Description
These ultra-fluffy cinnamon sugar french toast sticks are pillowy soft on the inside, crispy and crunchy on the outside, and coated in cinnamon sugar. They are easy to make, kid-friendly, and perfect for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf thick-cut bread (brioche or challah), sliced into ½-inch sticks
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3–4 tablespoons unsalted butter (for frying)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
- 1–2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (for coating)
Instructions
- Slice the bread into ½-inch thick slices, then cut each slice into 4-6 sticks. If the bread is fresh, let it sit out for 15-20 minutes to stale slightly.
- In a large shallow dish or pie plate, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, milk, vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, and salt until frothy and combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, mix the granulated sugar and 1-2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon for the coating.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter, letting it melt and foam.
- Dip a bread stick into the custard mixture, soaking for 10-15 seconds per side. Lift it out and let excess drip off.
- Roll the dipped stick in the cinnamon sugar mixture, coating all sides evenly and pressing gently to adhere.
- Place the coated stick in the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side until golden brown and crispy, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Transfer cooked sticks to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to keep them crispy. Repeat with remaining sticks, adding more butter to the pan as needed.
- Serve immediately with warm maple syrup and optional cinnamon sugar butter.
Notes
Use stale bread or let fresh bread sit out to dry slightly to prevent mushiness. Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure even browning. Keep cooked sticks on a wire rack to maintain crispness; do not stack them on a plate. Can be frozen after partial cooking and reheated in a toaster or oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stick
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: french toast sticks, cinnamon sugar, brioche, breakfast recipe, easy brunch, kid-friendly breakfast, fluffy french toast