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Oven-baked Apple Butter Cinnamon French Toast Sticks. Soft bread cut into sticks, dipped in French toast batter, swirled with apple butter and brown butter, then baked in the oven until golden and toasted. Each French toast stick gets a coating of cinnamon sugar just before baking. These are just like the frozen French toast sticks we loved as kids, but so much better than what mom found in the freezer aisle. Make a big batch and freeze to reheat on busy mornings. Perfect for back to school, busy work days, and the hustle of the autumn season.
When I can get really excited about a recipe, it’s a GOOD day. Some recipes are more special than others and these feel the most special. Like so many of us, I grew up eating the frozen French toast sticks mom brought home from the store. Of course, my brothers and I loved them. All we did was pop them in the microwave and eat them with a small side of maple syrup. Well, we probably should’ve just called it sugar syrup since Aunt Jemima (our brand of choice) has 8 teaspoons of sugar per serving – wow!
Back then we thought they were delicious. But now, in comparison, to these homemade French toast sticks, I think they were more like soft cardboard dipped in sugar.
But I love my memories! I vividly remember loving French toast stick mornings. We even did them as the occasional afternoon snack as well.
We all know I love to take something retro and make it homemade.
French toast sticks have been top of my list for a while. And now that it’s fall, I had to give them a fall twist. Apple butter is the most perfect sweet way to flavor these. I’m so excited to bring this recipe to your kitchens this weekend!
Here are details
Step 1: the bread
I used two loaves of brioche bread, but honestly, any bread will work. I do recommend something softer though.
Slice each piece of bread into 1-inch thick bread sticks.
Step 2: brown the butter and make the batter
For even more flavor, I brown the butter to give it a really nutty, toasted flavor. Adding in even more fall-like, cozy, deliciousness.
Mix the brown butter with milk, eggs, apple butter, and vanilla. I love to use my homemade apple butter, but of course, store-bought works too.
Step 3: dip, dunk, and coat in batter
Take each breadstick and dredge it through the egg batter, then place it on a baking sheet. Try to use most of the egg batter as this contains ALL of the yummy flavors.
Now, mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle it over the sticks. If you prefer less sweet sticks, simply omit this step.
Step 4: bake and eat
Bake these up, then you must serve them warm with a side of real maple syrup. I recommend skipping the Aunt Jemima this time around, we know better.
There’s nothing better than warm French toast with a smear of salty butter and a pour of maple syrup.
“Ummmy”, said in my very best Oslo voice!
Looking for other fall recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Fluffy Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Cream Cheese Swirled Cinnamon Pumpkin Butter Bread
6 Ingredient Spiced Pumpkin Butter
Cream Cheese Swirled Brown Sugar Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Chai Pumpkin Cake with Maple Browned Butter Frosting
Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Butter Bread
Lastly, if you make these Apple Butter Cinnamon French Toast Sticks, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Apple Butter Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 454 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 16 slices thick cut, whole grain bread/brioche bread
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup milk
- 4 eggs
- 1/3 cup apple butter (or try pumpkin butter)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. Cut each slice of bread into 1-inch wide "sticks". 3. Add the butter to a skillet set over medium heat. Cook until the butter begins to brown, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a heatproof bowl. Whisk in the milk, eggs, apple butter, and vanilla. Dunk each breadstick into the batter. Remove, allowing any excess to drip off back into the bowl. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining bread, try to use most of the batter.4. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar over the sticks. Bake for 10 minutes, flip, and sprinkle with the remaining sugar. Bake 10-15 minutes more, or until lightly golden. This step is optional if you'd prefer a less sweet option. 5. Serve warm with maple syrup for dipping and dunking.
Notes
To Freeze: Bake the French toast sticks as directed and coat in cinnamon sugar (optional). Arrange the French toast sticks in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours, until firm. Transfer the French toast sticks to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 3-4 months. To warm, microwave for 1 minute, flip, and microwave for one minute more. Times will vary depending on your microwave.
Optional Cinnamon Sugar: mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
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!
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! 🙂
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!
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! 🙂
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! 🙂
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
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!
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! 🙂
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!
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 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! 🙂
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! 🙂 🙂
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 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! 🙂
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! 🙂