Growing up, French toast was always a special weekend treat at our house. Mom would make the classic triangle-cut version, but my kids helped me discover something even better – French toast sticks. They’re basically the same breakfast we all know and love, just cut into fun, dippable pieces that my little ones can eat with their fingers.
The best part? These are actually easier to make than regular French toast. No awkward flipping of big, floppy bread slices, and they cook up perfectly every time. Plus, since you’re cutting the bread into strips first, you get more of those crispy, golden-brown edges that everyone fights over.
Why You’ll Love These French Toast Sticks
- Kid-friendly breakfast – These fun-sized sticks are perfect for little hands to dip and much easier for kids to eat than regular French toast slices.
- Make-ahead friendly – You can make a big batch and freeze them for busy mornings – just pop them in the toaster or microwave when you’re ready to eat.
- Crispy outside, soft inside – The batter creates a perfectly crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft and custardy – way better than regular French toast.
- Customizable toppings – Set up a topping bar with fruits, syrups, and powdered sugar so everyone can create their own perfect breakfast combination.
What Kind of Texas Toast Should I Use?
Texas toast is basically extra-thick sliced white bread, usually about twice the thickness of regular sandwich bread. You can find it pre-sliced in most grocery stores, often in the bread aisle or near the frozen bread section. If you can’t find Texas toast, you can ask your local bakery to slice their white bread extra thick (about 1-inch thick slices) or buy an unsliced loaf and cut it yourself. Day-old bread actually works better for French toast since slightly stale bread soaks up the custard mixture without falling apart. Just make sure whatever bread you choose is sturdy enough to hold up when dipped in the batter – regular sandwich bread tends to get too soggy and fall apart.
Options for Substitutions
This french toast sticks recipe can be tweaked in several ways to work with what you have in your kitchen:
- Texas Toast: If you can’t find Texas Toast, any thick-cut white bread will work – just make sure it’s at least 1-inch thick. Brioche or challah are great options too. Day-old bread actually works better as it soaks up more of the custard mixture.
- Milk: Regular whole milk is best, but you can use any milk you have – 2%, almond milk, oat milk, or even half-and-half for extra richness. Just note that plant-based milks might make the coating slightly less creamy.
- Vanilla essence: Vanilla extract works the same way, or try almond extract for a different flavor. You could even use a splash of bourbon or rum extract for a grown-up twist.
- White sugar: Brown sugar can replace white sugar in both the coating and batter – it’ll give a nice caramel note. You can also use coconut sugar, though it might change the color slightly.
- Neutral cooking oil: Any high-heat oil works here – vegetable, canola, or peanut oil are all good choices. Just avoid olive oil as it has too strong a flavor.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest challenge when making French toast sticks is getting the oil temperature just right – too hot and they’ll burn on the outside while staying raw inside, too cool and they’ll become greasy and soggy, so aim for 350°F (175°C) and use a thermometer if possible. A common mistake is overcrowding the pan, which drops the oil temperature and leads to uneven cooking – instead, fry in small batches and give each stick enough space to float freely. The batter consistency is crucial – if it’s too thin, it won’t stick to the bread, and if it’s too thick, you’ll end up with heavy, doughy sticks, so look for a coating that’s similar to pancake batter and adjust with milk if needed. For extra-crispy results, let the battered sticks rest on a wire rack for 2-3 minutes before frying, which helps the coating adhere better to the bread and creates that perfect golden-brown crust.
What to Serve With French Toast Sticks?
These sweet and crispy French toast sticks are perfect for breakfast or brunch, and there are so many fun ways to serve them! The classic approach is to pair them with fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, plus a side of warm maple syrup for dipping. If you want to make it a complete breakfast, add some crispy bacon or breakfast sausage links on the side – the salty meat balances out the sweetness perfectly. For an extra special touch, you could whip up some scrambled eggs and set out different dipping options like chocolate sauce, whipped cream, or fruit compote, letting everyone customize their plate.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Got leftover French toast sticks? Pop them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Place a piece of parchment paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together. They make such an easy breakfast for busy mornings!
Freeze: These French toast sticks are perfect for freezing! Let them cool completely, then place them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 1-2 hours). Transfer to a freezer bag and they’ll keep for up to 2 months. It’s like having your own homemade frozen breakfast ready to go!
Reheat: To bring back that fresh-made taste, pop the refrigerated sticks in the toaster or air fryer until warm and crispy. If frozen, no need to thaw – just heat them in the toaster oven or regular oven at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes. They’ll come out perfectly warm and ready for your favorite toppings!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Total Time | 30-45 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2600-2800
- Protein: 40-50 g
- Fat: 180-200 g
- Carbohydrates: 300-320 g
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 1 cup plain flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 8 slices of texas toast (each sliced into 4 pieces)
- 2 quarts neutral cooking oil
- Fresh fruits like berries or bananas (for serving)
- Maple syrup (to serve)
Step 1: Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Topping and Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
In a shallow dish, whisk together cinnamon and sugar to make the cinnamon sugar topping.
Set this dish aside for later use.
Step 2: Make the Batter
In a large bowl, combine milk, sugar, eggs, salt, and vanilla.
Whisk these ingredients together until the mixture is smooth.
Gradually add flour and baking powder to the wet ingredients, stirring continuously to ensure there are no lumps and the batter is evenly mixed.
Step 3: Heat the Oil
In a large, deep skillet, Dutch oven, or deep fryer, heat oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s important to maintain this temperature to ensure even frying of the bread sticks.
Step 4: Coat and Fry the Bread Sticks
Working in batches (about 4 sticks at a time), dip the bread sticks into the batter.
Make sure each stick is fully coated and allow any excess batter to drip back into the bowl.
Carefully place the coated sticks into the heated oil.
Fry until the first side is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes, then flip each stick and continue frying until the second side is golden brown as well.
Step 5: Coat in Cinnamon Sugar and Keep Warm
Once the bread sticks are fried to perfection, drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Immediately roll each stick in the cinnamon sugar topping to coat evenly.
Transfer the coated sticks to the prepared baking sheet and keep them warm in the preheated oven until ready to serve.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Repeat the cooking and coating process with the remaining bread sticks.
Serve the freshly made cinnamon sugar bread sticks with berries and syrup if desired for an indulgent treat.
Enjoy your delicious creation warm!