Easy Homemade French Toast Sticks: The Ultimate Kid-Friendly & Freezer-Ready Breakfast Recipe
French toast sticks are a homemade breakfast idea that is kid-friendly, fun to make, and perfect for storing in the freezer for quick on-the-go mornings!
There’s something incredibly nostalgic and comforting about French toast. And when it comes in stick form? Even better! Today, we’re diving into a fun, step-by-step tutorial that will show you just how incredibly easy and satisfying making homemade French toast sticks can be. Forget those store-bought, often freezer-burned versions; with a few slices of thick Texas toast and a handful of pantry staples, you can recreate these beloved treats right in your own kitchen. Not only will they taste infinitely better, but they’ll also be a wholesome, delicious option for your family, ready whenever a craving strikes.
Imagine soft, custardy centers encased in a delicately crispy, golden-brown exterior. These French toast sticks are perfectly dippable, wonderfully flavorful, and, dare we say, about 100 times better than any pre-packaged variety. They are an absolute game-changer for busy mornings, lazy weekends, or even a fun “brinner” (breakfast for dinner) treat. Plus, they’re incredibly versatile – customize them with your favorite toppings or simply enjoy them with a classic drizzle of maple syrup. Get ready to elevate your breakfast routine with this simple yet sensational recipe!
Why Homemade French Toast Sticks Are a Must-Try
Making French toast sticks at home offers numerous advantages over their frozen counterparts. First and foremost, the taste and texture are simply unparalleled. You get to control the quality of ingredients, ensuring a fresh, rich flavor that store-bought options can’t match. No more dealing with cardboard-like consistency or the dreaded freezer burn that often plagues pre-packaged items. Each bite of a homemade stick promises a soft, custardy interior with a perfectly golden, slightly crispy exterior – ideal for dipping.
Beyond taste, the homemade route is often more economical and allows for customization. You can adjust the sweetness, add extra spices like nutmeg or a pinch of cardamom, or even experiment with different extracts for unique flavor profiles. It’s also a fantastic way to utilize slightly stale bread, preventing food waste while transforming it into a delicious meal. Best of all, they’re incredibly fun to make, turning breakfast preparation into an enjoyable activity, especially with kids.
What You Need to Make Homemade French Toast Sticks: Essential Ingredients
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the use of everyday ingredients you likely already have in your pantry and fridge. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to create these irresistible breakfast delights:
- Thick-cut slices of Texas toast: This is our secret weapon for the best texture! Texas toast is usually found in the bread aisle, bagged like a normal loaf but cut significantly thicker. Its hearty nature prevents it from becoming soggy and allows for that ideal crispy exterior and soft interior.
- Eggs: The foundational element of our custardy batter. Eggs provide richness and help bind the other ingredients, creating that classic French toast coating.
- Milk: Any type of milk works here – whole milk will yield a richer batter, but skim, 2%, or even non-dairy alternatives like almond or oat milk can be used to suit your preferences or dietary needs.
- Cinnamon: Essential for that warm, inviting aroma and flavor. It’s the spice that instantly tells you “this is French toast!”
- Granulated Sugar: A touch of sweetness to balance the flavors in the egg mixture. You can adjust this amount based on your preference.
- Butter: For cooking the sticks to a beautiful golden-brown and adding a delicious buttery flavor to the crust.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla elevates the flavor profile, adding a subtle warmth and depth that makes all the difference. Don’t skip this!
How to Make French Toast Sticks: A Step-by-Step Guide for Perfection
Crafting perfect French toast sticks is simpler than you might think. Follow these detailed steps to achieve that ideal balance of crispy and tender:
- Prepare the Bread: Lay your thick-cut Texas toast slices on a clean cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, gently cut each slice into 3 even strips. A serrated knife is key here to minimize tearing and create clean edges. The thick nature of Texas toast is crucial for these sticks; thinner bread will likely become too soggy.
- Whisk the Custard: In a shallow dish or loaf pan (these work great for dipping!), whisk together your eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and granulated sugar. Continue whisking for about 30 seconds until all the ingredients are fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth with no visible streaks of egg white.
- Dip, Don’t Soak: This is a critical step for preventing soggy French toast. Quickly dip each side of a bread strip into the egg mixture. Be sure to coat all surfaces, including the edges, but only allow it to sit on each side for about 1 second. The goal is to lightly coat the bread, not to let it absorb too much liquid. Excessive soaking will lead to a dense, mushy interior.
- Rest on a Rack: After coating, place each dipped strip onto a wire rack. This allows any excess liquid to drip off and prepares the sticks for cooking, ensuring a crispier result. This brief resting period is a small but mighty step toward perfection.
- Cook to Golden Perfection: Heat a large skillet or griddle to medium heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons of butter, allowing it to melt and coat the pan evenly. Once the butter is sizzling, place about 6 French toast strips in the pan (or as many as comfortably fit without overcrowding). Cook for approximately 1-2 minutes per side, or until each side is beautifully golden brown and slightly crispy. Avoid turning them too frequently to allow a good crust to form.
- Oven Finish for Extra Crisp (Optional but Recommended): Immediately after removing the strips from the pan, transfer them to a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in a hot oven (preheated to 425°F/220°C as specified in the recipe card) for about 10 minutes. This step, while not mandatory, is highly recommended as it helps the French toast sticks firm up, develop a crispier exterior, and ensures they are cooked through to that perfect custardy consistency without being overly browned on the outside.
