Me and French Toast Sticks go way back.
The first time I ever tried them was the summer I turned 17. My best friend and I worked at our local pool teaching swimming lessons every morning, and everyday after work we’d hop into my Geo Tracker, pop the top down, and cruise over to the nearby Burger King with our wet ponytails flying in the wind.
Once in line at the drive-thru we’d sit and fret over whether to order the mini cinnamon rolls or french toast sticks for breakfast, because these are the things 17 year olds have to worry about. Icing…or syrup?
At the beginning of the summer I was totally team mini cinnamon rolls. I mean – you know me – miniaturize anything and I’m pretty much sold, but one day I decided to take a risk and give the French Toast Sticks a try. HEAVEN in stick form! Crispy outside, fluffy inside, and oh, how adorable, they even gave you a mini syrup package for dunking.
Fast forward a decade later (ok, decade plus) and I can still taste the hot and crispy French Toast Sticks from that summer. But these days I’m looking for the fix, without the fried part. Baked French Toast Sticks are totally the answer!
Thick-cut bread is sliced into finger-friendly sticks, soaked in a sweetened and spiced egg batter, then baked instead of fried. The result is a fluffy, dunkable dipper that’s absolutely mouthwatering and so much fun to eat. Plus you don’t have to stand over a hot stove flipping French Toast to get that yummy, decadent flavor. Love that!
I thought I’d share this recipe with you today because Baked French Toast Sticks would make a special Valentine’s Day breakfast for your sweetie or kids, especially when paired with festive red berries and sweet powdered sugar dusted on top. The best part is you can bake-then-freeze these babies ahead of time, so breakfast tomorrow will be easy peasy. Instructions for freezing/reheating are below!
Start the Baked French Toast Sticks with 4 slices Texas Toast, which is thick-cut and hearty. I’ve used cottage bread before, which worked out great, but I love the fluffiness that Texas Toast gets ya’! Don’t stress though, just use whatever you’ve got in the house. I’d just stay away from flimsy, reduced-calorie bread, as it will fall apart in the French toast batter.
Using a serrated knife to cut the bread slices into thirds, for 12 French Toast Sticks total. (Psst! Ben got me this one from Williams & Sonoma for like $15 a couple years ago and I use it for EVERYTHING!)
Set the bread aside for a sec while you prepare the French toast sticks batter which starts with 3 eggs cracked into a large, shallow dish. Dangit all I was this close to getting them all in one-handed (left handed, too!) without breaking a shell!
To the eggs add 1/2 cup milk – whatever you have in the house – plus 1 Tablespoon melted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
Whisk everything together until smooth.
Dunk the bread sticks into the batter, letting the excess run off, then place onto a baking sheet that’s been sprayed well with nonstick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes, spray the tops with more nonstick spray and then flip and cook for 8-9 more minutes.
Top the Baked French Toast Sticks with a dusting of powdered sugar, then pair them with fresh berries and maple syrup for dunking, natch!
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Baked French Toast Sticks
Description
Baked French Toast Sticks are a fun finger-food breakfast recipe that are freezer-friendly, too!
Ingredients
- 4 slices Texas Toast (or other hearty, thick-cut bread)
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter, slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees then spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray very well and set aside. Cut bread slices into thirds then set aside.
- In a large shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. Dunk bread sticks into batter, let excess drip off, then place onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 16-18 minutes, spraying the tops of the French Toast Sticks with non-stick spray before flipping halfway through.
- To freeze:Â Let French Toast Sticks cool then place onto a baking sheet and freeze in the freezer. Transfer to a freezer bag or container when hard. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Sweet, and satisfying – these are super addicting. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
To freeze the Baked French Toast Sticks, let them cool, then place onto a baking sheet and into the freezer until frozen solid. Transfer to a freezer bag then microwave for 30 seconds to a minute to reheat. Enjoy!
Rachel 03.27.2014
MMM looks delish! Can I leave out the butter though?
Kristin 03.28.2014
I think that’d be fine! They help brown the French Toast and give it a great flavor though. :)
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Tamara 03.02.2013
These are amazing, Kristin! So good! I made them with plain old Arnold’s Italian white bread, because that’s what I had, but I’ll be trying them with Texas Toast or Challah next time. My husband adored them. So much easier than cooking on the stove, too.
Becky 02.27.2013
We had a 2 hour delay for school today, which made this morning the perfect time to make these! They are amazing! I’m not a huge fan of french toast, but even I loved them. My 7 year old asked if we had any left over. I told her we did and that I had plenty of ingredients to make more. She whispered in happiness and wonder, “yummmmmm!” :)
Thanks for another winner!
nicky 02.25.2013
Made these tonight (yes, it was breakfast for dinner tonight at our house!) and they were delicious!! Love, love your recipes!!
Kathleen Welch 02.22.2013
These were wonderful ! School was cancelled today because of ice so I decided it was a good morning to try the French Toast Sticks. Unfortunately I have none to freeze because the kids ate them right up with some strawberries and blueberries !
Keep those great recipes coming !
Joy 02.17.2013
I have to start with I coveted (I I do mean coveted a geo tracker) when we got engaged my husband got me a jeep wrangler because he knew I wanted a top down car (let’s forget that he crashed it 2 years later ok?) but I still think I’ll make him this (but with homemade cinnamon bread!
Thanks for the idea
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[…] Iowa Girl Eats’ Baked French Toast sticks! […]
Ambar 02.15.2013
Just fell inlove! I’ve been wanting to try something different for breakfast and this recipe just fit the spot! I thought about garlic bread and how when you put it in the oven it gets toasted, same with this recipe! I love this way of doing french toast:)
Jess 02.15.2013
This looks amazing!! :) I totally pinned for later!
Laura 02.14.2013
Were you able to quit working and blog full time? Your blogs are looking much more professional these days! Ever considered photography? Food is so hard to photograph, yet you are so good at it! Just curious, how long does it take you to set up for your food shots, and are you constantly buying new “props’? Love the blog, keep it up!
Laura
Iowa Girl Eats 02.15.2013
Hey Laura! I blog and write freelance full time now. I always keep my eye out for fun new bowls and plates and stuff – my cabinets look like a crazy person lives in the house because everything is so mismatched and random! ;) It usually takes 5-10 minutes to set up a shot!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie 02.14.2013
Oh my gosh I used to go through frozen boxes of these so fast when I was a kid! This could be dangerous.
Tracy 02.14.2013
Definitely making these for my french toast stick-obsessed 13 year old!!
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Erin 02.14.2013
WHere can I find texas toast??? or just use really thick bread!?
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2013
You can find it right in the bread aisle, the bag (regardless of the brand) will say “Texas Toast”.
Emma 02.14.2013
These look amazing! My mum and I have decided to make these in the holidays. Can’t wait!
Leslie 02.14.2013
This deserves an errrmahgerrrd
Jeri Wendzel 02.14.2013
You should try adding a dash of nutmeg into the egg batter ( I do freshly grated), it’ll give it a hint of doughnut taste, just a bit will send it over the edge! Crap, I already had breakfast and now I want french toast sticks!
Jill 02.14.2013
Oh, man. I used to get these all the time from BK when I was kid. They were so good! I can’t wait to try your homemade, healthier version. Yum! Thank you!