French Toast Sticks are a fun, dippable breakfast made with thick slices of stale brioche, sourdough, or challah soaked in a sweet vanilla egg mixture. They cook up golden in butter, then get coated in cinnamon sugar for the perfect finish!

The entire family loves these for weekend breakfasts, brunch, sleepovers, and breakfast-for-dinner because they feel special but are still easy to make. Serve them warm with Maple Syrup, Buttermilk Syrup, or even Strawberry Sauce for dipping, and they’re always a hit with kids and adults.

If you love this French toast stick recipe, you will our classic French Toast, Cream Cheese French Toast Bake, and French Toast Bake.

Why you’ll love them + Why they work:

  • Plenty of crispy edges. No more soggy French toast! Each piece is crisped to perfection for optimal dipping.
  • Quick and easy, ready in no time. Make breakfast a breeze with this easy breakfast recipe, ready in about 30 minutes.
  • Stale thick bread holds up best. It absorbs the egg mixture without getting too soggy.
  • Cinnamon sugar goes on after cooking. Coating the hot sticks helps the sugar mixture stick to every side.
Bread loaf, eggs, butter, milk, and seasonings on a kitchen counter.

French Toast Sticks Ingredients

  • Bread, cut from a stale Brioche, Sourdough or Challah Loaf (6 thick slices): Creates sturdy, fluffy sticks that soak up the egg mixture and hold their shape.
  • Eggs (3): Helps create the custard coating that gives the French toast structure and richness.
  • Milk (3 cups): Thins the egg mixture and helps soak the bread evenly.
  • Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Adds warm sweetness and classic French toast flavor.
  • Sugar (¼ cup): Sweetens the cinnamon coating and gives the sticks a delicious finish.
  • Cinnamon (1 tablespoon): Adds warm spice flavor to the outside of the sticks.
  • Butter, divided (4 tablespoons): Adds flavor and helps the sticks cook up golden in the pan.
  • optional toppings: Served with syrup like Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup, Buttermilk Syrup, or maple syrup.

How to Make French Toast Sticks

PREP. Cut off the crust of stale bread. Cut into 3 thick pieces, lengthwise. Set bread sticks aside.

  • Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Set the cinnamon sugar mixture aside.

SOAK. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla to a shallow dish and mix well. Soak the sticks in the egg mixture until saturated.

COOK. Melt butter in a pan on LOW-MEDIUM heat and add bread pieces, cooking in a single layer until golden brown on each side.

  • Use tongs to dip in the cinnamon and sugar mixture, making sure to coat all sides.
  • Continue cooking bread pieces, adding more butter when needed.

ENJOY. Serve with warm syrup.

  • Use day-old or slightly stale bread so the sticks hold their shape and don’t get soggy.
  • To avoid white egg strands from forming on the sticks, thoroughly whisk the egg into the milk. Room temperature eggs will incorporate better than cold eggs.
  • Cook on medium-low heat to get a golden crust without burning.
  • Don’t oversoak the bread; just dip until coated to avoid mushy centers.
  • Roll in cinnamon sugar while warm so it sticks perfectly.
  • Drizzle or dip the sticks into Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup, Buttermilk Syrup, Maple Syrup, Strawberry Sauce, Nutella Dip, or Yogurt Fruit Dip.
French toast sticks recipe all stacked on a white plate.
French toast sticks stacked on top of each other on a white plate.
4.93 from 42 votes

French Toast Sticks Recipe

These French Toast Sticks are golden, crispy, and coated in cinnamon sugar. A fun, easy breakfast the whole family will love.
Servings: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

Equipment

Video

Ingredients 

  • 6 thick slices bread, cut from a stale Brioche, Sourdough or Challah Loaf
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided

Instructions 

  • Cut off the crust from thick slices of stale bread. Cut into 3 thick pieces, lengthwise. Set aside. Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow dish. Set aside.
  • Add eggs, milk, and vanilla to a shallow dish and mix well. Soak the sticks in the egg mixture until saturated.
  • Melt butter on LOW-MEDIUM heat and add bread pieces, cooking until golden brown on each side. Use tongs to place sticks in the cinnamon and sugar mixture, making sure to coat all sides.
  • Continue cooking bread pieces, adding more butter when needed.
  • Serve with warm syrup.
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Notes

Recipe tips.
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days or store in the freezer for 1-2 months. Reheat single servings in the microwave or toaster oven, or several on a baking sheet in the oven at 375°F until hot. 

