Apple Butter Cinnamon French Toast Sticks + Video
I wish you could see how excited I am right now!!
I made us apple butter FRENCH TOAST STICKS!! Oh my gosh!
I know that some of you might be like, why the heck is she so excited about french toast sticks? BUT… these french toast sticks are so special and SOOO freaking delicious… they’re one of my favorite things ever to make for the fam.
Ok, well maybe not ever, but man I love these. First things first though. I feel like to get the whole feel for this recipe you NEED to watch the video below. To date, this is one of my favorite videos that my brother Kai and I have made. It’s quick and simple, and that drizzle…and that dunk…and that super sweet ender.
Just watch… ?
Did you see the drizzle? Literally, perfection, right?
And then the dunk? And then cute little Asher at the end?? I mean, I know it’s a quick video, but I think it gets the point across! 🙂
OkOK, so real talk! I’ve always, always loved french toast sticks. Granted, up until I made this recipe I probably hadn’t had them since I was in third grade, but I sure have had thoughts about them over the years. Did anyone else grow up with frozen french toast sticks? You know, the ones you’d throw in the microwave and in sixty seconds they were warm and perfect?
Well I surely did, and my brothers and I loved them. In fact I honestly think my oldest brother Creighton still buys them on a regular basis. That kid is never going to fully grow up… maybe that’s ok.
My point is, french toast sticks have always been something I’ve loved. I may have stopped eating the store-bought ones, BUT homemade?
Um, those I will very happily eat… daily. 🙂
You know what’s so weird?
I think about the way I grew up versus the way my little sister Asher is growing up and they are SO different. I loved being a kid and having all brothers, and man, I even loved dad’s chicken and rice dinners. And I obviously LOVED mom’s cookies and cakes. DUH.
But it’s weird because Asher has grown up so differently. In a way, it’s almost as though she’s the only child. But what’s even weirder than that, is the way my family now eats, it’s so different. Seeing as my mom had her hands completely full with six kids, and my dad worked all day, she would buy a lot of frozen foods. I give her MAJOR credit though because for as busy as our household was, we actually had healthy home-made lunches, and home cooked dinners pretty much every single day, but breakfast and after school snacks where either frozen waffles, french toast sticks, toast, bagels or cereal. My brothers ate so many frozen pizzas, popcorn, chicken and chicken fingers. Since I was that odd kid, I never got into the frozen meals, but I did love french toast sticks and waffles… which may explain my obsession with sweet brunch recipes…oops.
Asher though? I don’t think she’s ever even tasted a frozen french toast stick or waffle. And man, burgers or chicken fingers… nope! She’s never even had fast food or a soda (but she lives on sparkling waters!). When I started cooking for them family, there really wasn’t a need for that stuff anymore, and even after I moved out, they never went back to shopping that way. Granted most of the food I make still gets shared with my family, but I think it’s pretty cool that I sort of changed their eating habits a bit…
Only a bit though. We all still love our occasional indulgences, and my brothers for sure continue to eat frozen pizzas and chicken fingers… probably on the daily.
ANYWAY, I’ve been saying for the longest time that I would attempt to make homemade french toast sticks and I finally did, that is why I am beyond excited.
Clearly.
So here’s the deal. When I first attempted these, I pan-fried them, and to be honest, is was a huge pain in the butt. They kind of just fell apart. So then, I tried baking them. I totally thought they would be dried out and not all that awesome, but I added some butter to the baking sheet and you guys… they were so delish!
Seeing as fall starts next week, I decided to I take things a step further and add a couple spoonfuls of apple butter and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, SOOO FREAKING good. Like whoa, really, REALLY GOOD!
Sorry, but all caps are so necessary.
The best part about these french toast sticks is that they truly are so easy and so convenient. You can bake a big batch in less than thirty minutes. Then just throw any leftovers into the freezer for super easy and crazy delicious weekday breakfasts…or save them for the weekends, whatever you prefer.
It really just doesn’t get any better. Like for real.
My entire family, some friends, and even my neighbor Vern – who was lucky enough to grab a stick before they vanished, all agree that these are quite possibly the best breakfast food ever (or snack or dinner or anytime/anywhere food). Soo yummy!
Here’s what’s super important to know….
While the apple butter and cinnamon sugar are not a must, they are honestly what makes these french toast sticks special… like no other. The apple butter adds a hint of cider flavors. And the cinnamon sugar? Well, you all know that’s almost always a good thing to add. 🙂
The other equally important ingredient?
Maple Syrup… only the real stuff, and lots of it!
Got it? Get it? AWESOME!
Now, can we all go watch that video one more time and continue being mesmerized by that drizzle of maple syrup? Then this weekend (or NOW works too), let’s get our butts into the kitchen and make a double batch of these french toast sticks?
Sound like a plan?
