French Toast Sticks Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 Thick Slices Hearty White Sandwich Bread ((substitute: Texas Toast Bread or Challah))
• 3 Large Eggs (– 2 egg yolks + 1 whole egg)
• 2/3 Cup Half-and-Half (– slightly warmed (substitute: Whole Milk or Heavy Cream) (SEE NOTES))
• 3 TBS Light Brown Sugar (- packed)
• 2 TBS Unsalted Butter (– DIVIDED (1 tablespoon melted and cooled; 1 tablespoon un-melted))
• 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• Heaping 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1/8 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• Serving Suggestions: Powdered Sugar, Pure Maple Syrup, and Macerated Fresh Fruit

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat Oven: Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and then preheat the oven to 300-degree Fahrenheit.

2. 2

   Dry Bread Out in Oven: Place a wire rack onto a rimmed baking sheet and then place the slices of bread onto the wire rack. Place the bread into the preheated oven and bake for 6 minutes. Flip the bread over and continue to bake until the bread is almost dry throughout, yet slightly moist at the center, about 5-7 additional minutes. (Note: You don’t want to darkly toast it, just dry the bread out.)Remove the bread from the oven and place it on a clean cutting board.

3. 3

   Increase Oven Temperature: Once the bread is lightly toasted and you've removed it from the oven, increase the oven temperature to 400-degrees Fahrenheit. Then, remove the wire rack from the rimmed baking sheet.

4. 4

   Cut Dried Bread into Sticks: Use a sharp serrated knife to cut each slice of bread into thirds – widthwise - to make sticks. Then set the bread aside. (Note: If you’re looking for more “traditional” shaped French toast sticks, trim off and discard the edges of the bread.)

5. 5

   Make Egg Custard: In a large shallow dish (large enough to hold a couple French toast sticks – I use a 9x9-inch baking dish), add the egg yolks and whole egg, milk, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Use a whisk and vigorously stir the ingredients until well combined and emulsified. Set the bowl aside.

6. 6

   Heat Baking Pan in Oven: Once the oven reaches 400-degree, place the plain, rimmed half sheet pan into the oven and let it heat for 10-20 minutes.

7. 7

   Soak Bread Sticks in Custard: Dip each stick of bread into the egg mixture, giving it a dip and soak, then flipping it over and quickly dipping and soaking the other side. (Note: You want the bread saturated, but not falling apart. I do about 6-8 seconds per side.)

8. 8

   Butter Hot Pan, Arrange Soaked Bread Sticks on Pan: Butter Hot Baking Pan, Add Soaked Toast Sticks: Carefully remove the hot rimmed baking sheet from the oven. Add the tablespoon of butter to the pan and spread the butter around to grease the pan completely. Next, arrange the soaked bread slices onto the hot buttered baking sheet, spacing them out evenly on the pan.

9. 9

   Reduce Heat, Bake French Toast Sticks: Reduce the oven temperature to 370-degrees Fahrenheit and then immediately place the French toast into the oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottom of each stick of bread is a deep golden color.

10. 10

    Flip, Continue to Bake the Toast: Remove the French toast sticks from the oven and use a spatula to flip each piece over. Return the bread to the oven and continue to bake until the bread is beautifully golden all over, about 5-8 additional minutes.

11. 11

    Serve Homemade French Toast Sticks: Transfer the baked French toast sticks to a serving platter. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with pure maple syrup or pancake syrup. Serve with fresh fruit and enjoy!