Perfectly crisp on the outside and nice and tender on the inside, these Homemade French Toast Sticks are a delicious, family-friendly breakfast option! They are simple to make and cook in an air fryer or in the oven. Then, they are tossed in an incredible cinnamon sugar mixture, they're so much better than anything from the store.
Homemade French Toast Sticks are such a fun breakfast treat! Just like dessert for breakfast! Your favorite bread gets dipped in a mixture of plant-based milk, nondairy yogurt, vanilla and cinnamon, then they are air-fried until crisp on the outside. Once cooked, they are brushed with melted butter and tossed in cinnamon and sugar. These are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Homemade French Toast Stick Ingredients
- Nondairy milk: Whichever dairy or dairy-free milk you prefer works. We like to use almond milk or oat milk.
- Yogurt: Since this recipe doesn't use eggs, dairy or non-dairy yogurt helps to thicken the custard.
- Vanilla: Brings out the sweetness.
- Cinnamon: Added to the custard and the topping for warm, delicious flavor.
- Bread: Use any favorite variety of bread. We like to use vegan and/or gluten-free bread.
- Melted Butter: We use regular or vegan butter to brush on the sticks after cooking. This adds flavor and helps the cinnamon/sugar topping adhere to the bread.
- Sugar: Mixed with cinnamon to make these perfectly sweet.
How to French Toast Sticks
- Prepare the custard: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the nondairy milk, nondairy yogurt, vanilla and cinnamon together.
- Coat the bread: Slice each piece of bread into thirds. In 2-3 batches (depending on the size of your air fryer), dip the bread sticks into the french toast custard and place it directly into an air fryer.
- Cook: Cook in the air fryer at 400ºF for 7 minutes. Use tongs to flip the french toast dippers over and continue to cook for another 3 or 4 minutes (until they are golden browned and crisp).
- Melt butter: While the french toast sticks are cooking, melt the vegan butter in a small bowl.
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar: In a separate, wide and shallow bowl, add the pure cane or sugar and cinnamon. Mix until well combined.
- Toss sticks in cinnamon/sugar and serve: When the french toast sticks are done baking, use a pastry brush to brush them lightly with the melted vegan butter. Then, immediately toss them in the cinnamon sugar. Serve with maple syrup, vegan whipped cream, berries, or any of your favorite french toast toppings.
Expert Tips
- Dredge quickly: You don't want the bread to become soggy, so when dipping in the milk and yogurt mixture don't let it soak.
- Use nonstick spray: We recommend spraying the bottom of the air fryer lightly with olive oil spray to keep the sticks from sticking to the bottom.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Work in batches and leave about a ½ inch between each stick to promote even browning. This will ensure a crispy exterior and soft interior.
- Toss in cinnamon sugar mixture while still warm: Just after these come out of the air fryer, brush with melted butter and toss them in the cinnamon sugar. The moisture still coming from the sticks will help the cinnamon sugar adhere better.
Frequently Asked Questions
French toast sticks are very similar to French toast, but instead of dipping the whole slice of bread into the custard, you’ll cut the bread into rectangular sticks. The sticks are then dipped into a mix of milk and yogurt flavored with vanilla and cinnamon that’s soaked up into the bread. Once they’re cooked, they’re brushed with melted butter and coated in a mix of cinnamon and sugar.
If you prefer not to cook these in an air fryer, you can bake them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If using aluminum foil, spray it with nonstick spray to make sure the french toast dippers don't stick. Place the french toast sticks onto the sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, flip and return to the oven for another 2-3 minutes or until they are crisp and golden.
It's best if the bread is slightly stale because it will soak up the milk mixture better. Leave bread out with the package open the day before cooking. Or you can quickly dry your bread slices on a baking sheet in the oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes.
Storage Recommendations
- Storing: These will keep well in the fridge for a few days, if you have leftovers. Place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Reheat in the toaster, oven or microwave.
- Freezing: These are great to make ahead and store in the freezer. Once completely cooled, store them in an airtight, freezer-safe plastic bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the toaster, oven or in a skillet.
More Breakfast Recipes
French Toast Sticks
Ingredients
French Toast Sticks Ingredients
- 1 cup regular or non-dairy milk
- ½ cup regular or non-dairy yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 loaf vegan and/or gluten-free bread
Cinnamon Sugar Topping Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon melted regular or vegan butter
- ½ cup purecane or regular cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
French Toast Sticks Steps
- Prepare the custard in a large mixing bowl, by mixing the nondairy milk, nondairy yogurt, vanilla and cinnamon together.
- Slice each piece of bread into thirds. In 2-3 batches (depending on the size of your air fryer), dip the bread sticks into the french toast custard and place it directly into an air fryer. I like to spray the bottom of my air fryer lightly with olive oil spray to keep the sticks from sticking to the bottom.
- Cook in the air fryer at 400ºF for 7 minutes. Use tongs to flip the french toast dippers over and continue to cook for another 3 or 4 minutes (until they are golden browned and crisp).
- You can also bake the french toast sticks in an oven. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If using aluminum foil, spray it with nonstick spray to make sure the french toast dippers don't stick. Place the french toast sticks onto the sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, flip and return to the oven for another 2-3 minutes or until they are crisp and golden.
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- While the french toast sticks are cooking, melt the vegan butter in a small bowl.
- In a separate, wide and shallow bowl, add the purecane or sugar and cinnamon. Mix until well combined.
- When the french toast sticks are done baking, use a pastry brush to brush them lightly with the melted vegan butter. Then, immediately toss them in the cinnamon sugar. Serve with maple syrup, vegan whipped cream, berries, or any of your favorite french toast toppings.
Video
Notes
- Storing: These will keep well in the fridge for a few days, if you have leftovers. Place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag. They can be reheated in the toaster, oven or microwave.
- Freezing: These are great to make ahead and store in the freezer. Once completely cooled, store them in an airtight, freezer-safe plastic bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the toaster, oven or in a skillet.
Nutrition
The recipes on Peanut Butter and Jilly can easily be adapted to fit a vegan lifestyle, a gluten-free lifestyle, or both depending on the ingredients you use. Please review the ingredients lists carefully and refer to our recommendations in the Notes of the recipe card to make this recipe compatible with your needs. Nutrition information provided is an estimate, and will vary based on specific brands of ingredients used and cooking methods.
Colleen Saca says
Just made these in my air fryer and they are awesome! I would like to freeze some. Any thoughts on how that might work and reheating time and temp?
Jillian says
I'd freeze them and microwave to reheat or if you have a toaster oven or air fryer that toasts bread, you could use that to reheat as well!