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Apple Butter French Toast Sticks.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: french toast
The best part about these french toast sticks is that they truly are so easy and so convenient
Ingredients
- 8 slices thick cut Texas toast sliced into 1 inch strips
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons apple butter * pumpkin butter would be great too!
- 4 tablespoons butter melted or cut into cubes
- 2-4 tablespoons cinnamon sugar*
- maple syrup for serving
- fresh apples or berries for serving
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Cut each slice of bread into three "sticks". In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Whisk in the apple butter.
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One at a time, dip each bread stick into the egg mixture and toss to coat. Remove, allowing any excess to drip off back into the bowl. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining bread. Brush each french toast stick with a little butter (or a few small pats around the sticks). Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 15-10 minutes, or until lightly golden, flipping halfway through baking.
-
Serve warm with maple syrup.
Recipe Notes
*If you cannot find apple butter or prefer to not use it, it can be omitted from the recipe.
Perfect. Happy Friday! 🙂
love that you baked them instead of pan-frying them! aside from the structural issues you were talking about, standing over the stove to wait for 40ish strips of french toast to cook sounds like a pain in the butt on a sleepy weekend morning!
Thanks so much! Hope you are having a great weekend, Heather! 🙂
I LOVE making these! BIG fan of these when they’re homemade!! Absolute noms all round!!
Rxx
http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Thank you so much! Hope you are having a great weekend! 🙂
These don’t look bad, they don’t look bad AT ALL!!
(meaning they look reaaaaaally good!)
https://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt
hehe! Thank you so much! Hope you are having a great weekend! 🙂
I love these Tieghan and you have every right to be excited, thay look amazing! This is something I know my whole fam would love too! Also, Asher is absolutely the cutest and I love your video!!!
THANK YOU! Hope you are having the best weekend, Tori! 🙂 🙂
I looove Asher at the end of the videos! She is adorable and I think the cutest are her painted fingernails. I always look for them in your pictures. BTW hope you had a fantastic birthday and did take some time off from working!
hehe! Thank you so much!! So happy you are enjoying the videos, that is so awesome!!
Oh and I had a great birthday, thank you! 🙂
Love trench toast. This really looks delicious. I couldn’t get the video to play. )-:
Oh no! I am so sorry! Is the video still not working for you?
I am deeply ashamed that I have never tried the frozen french toast sticks! *hides under rock* I was never a sweet tooth breakfast person. I always went for a piece of toast and an egg. But I love french toast and apple butter! And I also love that you baked these instead of pan frying! Genius! And that video is beyond adorable!
haha! Trust me, the homemade version is so much better! lol! 🙂
Hope you are having a great weekend!
I am making these this weekend! Me and my hubby love French toast/French toast sticks! And I adore Apple butter – I can my own every year and I’m always looking for ways to cook with it/highlight it and eat it (besides with a spoon out of the jar…)
Oh my gosh! I bet your homemade apple butter is the best! I have to try making my own sometime soon!
Thank you so much, Joana! Hope you are having a great weekend! 🙂
baking is a beautiful idea. I love pancakes and french toast stuff like this but hate flipping them and standing at the oven all morning! I feel like that’s just not a way to spend the morning! This looks absolutely stunning!
https://www.searedandshameless.com
Thank you so much, Jessica! Hope you having a great weekend!
Can they be made the night before? I have a busy B@B , I won’t have time
to make them in the AM.
Yes! You can certainly make them the night before and then warm them in the oven! Let me know if you have questions.
Thanks!
Tieghan
These apple butter French toast sticks look soo delicious. All that cinnamon sugar and maple syrup! So perfect for fall. And I absolutely love that Asher has never had fast food, or soda, or any of the frozen stuff. But she gets amazing food everyday anyway so she’s so lucky!
hehe! Thank you SO much, Andrea!! Hope you are having a great weekend! 🙂
These remind me of my boys when they were little! They loved them for breakfast before school! I love how you baked them Tieghan, because you’re right…so much easier than pan frying! I’ll have to make them when Casey comes home for fall break from college! It will bring back memories!
Thank you so much, Mary Ann! Hope you and your family love them! 🙂
Yum!! I think using pumpkin butter would be amazing too! Maybe cinnamon texas toast/bread too!?!?
Pumpkin butter- GENIUS!!!
I know, right?!?!? SO GOOD! I love that idea!
PUMPKIN BUTTER!! YESSSS! I actually added that as an option for the recipe. SO GOOD! Thank you! 🙂
Hope you are having a great weekend!
