13 Days to the First Day of School Breakfast Countdown — Day 9: French Toast Sticks
Ae we begin a new week were getting closer to the first day of school which is why were continuing our 13 Days to the First Day of School Breakfast Countdown. As I was working this morning I couldn’t stop thinking of French Toast Charlie could have brought me from Waffle House this morning when he stopped for brekafast.
Since he didn’t I thought it would be fun to share a recipe for French Toast Sticks with you I’m going to have David make me for dinner. With only 9 days until the first day of school, I thought I would share one of those breakfasts that makes me think of kids sitting at the kitchen table, dipping their breakfast into syrup and trying to get ready for the day.
Suzzane used to think there was something fun about turning French toast into sticks. Maybe it’s because children can pick them up with their fingers. Maybe it’s because they can dip them. Or maybe breakfast just seems a little more special when you don’t have to eat it with a fork. At least it does to me.
Whatever the reason, French toast sticks are one of those breakfasts that can work for both a slow morning at home and a busy school morning. And as we’re getting closer to the first day of school, I’m thinking more and more about breakfasts that children will actually be excited to eat. Because let’s be honest. If we put something on the table that nobody wants, we’re already starting the morning with a battle.
One of the things I like about French toast is that the ingredients are simple because breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated and take a million steps to make it. All you need is Bread. Eggs. Milk. A little cinnamon. A little vanilla. And a small bowl for dipping. Along with napkins and youprobably already have most of these things in your kitchen.
That makes this a great recipe for those mornings when you don’t want to make another trip to the grocery store. And you don’t need special bread, either. Regular sandwich bread works just fine. You can even use bread that is a day or two old. In fact, slightly stale bread can work especially well because it soaks up the egg mixture without becoming quite as soft.
One of the reasons we’re doing this 13-day countdown is that I don’t want the first day of school to sneak up on us while making breakfast easier before school starts and even work. We’ve spent the summer enjoying slower mornings. But school mornings are different. There are alarms. There are backpacks. There are lunches. There are shoes to find.
There are children who suddenly can’t remember where they put the pencil they were holding five minutes ago. And somewhere in the middle of all that, we still need to feed everybody. That’s why I like recipes that can be prepared ahead. You can make a batch of these French toast sticks and refrigerate them for a few days. You can also freeze them and warm them up when you need a quick breakfast. That means you can do some of the work when you have time instead of trying to do everything at 7:00 in the morning.
Easy French Toast Sticks
Ingredients
- 8 slices of sandwich bread
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter or cooking spray
- Maple syrup for dipping
- Powdered sugar, optional
Directions
Cut each slice of bread into three strips.
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar.
Dip each bread strip into the egg mixture, making sure it is coated but not completely soaked.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly coat it with butter or cooking spray.
Place the bread sticks in the skillet and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, turning them until all sides are golden brown.
Remove them from the skillet and continue cooking until all of the French toast sticks are finished.
Serve warm with maple syrup for dipping.
You can sprinkle them with powdered sugar if you want to make breakfast feel a little extra special.
If you’re trying to make school mornings easier, don’t wait until the first day of school to try this recipe. Make a batch now. Let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze the French toast sticks in a single layer and then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.
When you’re ready for breakfast, warm them in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer until heated through. That means breakfast can go from the freezer to the table without starting from scratch. And that is exactly the kind of breakfast help busy parents need and even people trying to get out the door to work like Charlie and David.
If your #Homeschooling or teaching your children to cook this is also a fun breakfast for children to help prepare. Older children can help whisk the egg mixture. Younger children can help count the bread sticks or decide what they want to dip them in. And when children help prepare food, they are often more interested in eating it. At least Charlie was.
You could even make breakfast a little more fun by offering small bowls of different toppings or dipping choices. Maple syrup is the classic choice, but you could also try fresh berries, sliced bananas, applesauce, or yogurt. Breakfast doesn’t have to look fancy. It just needs to work for your family.
Today is Day 9 of our countdown. Your challenge is simple: Choose one breakfast your family can make ahead and put it on your school-morning menu. It doesn’t have to be French toast sticks. Maybe your family prefers muffins. Maybe it’s breakfast sandwiches. Maybe it’s oatmeal. Maybe it’s cereal and fruit.
The point is to have one less thing to figure out when the alarm goes off. We’re not trying to create perfect mornings. We’re trying to create easier mornings. And sometimes that starts with breakfast. Although these French Toast Snacks can also be used as a after school snack a quick lunch or dinner when on the go.
As we prepare for school this week I have a goal for you prepare one breakfast ahead of time. Even one make-ahead breakfast can make a busy school morning a little easier. We began with 13 days and now were down to 3Days Until the First Day of School! We’re getting closer, one breakfast at a time.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates