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Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
Crispy on the outside and impossibly tender within, these cinnamon French toast sticks are exactly what your weekend morning needs. You'll skip the store-bought bottles once you taste the homemade spiced apple cider syrup. It's thickened right on the stove with a hint of nutmeg and lemon juice for a warm, sweet, and slightly tart finish. The sturdy bread soaks up the rich egg batter perfectly, creating a fun, dippable breakfast that everyone at the table will love.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups apple cider
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup butter, cut into 8 pieces
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 10 slices firm-textured sandwich bread, cut into thirds
Instructions
- 1Combine the sugar, 3 tablespoons of flour, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the apple cider and lemon juice until smooth.
- 2Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid thickens and comes to a boil. Stirring constantly prevents the flour from clumping and scorching on the bottom. Let it boil while stirring for 1 minute, then remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the butter until melted and set aside to keep warm.
- 3Whisk the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, milk, vanilla, and eggs together in a small bowl until the batter is completely smooth. Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat or to 375°F.
- 4Dip the bread sticks into the egg batter, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Draining the excess batter keeps the edges crisp instead of soggy. Transfer the coated bread to the hot griddle and cook for about 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Serve with the warm cider syrup.
Notes
- Bread choice: Use a firm, slightly stale sandwich bread like Texas toast or brioche. Fresh, soft bread will fall apart in the batter.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the spiced cider syrup up to 3 days in advance. Store it in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove before serving.
- Batch cooking: Keep finished French toast sticks warm on a wire rack in a 200°F oven while you cook the remaining batches.