Cinnamon French Toast Sticks

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These Cinnamon French Toast Sticks are the ultimate brunch recipe that takes no time at all! This is a great way to use up stale bread. Simply dip the sticks of bread into an egg and milk mixture, fry, then coat in cinnamon sugar. Definitely best served warm, these are so nostalgic and way better than store bought!

These really couldn’t be easier. Start by whisking up an egg, milk and vanilla mixture, dip and fry. Keep them warm in the oven until serving and this is such an easy recipe to double or triple to feed a crowd. If you know you’re making this in advance and your bread is still fresh, put individual slices out on your kitchen counter for a few hours to encourage it to stale (it feels crazy to want stale bread, but it gives much better results).

Feel free to serve these with any sort of dips or sauces. Maple syrup, Nutella, Caramel, powdered sugar, the possibilities are just like pancakes – endless. These are a really cute brunch snack, but could totally be thrown into kids lunchboxes or wrapped up for daytime snacks!

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED 

There are no specialist ingredients or equipment required for this bake. I can find everything I need at my local supermarket or grocery store. I use a crepe pan or any standard frying pan, you don’t need any specialist equipment! Use a hand whisk to combine the milk and eggs. I like using tongs to flip the sticks while they are in the pan, but use whatever works best for you.

• Large Free Range Eggs
• Whole Milk
• Vanilla Extract
• Ground Cinnamon
• Granulated Sugar
• Brioche or any loaf of bread, preferably stale

A History of French Toast – French Toast Sticks

French toast sticks, a popular breakfast treat, have a somewhat recent history in the broader context of food. Here’s a brief overview:

Origins of French Toast

• Ancient Roots: The concept of soaking bread in a mixture of eggs and milk and then cooking it has ancient origins. Variations of this dish have been found in cultures across Europe and the Middle East for centuries. The French have been credited with popularizing a version called “pain perdu” (lost bread), which was a way to use stale bread.

Evolution to French Toast Sticks

• Early 20th Century: Traditional French toast recipes began to appear in American cookbooks and became a staple in breakfast menus. This form was typically served as whole slices rather than sticks.
• 1970s-1980s: The idea of French toast sticks started gaining traction, particularly in the United States. This era saw a rise in convenience foods and breakfast items that were easy to prepare and consume. French toast sticks fit this trend well, as they could be easily eaten with your hands and were ideal for busy mornings.
• Frozen Food Industry: The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of frozen convenience foods. Companies like Eggo began producing French toast sticks that could be quickly toasted from frozen, making them a popular choice for families looking for quick breakfast options.

Modern Day

• Popular Culture: Today, French toast sticks are a common breakfast item in both home kitchens and fast-food restaurants. They’re often served with a variety of dipping sauces, such as syrup or fruit preserves, and are a favorite for their ease of preparation and versatility.

French toast sticks reflect broader trends in food, including the move towards convenience and the adaptation of traditional recipes to modern lifestyles.

TOP TIPS FOR THE BEST Cinnamon French Toast Sticks

• Bread: Use stale bread for the sticks to remain fairly stiff and ‘dip-pable’. Fresh bread will still be delicious, but won’t hold its shape as well. Brioche yields the best results, but again, really any type of sandwich bread will work. I like to remove the crusts but don’t feel like you have to.
• Eggs: Really whisk the large eggs with the milk until frothy. You want everything to be really well incorporated.
• Dipping: When dunking the bread into the egg mixture, only dunk it for a second or two. Just long enough that the bread is covered but not entirely soaked through the middle. This prevents soggy French toast!
• Frying: Fry for about a minute on each side on a medium heat. Brush the pan with a little butter before adding the French toast for those perfect bronze edges.
• Cinnamon Sugar: Have this ready to go before you start frying the French toast. The cinnamon sugar mix will stick better when the sticks are still warm.
• Serving: Serve warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, Nutella or really anything else you like!

For my Cinnamon French Toast Sticks, I use a standard frying pan or crepe pan. If you want more fun brunch recipe ideas, check out my Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes. For videos and baking inspiration, head on over to my Instagram. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to drop it a star rating, leave a review or share a photo on your socials! 

Make Ahead and STORAGE

These are absolutely best to be made and eaten in the moment, without too much standing time. You could absolutely make the milk/egg mixture beforehand and let chill in the refrigerator. However, this stage only takes a minute, so you may not be saving much time!

Like above, I wouldn’t recommend making these for storing. They are best eaten just after making them, but they would be awesome in school lunch boxes if you make them in the morning!