These 5 ingredient french toast sticks are perfect for lazy weekend mornings when all you want is a delicious (and a little fancy) breakfast but don’t feel like battling the brunch table wait at your favorite local spot. Topped with cinnamon and sugar, they have a beautiful sweet and warming taste that makes the rest of your day just that much better!
I always thought I hated french toast. To the bewilderment of my husband “how can you NOT LOVE french toast” with what I’m sure were thoughts of ‘I did not know this before we got married…’ (lol, I kid I kid) he had resigned to weekend breakfasts that never included one of his FAVORITE breakfast foods (clearly some weekends included my favorite breakfast hash for two).
The thing is, I hate the soggy texture that happens when french toast is soaked in cream and eggs (or milk and eggs) and is then immediately pan fried. I know, I know, you may think I’m super weird, and that’s ok.
In the past, for a Five Ingredient Friday I had made 5 ingredient french toast casserole where I had shared that I didn’t like french toast, but did like the french toast casserole because it was baked. Then I made Mexican chocolate and raspberry bread pudding which is super similar to french toast, but again, I baked it. So finally, I put two and two together: it’s not that I don’t like french toast, it’s that I don’t like the custard/gooey part of french toast that all but disintegrates into mush when touched with a fork.
Being the problem solver that I am, I decided to see if the method of baking french toast before finishing it in a pan (for those nice crispy outsides) would change my feelings towards french toast. IT DID! The method that I found works best after several batches of trail and error is baking the french toast sticks at a high temperature for a few minutes on top of a wire rack that is on a baking sheet so that all the excess drippy gooey stuff drips off, and then finishing it in a pan.
And I might be the only person that likes it a little dryer, but after giving some to my husband hesitantly to try, he loved it and asked for seconds!
So now I need to know…how do you like your french toast? A little crispy on the outside and custardy/gooey on the inside, or crispy on the outside and a little more on the dry side, or have you never thought about it?
Ingredients
- 4 slices day old bread preferably brioche
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar plus 2 Tbs more for sprinkling
- 1 Tbs cinnamon plus 1 tsp more for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top of baking sheet.
- Cut each slice of bread into 4 and set aside
- In a large bowl whisk together the milk, eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 Tbs cinnamon.
- In batches of 4 place slices of bread into the milk and egg mixture and let sit for 30 seconds, then remove from the liquid (if you leave it in the liquid too long it will get mushy and fall apart) and place it on the wire rack that is on the baking sheet. Repeat until all pieces of bread are on the wire rack.
- Sprinkle with remaining sugar and cinnamon.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Then in a nonstick pan cook the french toast sticks for 3 minutes each side to give them a nice brown outside. Then serve and enjoy
juliajolliff says
My son had french toast for the first time the other day and it obsessed! I can’t wait to make him these.
Sweetphi says
That’s so adorable that your son had french toast for the first time the other day and loves it! These french toast sticks I think will be a huge hit because they’re so fun to eat 🙂
grandbabycakes says
I’m so in love with these sticks of joy that I can’t even stand it! Can you make these for me for breakfast this morning?
Sweetphi says
I shall come over and make these for you, because everyone should have french toast sticks of joy 🙂
Lynn @ Order in the Kitchen says
I have to try this method!! I like it crispy also so usually I just use really crusty bread that’s a day or so old so it’s got that texture but I really need to try it this way! Genius girl!
Sweetphi says
Girl, you’d love this method, it makes the crispiest bestest french toast ever!
llortiz1213 says
I might just make these for breakfast tomorrow! Looks great!
Sweetphi says
Breakfast would be that much better with these french toast sticks!
Ashley says
Oooo this looks like a fantastic weekend breakfast! I like french toast but I have to be in the mood for it! But when I am, man do I enjoy it!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much girl, I’m clearly the same way, I have to totally be in the mood for french toast, but when I want it, it’s these sticks I crave 🙂
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Mmm these french toast sticks look amazing!! Perfect for dipping 🙂 love these!
Sweetphi says
These definitely are perfect for dipping…aren’t tings that can be dipped the best? 🙂
Suné Moolman says
Totally in love with French toast. I don’t have a preference of how it’s finished, but there is usually some cheese involved.
I’m intrigued by your version, will definitely give it a go! 🙂
Sweetphi says
Thank you for your comment! French toast with cheese? I’ll have to seek that out for sure, because if there’s one thing I love, it is cheese 🙂
Ken says
My friend’s mom put cottage cheese, cinnamon and maple syrup on top. They were really good.
Sweetphi says
That sounds super delish, I’ll have to try that!!