon-sugar crunch – Toss the hot, cooked sticks in a mix of sugar and cinnamon right out of the pan. Add it after cooking keeps the sugar from burning.
- Toppings and dips – Maple or pancake syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream or fresh strawberries.
Serving Suggestions
These French Toast Sticks make the perfect breakfast and can be served with many different side dishes. We love to make this Easy Fruit Salad Recipe with a side of Fried Eggs and Air Fryer Bacon.
Make sure to serve with your favorite toppings, such as the Texas Roadhouse Butter, for a delicious touch.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
To store: Let the sticks cook, then keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze: I make 3 batches at once on my electric griddle. Let the sticks cool in a single layer on a baking sheet, then put the whole baking sheet in the freezer for about 1 hour, until the sticks are frozen solid. Move them to a gallon-size freezer bag, press out the extra air, and write the date on the bag. Because they’re frozen separately first, they won’t stick together, and you can grab just what you need. They keep for up to 2 months.
To reheat: Take out as many sticks you need and there is no need to thaw.
- Toaster: The fastest way to get crisp edges. Toast on a medium setting until hot.
- Oven: Bake at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes. Best for a big batch.
- Air Fryer: 350°F for about 4 to 5 minutes, until hot and crisp.
- Microwave: About 1 minute on high. Quickest, but the sticks will be softer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, the bread was soaked in the egg mixture for too long, or the heat was too high, so the outside browned before the inside cooked. Dip quickly, use slightly stale bread, and cook over medium heat.
Yes. Cut each slice into 2 sticks instead of 3 and dip it very quickly, since thin bread soaks up egg fast. Thick bread like Texas toast gives you the best results.
Yes. Whole or 2% milk works great and saves money. The sticks will be a little less rich, but kids won’t notice.
Yes. Place the dipped sticks on a greased, parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F for about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden on both sides. They won’t be quite as crisp as skillet sticks, but you can cook a whole batch at once.
More Easy French Toast Recipes
Try these French Toast Sticks for an easy breakfast idea. Make sure to come back and leave us a comment or a star review.
French Toast Sticks
Ingredients
- 10 slices Texas toast
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Stir in sugar and cinnamon until well combined.
- Slice each of the Texas toast slices into 3 thick sticks using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and melt the butter, coating the cooking surface evenly. You can also use nonstick cooking spray if preferred.
- Working in batches, dip several Texas toast sticks into the egg mixture, turning them with tongs until they are completely coated.
- Transfer the coated toast sticks to the hot skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until all sides are golden brown and cooked through.
- Continue dipping and cooking the remaining Texas toast sticks, adding more butter to the skillet if needed.
- Serve the French toast sticks warm with fresh strawberries and maple syrup for dipping, if desired.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Bread –Â Thick, slightly stale bread works best. For regular sandwich bread, cut 2 sticks per slice.Â
- Don’t soak –Â Dip each stick for just a couple of seconds per side so the centers don’t get soggy.Â
- To freeze –Â Cool in a single layer, freeze on a baking sheet for about 1 hour, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months.Â
- To reheat – From frozen in the toaster, at 350°F in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or in the microwave for about 1 minute.
These will be fun for the grandkids! We’ve only had the frozen kind, so they would love to see how to make them fresh. Thanks Carrie ?
I think your grandkids will have so much fun making these with you! They’re easy to make, and homemade tastes so much better than frozen.
I use your recipes a lot , Thank you!
Thank you so much, Rebecca! It means a lot to hear that you’re enjoying the recipes. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
My wife and love these!
I’m so glad you and your wife love these! Thanks so much for sharing.
I made these for my grandchildren and they loved them!
I love hearing that your grandchildren enjoyed these! It’s always a win when you find something the kids love.