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 114mg, Sodium: 157mg, Potassium: 191mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 553IU, Calcium: 165mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

How to store?

Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days or store in the freezer for 1-2 months.
Reheat single servings in the microwave or toaster oven, or several on a baking sheet in the oven at 375°F until hot. 

This recipe was originally published November 2020.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.93 from 42 votes (22 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




30 Comments

  1. Abby says:

    5 stars
    My kids loved these! So much yummier than the ones at Sonic. Will make these all the time.

  2. Maryam says:

    5 stars
    These take me back to my childhood and I’m so excited to have found the perfect recipe so I can recreate these at home! Plus, a great way to use up leftover sourdough bread!

  3. Sharina says:

    5 stars
    These adorable French toast sticks are so much fun to eat! Kids never want to miss breakfast again because of these. Such a keeper!

  4. Carrie says:

    4 stars
    3 cups of milk is definitely more than you need if you were only making six slices of bread‘s worth. I did a whole loaf of brioche and only used 2 cups of milk (and two eggs). Otherwise great recipe, everybody loved it 🙂

  5. Nire says:

    Mobile site is hard to use too many ads

    1. LilLunaTeam says:

      I’m so sorry it was hard to navigate the site on your mobile device. I’ll see what I can do for ad placement. Thanks for letting me know!

  6. Rebecca says:

    3 stars
    I’m wondering if there is a typo with this recipe. I made it and it was extremely soggy. My bread was quite stale and I barely dipped it in the batter. After looking at other recipes, the ratio is usually 3 eggs and 1/3 cup of milk. This recipe calls for 3 cups of milk. I only ended up using a tiny bit of the liquid. It still tasted good, but was just kind of wet. Might just be a matter of preference?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      I’ll definitely look into the measurements and check to make sure it’s listed here in the card correctly. Thanks for the feedback!

  7. Kalissa says:

    5 stars
    These are so easy And have nice crunch in the toaster oven to finish

  8. Anna says:

    5 stars
    My kids and I had so much fun making these French toast sticks! It’s a delicious little treat that we will be making many more times!

  9. Stephanie says:

    5 stars
    What a great idea! My kids loved this so much!

  10. Betsy says:

    5 stars
    These are my husband’s favorite breakfast food! He’s always looking for more at the store but for some reason these sell out so very fast! Love this recipe so delicious and so perfect!

  11. April Leonard says:

    So easy to make and super delicious. Taste like gourmet restaurant quality! My family loved them!

  12. Becca conrad says:

    5 stars
    One of my favs since I was a kid! So much better than Ive ever had before though!

  13. Julie Coombs says:

    5 stars
    Christmas morning favorite

  14. heather wines says:

    5 stars
    my kids love these!

  15. Leslye says:

    How do you store them over night?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You can store them in an airtight container. They can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or even frozen for 1-2 months. Then you can reheat in the microwave or the oven when you’re ready to eat.

  16. Soriano Mendez says:

    5 stars
    I just made these today. They were delicious!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yay!! So glad to hear you enjoyed them!

  17. Marisa Costanzo says:

    5 stars
    All her recipes are absolutely delicious she is amazing love her Thankyou for the wonderful delicious recipes 🙏❤️👍

    1. LilLunaTeam says:

      You are so welcome! Thanks so much for trying them! 🙂

  18. Kristina says:

    5 stars
    I made your cinnamon bread recipe and still have a loaf left. I think I’ll use it to make these sticks. My kids will love dipping them.

  19. Audrey says:

    5 stars
    We love these! We usually make plenty to freeze! Easy & quick enough for my children who act like they’re starving in the mornings!

    1. T says:

      Wrong amount of milk listed

      1. Andrea says:

        Agreed, way too much milk! I halved it and my sticks still got very mushy.

  20. Olivia says:

    5 stars
    The best pick up and go breakfast. Your family will love them.

  21. katerina @ diethood.com says:

    5 stars
    Such a fantastic idea!! A great breakfast treat!

  22. April says:

    5 stars
    My kids LOVE these for breakfast. We like using a brioche bread….tastes so good!

  23. Joy says:

    5 stars
    These are great for on-the-go mornings! French is a favorite & my kids especially love the sticks! It’s a very easy & yummy recipe!