Tip: You may need to add more butter to the pan between batches. French toast tends to absorb butter, and fresh butter ensures even browning and prevents sticking, keeping your sticks perfectly golden.
Serving Suggestions & Customizations
Once your homemade French toast sticks are out of the oven, the last step is the most important: enjoy them! The beauty of French toast sticks is their versatility. While classic maple syrup is always a winner, don’t hesitate to get creative with your toppings. Here are some delicious ideas:
- Classic Syrup: Serve with small cups of warm maple syrup for easy dunking – a favorite for kids and adults alike!
- Fresh Fruit: Sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or banana slices add a refreshing burst of flavor and color.
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream makes for an indulgent treat.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Melted chocolate or chocolate syrup can turn these into a dessert-like breakfast.
- Nutella or Peanut Butter: Spread a thin layer for a protein-packed and rich addition.
- Powdered Sugar: A simple dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of elegance and sweetness.
- Yogurt Dip: A swirl of Greek yogurt mixed with a little honey or vanilla can be a lighter, tangy dipping option.
Feel free to take inspiration from your favorite waffle toppings and let your imagination run wild!
Frequently Asked Questions: All About French Toast Sticks
Can you freeze french toast sticks?
Absolutely! One of the greatest advantages of making homemade French toast sticks is their freezer-friendliness. They are a perfect make-ahead breakfast option. Once your French toast sticks have completely cooled to room temperature, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet or plate and place them in the freezer. This “flash freezing” step prevents them from sticking together. Once they are fully frozen and hard (usually after 1-2 hours), transfer them to an airtight plastic freezer bag or a freezer-safe container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply remove the desired number of sticks from the freezer. You can reheat them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or for a crispier result, pop them in a toaster oven, conventional oven (at around 350°F/175°C for 5-10 minutes), or even briefly on a non-stick skillet until warmed through and slightly crisp.
What bread is best to make french toast sticks?
Without a doubt, thick-sliced Texas toast is the absolute best bread for French toast sticks. This isn’t just a recommendation; it’s practically a requirement for achieving the ideal texture. Texas toast is specifically designed to be robust and thick, which allows it to absorb just enough of the egg mixture without becoming overly saturated or soggy. This thicker cut ensures that you’ll have a delightful crispy exterior and a wonderfully custardy, moist interior. You can easily find Texas toast in the regular grocery store aisle alongside other bagged breads; it typically comes in a standard loaf shape but with much thicker slices.
If you can’t find Texas toast, look for other thick-cut breads like brioche, challah, or even a day-old artisan loaf. The key is thickness and a slightly denser crumb that can stand up to the egg dip. Using bread that is slightly stale (one or two days old) can also be beneficial, as it tends to absorb the custard more evenly without falling apart.
Can you make french toast sticks with regular bread?
While technically possible, I strongly do not recommend using regular, thinly sliced sandwich bread to make French toast sticks. The main issue is its lack of structural integrity. Regular sandwich bread is much thinner and softer, meaning it will quickly absorb too much of the egg mixture, leading to an unpleasantly soggy and mushy texture. Furthermore, it’s far more prone to breaking apart when you dip it into the custard or try to flip it in the pan, making the entire cooking process frustrating and yielding unsatisfactory results. Stick to thick-cut bread for the best experience and most delicious French toast sticks.
Easy French Toast Sticks
Print
Rate
Ingredients
- 4 thick-cut slices of Texas toast* See notes below for best results
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons butter
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 425℉ (220°C). This oven step, though optional, helps to ensure a perfectly cooked and crispy French toast stick.
-
Using a sharp serrated knife, carefully cut each slice of thick-cut Texas toast bread into 3 even strips. Aim for uniform size for even cooking.
-
In a shallow dish or large bowl (a loaf pan works well for dipping), whisk together the eggs (2 large), milk (½ cup), cinnamon (½ teaspoon), granulated sugar (1 teaspoon), and vanilla extract (2 teaspoons). Whisk for approximately 30 seconds until all ingredients are well combined and smooth.
-
Dip each bread strip into the egg mixture, ensuring all sides are coated. It’s crucial not to let the bread soak in the mixture for too long (no more than 1 second per side), or you risk soggy French toast. Gently tap off any excess mixture and place each coated strip on a wire rack as it awaits cooking.
-
Heat a large skillet or griddle to medium heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons of butter, letting it melt and coat the cooking surface. Cook about 6 strips at a time, allowing each side to turn a beautiful golden brown (this typically takes about 1-2 minutes per side). You may need to add a little more butter to the pan between batches to prevent sticking and maintain even browning.
-
Immediately after pan-frying, transfer the golden-brown strips to a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in your preheated 425℉ oven for 10 minutes. This step helps the sticks get a little more crispy and ensures they are perfectly cooked through.
-
Remove from the oven and serve warm with your favorite toppings, such as maple syrup, fresh fruit, or whipped cream. Enjoy your delicious homemade French toast sticks!
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Notes
* I used whole milk for a richer flavor, but feel free to use any type of milk you prefer or have on hand, including skim, 2%, or non-dairy alternatives like almond or oat milk.
Nutrition
Making homemade French toast sticks is a rewarding experience that delivers a superior breakfast every time. From their delectable taste and texture to the convenience of being freezer-friendly, these sticks are a versatile and beloved dish for any home cook. With just a few simple ingredients and our detailed steps, you can create a breakfast that’s not only incredibly delicious but also a joy to prepare and customize. So, next time you’re planning breakfast, skip the store-bought options and treat yourself and your family to the delightful experience of homemade French toast sticks. Enjoy!