Use this easy method to make the best French Toast Sticks at home to share with the kids. These are a versatile, affordable alternative to buying frozen ones at the store—and they take less than 15 minutes to make and reheat in 2 minutes!
French Toast Sticks
My kids love having a range of easy toddler breakfasts throughout the week, and since I actually don’t love cooking every day, having a stash of French Toast Sticks on hand in the fridge or freezer is a genius option to keep everyone happy.
I can make a batch (or two) whenever I have time, then stash them to reheat for breakfast. This recipe is so flexible since you can vary the flavor—classic, Cinnamon-Sugar, Banana, and Apple are all options—and you can cook them three ways according to your preference.
This recipe works on the stove top, or you can make Baked French Toast or Air Fryer French Toast. So easy!
(You may also like Banana French Toast Sticks, French Toast Casserole, Oven-Baked French Toast, and Air Fryer French Toast.
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this toddler breakfast recipe so you know what to pick up at the store and have on hand.
- Wheat bread: Sandwich or loaf, or you can use another type you like. They work better with a bread that’s a little sturdier than a plain white sandwich bread.
- Eggs: They add richness to the batter.
- Milk: You can use whole dairy milk or any other milk you like.
- Vanilla extract: This adds lovely flavor to this French toast recipe.
- Unsalted butter: Butter helps the French Toast Sticks brown in the pan without sticking.
- Maple syrup and diced fruit for serving.
Ingredient Substitutions
- To make them egg-free, you can replace the eggs with mashed banana or sweet potato.
- To make them dairy-free, use nondairy-milk.
- To make gluten-free, use a sturdy gluten-free bread.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information.
- Cut bread into sticks.
- Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla to a bowl. Dip bread in and coat all sides.
- Cook in a nonstick pan. Flip. (You can also bake them or make them in the air fryer.)
- Serve warm with optional toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make French Toast sticks you need bread, egg, milk, and vanilla. You can add more flavor on top of those, but that’s the base recipe.
We love to pair these with maple syrup for dipping and a simple side of fruit. They’d go well with any breakfast meats your family enjoys too.
You can simply stand the sticks upright and pop into the toaster (we put four side by side at the same time since that’s the same width as a piece of bread) or you can warm on a heat-safe plate in the microwave. They warm fast, so do them in 15-30 second increments to ensure they don’t get too hot.
How to Store
Store leftover French Toast Sticks in an airtight storage container in the fridge for up to 5 days or place into a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 6 months. Pop into toaster (from the fridge or freezer) to warm through, or you can warm up on a heat-safe plate in 15-to 30-second increments in the microwave.
Best Tips for Success
- Banana French Toast Sticks: Replace 1 egg with ¼ cup mashed ripe banana.
- Apple French Toast Sticks: Replace 1 egg with ¼ cup applesauce.
- Cinnamon-Sugar French Toast Sticks: Stir together 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle over sticks as soon as they’re finished cooking.
- Egg-free: Use the banana or apple version above and use ½ cup of either to replace the eggs.
- Dairy-free: Use a favorite nondairy milk.
- Offer as a baby-led weaning breakfast or for older kids to pick up and dip as they like.
Related Recipes
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I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please rate and comment below.
Easy French Toast Sticks (Freezer-Friendly)
Ingredients
- 4 slices wheat bread (sandwich or loaf, or you can use another type you like)
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Optional for serving: maple syrup and diced fruit
Instructions
- Cut bread into four sticks.
- Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla to a wide, shallow bowl. Mix with a fork or a small whisk.
- Dip each piece of bread into the egg mixture, turning over with a fork to coat all sides.
- Add a sliver of butter to a nonstick pan to melt. Add batter-dipped sticks and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip over to cook on the other side until golden brown.
Video
Notes
- To bake in the oven: Omit the butter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottoms. Serve warm with optional toppings/dips.
- To make in the air fryer: Omit the butter. Place batter-dipped sticks onto the greased tray. (I use nonstick spray.) Air-fry at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
- Banana French Toast Sticks: Replace 1 egg with ¼ cup mashed ripe banana.
- Apple French Toast Sticks: Replace 1 egg with ¼ cup applesauce.
- Pumpkin French Toast Sticks: Replace 1 egg with ¼ cup pumpkin puree. Add a little more milk if the batter seems very thick.
- Cinnamon-Sugar French Toast Sticks: Stir together 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle over sticks as soon as they’re finished cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight storage container in the fridge for up to 5 days or place into a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 6 months. Pop into toaster (from the fridge or freezer) to warm through, or you can warm up on a heat-safe plate in 15- to 30-second increments in the microwave.
- Egg-free: Use the banana or apple version above and use ½ cup of either to replace the eggs.
- Dairy-free: Use a favorite nondairy milk.
- Offer as a baby-led weaning breakfast or for older kids to pick up and dip as they like.
Nutrition
This post was first published October 2022.
I might add that if choosing to bake people may want to spray the parchment with cooking spray or some kind of oil. Mine stuck to the paper badly and were almost impossible to get off 🙁 but otherwise a great recipe that my son loves!
Would these work in a thermos for school lunch or do you think they’d get soggy? Thanks!!
I don’t think they’d get soggy, but I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure. That’s my best guess though.
I love that you posted this today. I made my 13month old French toast this morning with strawberries because I couldn’t think of anything else to make him. Thank you for adding freezing instructions too! I definitely don’t know how to cook for one, so we had a few slices leftover. Popping them into the freezer to save for next week!
Hi. Do you freeze cooked french toast or uncooked french toast. Thank you!
Cook it first, let cool, then freeze!
What is the 1/4 cup unsalted butter for? The recipe says use a sliver of butter in the pan to cook, but otherwise I don’t see the step for the 1/4 cup. Am I missing it?
You may need to do the sticks in a few batches depending on the size of your pan, so I was generous (probably too generous!) in the amount you may need since you’ll want to add more to your pan with each batch.