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French Toast Sticks: A perfect make-ahead breakfast for new parents.
The first meal with a newborn in the house is a whirlwind of hurried energy and joy all wrapped into one. I remember bustling around our tiny kitchen, fueled by equal parts excitement and exhaustion, while our new baby slept soundly in the next room. We needed something quick to make and easy to eat with one hand—French toast sticks came to the rescue. Thick slices of Texas toast transformed into golden, custardy delights felt like a luxurious breakfast, yet were straightforward enough for bleary-eyed new parents.
Whisking together rich, heavy cream with eggs and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon became a calming ritual amidst the chaos. I’ve always believed that a tablespoon of good vanilla extract is the secret to hitting just the right note of warmth and flavor. Once soaked, the bread sticks swiftly browned in butter as their sweet, spiced aroma filled our kitchen. One trick I learned for keeping them crisp is letting each stick drip off extra custard before it hits the pan.
As we huddled around the kitchen counter with syrup-drenched fingers, it dawned on me that these sticks, as simple as they seemed, would become a snapshot of our newborn mornings. Besides, they were perfect make-ahead snacks for unexpected visitors or midnight cravings. Those effortless days marked the beginning of countless joyful, messy breakfasts amidst baby giggles and family warmth.
Ingredients
- 8 slices Texas toast thick-cut
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- maple syrup optional for serving
Directions
- Slice each piece of Texas toast into 4 sticks.
- Combine the eggs, heavy cream, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla together in a large bowl with a whisk.
- Soak each piece of bread in the custard mixture until well-saturated. Allow the excess to drip off.
- Place the soaked sticks on a plate, and repeat with the other sticks.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of the butter to the skillet.
- In batches, cook the sticks in a single layer on the skillet until golden on one side, about 2 minutes.
- Flip the sticks and repeat on the other side, about 3 minutes.
- Continue flipping and cooking until slightly browned on both sides, about 2 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked sticks to a new plate and repeat until all of the sticks are cooked.
- Serve immediately with syrup.
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