BAKED french toast ! Why didn’t I think of that before? During the week I don’t have time to stay in front on a frying pan, but baking them is the perfect solution ! I can put them in the oven, do the other stuff I have to do before I go to work, and TADAm they’re ready !!
haha! Thank you so much, Erika! Hope you are having a great weekend! 🙂
I just made these this morning for 5 hungry teenage boys who slept over our house last night. They lasted about 2 minutes (hence, no beautiful photo a la your blog)! My son said “Mom, those were really good” (that’s a glowing review). Coupled with some bacon made in the oven, this was a much nicer breakfast than my usual Dunkin Donuts run for these guys.
p.s. Say “hello” to your parents (I’m a RRHS classmate of your Moms). 🙂
YESSS! This is so awesome!! haha! Thank you so much, Victoria!! Hope you guys have a great weekend and both my mom and dad already saw your comment. LOL! Thank you again!
I realy love your cooking!! And this toast stick are looking so delcius could make them right now, but how could I make the apple or even pumpkin butter myself…. Can”‘t by this in germany….
HI!! Here is a great apple butter recipe. Let me know if you have questions! Thanks!
http://www.skinnytaste.com/slow-cooked-apple-butter/
Yup! Sounds like a plan for sure! This would be perfect for my little one because she can just hold it in her hand and eat it! Like how she ate some apple cinnamon fritters that I made today! And since you mentioned it, I also made apple butter today so these french toast sticks is perfect! btw, hope you had a great bday! 😉
Oh my gosh! So perfect!! That is so cute!!
YES!! Making them all, I love it Sheila!! Thanks so much, hope you have a good day too!!
quick question about brushing with butter before baking, didn’t see that step in the video. if you brush them after you’ve dipped them in the French toast batter, aren’t you just brushing off the batter? I’m slightly confused by this step. or is it easier to put pats of butter on the pan? inbetween each stick? only on the edges? sorry to overthink this, want to make these this weekend. thanks.
Hi el tigre!! No you will not brush off the butter, but using pats works great too! Whatever you feel like really, I use pats of butter. Let me know if you have questions. Thank you!
This is one killer looking stack! Such a great breakfast idea!
Yes! Perfect for breakfast! Thanks Laura!
Hi! Could you sub almond milk? And could you prep the night before?!
Yes and yes! Almond milk will be great and to make the night before just dip on the eggs and keep on a baking sheet. Let me know if you have questions.
Hehe, I’ve always adored French toast, and I used to LOVE those frozen French toast sticks that you’d find at the grocery store! DELICIOUS with maple syrup. I do believe that freshly made French toast sticks would taste much better though, just like these! Apple butter and cinnamon too? FANTASTIC!
This looks so great. I’ve never tried French toast sticks before, and I love that they are baked. I generally only cook for myself or one other person, but this seems more like a family serving size. If I wanted to make a smaller portion, is it as simple as just halving all of the ingredients?
Thanks!
Hi, any takers on the above question about halving the ingredients for a smaller portion? Really keen to try this recipe.
Thanks!!
I made it as a half recipe and it turned out great!
That is so awesome! Thanks Bekki!
OMG! Super easy, Super delicious! Family loved.
Thank you!
Thanks Karen (:
Hello! I just made these and they were amazing, I did wonder though how much cinnamon to use. In the video you said 2 tsp, in the written recipe just 1. I only did one, but I thought the extra cinnamon would be nice. So basically I just wondered what you usually do. Thanks!
Hi! You can use either or, but I have found 2 teaspoons to be extra delicious. Thrilled you enjoyed the french toast sticks. Thank you!!
Saw this morning on my feed and made it for the family. Delicious!! I didn’t have apple butter so used a bit of applesauce. I also sprinkled the fresh fruit topping with the extra cinnamon sugar I had. It is kid and hubby approved!!
That is so great! So glad you and your family loved this Karen!
Can I use crusty white spelt bread?
Yes, that will be great! Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love the this. thanks! 🙂
So I made them and I fell in love with them! They were very testy! Thanks a lot for another great recipe.?
That is so great! Thank you Ola!
Thank you for this recipe! It is a keeper! I used multigrain sandwich bread and it turned out great, but it did need an extra 10 minutes in the oven cause it was a bit soggy still. I also baked apples to go with it. The tart flavor was a nice touch with the sweet sticks. I just sliced them and threw them in the oven while prepping and then kept them in while baking the sticks. No need for syrup!! They were perfect as is.
That is amazing! I am so glad you loved this Bekki! Thank you!
Your sister is so cute! I love your recipes as they use such fresh simple ingredients usually. I’m 70 so the simpler the better 🙂 Keep up the great work..
Thank you so much Laura!
These were delicious and easy to make with a toddler hanging off my legs! I subbed cinnamon apple sauce for apple butter and almond milk for whole mile, so I may have missed out on some of the decadence. Oven baking is a life saver with a 14 month old! I can’t wait to make these with her ‘help’ when she’s a bit older
Haha I am glad this turned out so well for you!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
they look super good. I cant wait to try it
Thank you so much Clare! xTieghan