Simply delicious, this Gluten-Free French Toast Sticks recipe is easy to make and freezable! Custardy french toast is made with multigrain bread and rolled in cinnamon sugar. This is a comfort food classic that both kids and adults will enjoy!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients
- Other Special Dietary Needs
- How to Make Gluten-Free French Toast Sticks
- How to Make Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
- Top Recipe Tips
- What to Serve with French Toast Sticks
- Storage
- How to Freeze Homemade French Toast Sticks
- How to Reheat Frozen French Toast Sticks
- Recipe
- Comments and Ratings
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Whether you're an adult seeking that childhood nostalgia or someone looking for easy breakfast ideas for the kids, these gluten-free cinnamon french toast sticks are sure to hit the spot!
This quick and easy breakfast recipe is perfect for lazy weekend breakfasts and busy mornings alike. It's a great way to use up that loaf of bread that's gone a little stale.
Make these homemade french toast sticks with your favorite gluten-free bread. Use a classic white bread for that traditional french toast flavor or a multigrain bread for some extra nutrition, either way you'll love the custardy french toast and the sweet crunch of cinnamon sugar.
Serve them warm with your favorite syrup, although they're plenty sweet to eat plain as well! Even better, you can make a big batch of them and freeze the leftovers for quick breakfasts or after school snacks! Simply reheat them in the air-fryer or in a skillet.
For more gluten-free breakfast inspiration, check out my gluten-free cinnamon rolls, gluten-free baked french toast casserole, or gluten-free everything bagel breakfast strata! These gluten-free bagels are a fun recipe, too! They're made with only three ingredients (no yeast) and are quick and easy to make! This warm chia pudding is a comforting dish perfect for the colder months!
Simple Ingredients
Only a handful of ingredients are needed for this recipe, most of which you probably already have on hand!
- Gluten-Free Bread: Use your favorite gluten-free bread for this recipe, whether a crusty homemade loaf of sourdough or a multigrain bread from the grocery store. Try to use a bread that isn't super crumbly already. Since we will be dipping the bread in an egg mixture, you'll want a relatively sturdy bread. I used Rudi's Gluten-Free Multigrain bread and had great results!
- Eggs: See below for egg-free substitutions.
- Milk: I used 2% milk, but any milk or even half & half or heavy cream would also work and be ultra decadent!
- Butter: See below for dairy-free substitutions.
- Sugar: We use both granulated and brown sugar for the ultimate flavor and crunch!
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
Other Special Dietary Needs
- Dairy Free: To make these french toast sticks dairy-free, simply use your favorite dairy-free milk and dairy-free butter alternatives. Almond milk and Earth balance vegan buttery sticks are great options.
- Egg Free: To make this egg free, swap the eggs for cornstarch, instant pudding mix, or arrowroot starch. Use 1 tablespoon of your choice in place of the eggs.
- Also be sure to look for gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free bread. Katz, Little Northern Bakehouse, and Schar all have these options available.
- Vegan: To make gluten-free and vegan french toast sticks, follow both the dairy-free and egg-free substitutions, being sure to use vegan bread as well.
How to Make Gluten-Free French Toast Sticks
- Prep the ingredients.
- Slice the gluten-free bread into 1-inch batons.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla.
- In another shallow dish, whisk together the sugars and cinnamon. - Dip the bread sticks in the egg mixture. Don't soak the bread, dip each slice quickly right before cooking.
- Cook the French toast sticks. Toast both sides of the sticks in a hot pan with melted butter.
- Immediately coat in cinnamon sugar. As soon as you remove the sticks from the pan, toss them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Serve warm!
How to Make Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
You can also cook the french toast sticks in the air fryer. The steps are slightly different.
- Preheat the air fryer at 375°F for about 3 minutes.
- Dip each french toast stick in the egg mixture, then sprinkle with some of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Place the french toast sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Line the basket with parchment paper if you want to save on clean up or if you have a mesh basket.
- Cook the french toast sticks for 4-6 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Flip once halfway through.
- Repeat with remaining french toast sticks.
Top Recipe Tips
- Don't soak the bread in the egg. Just dip it and plop it right in the hot pan. If you let the bread soak too long in the egg mixture, you're more likely to have the sticks fall apart.
- Don't overcrowd the pan. Work in batches.
- Toss the sticks in the cinnamon sugar mixture while still warm. As soon as the french toast sticks come out of the pan, you need to toss them in the cinnamon sugar. The moisture still coming from the french toast will help the cinnamon sugar to adhere to the french toast sticks.
- Double the recipe. This recipe makes about 6 full slices of bread, which is about half of a loaf. Double the recipe to use the entire loaf of bread. Check out the section above to learn how to freeze leftovers.
- Best with somewhat dried out or stale bread.
What to Serve with French Toast Sticks
Serve these gluten-free french toast sticks warm with your favorite syrup. Although they're plenty sweet enough to be eaten plain as well!
Round out the meal with some fresh fruit, berries, scrambled eggs, or a side of bacon or breakfast sausage.
Storage
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or freeze for 2-3 months.
How to Freeze Homemade French Toast Sticks
These french toast sticks make a great freezer meal. They freeze exceptionally well and taste just as good after reheating them.
- After cooking, place cooled french toast sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Freeze until solid.
- Place the french toast sticks in a freezer-safe airtight container or zip-top bag.
- French toast sticks can be frozen for 2-3 months.
How to Reheat Frozen French Toast Sticks
Air Fryer: Place frozen french toast sticks in a single layer in an air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for about 3-4 minutes or until heated through. Check halfway to turn the sticks over and check for doneness. Keep an eye on them as your air fryer may cook in more or less time.
Skillet: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. When warm, place frozen french toast sticks in a single layer with some space on each side. Heat for a few minutes on each side, just until heated through, about 5 minutes total.
Microwave: Use this method only if you're desperate. The other methods allow the exterior to get crisp again, unlike the microwave. That said, they reheat in about 30 seconds in the microwave.
Gain access to our FREE exclusive mini-series:
Gluten-Free Baking and Lessons Learned!
Plus, be the first to know about new recipes and exciting announcements!
📩 Sign up for the Mini-Series Here! 📩
Recipe
Gluten-Free Cinnamon French Toast Sticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 slices gluten-free bread
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Slice each piece of gluten-free bread into three strips about 1-inch thick.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla.
- In another shallow dish, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. When hot, melt a small pat of butter in the pan.
- Dip both sides of the bread in the egg mixture and place in the hot pan. -Don't soak the bread, dip each slice quickly right before placing in the pan.-Don't overcrowd the pan, work in batches.
- Cook the french toast sticks for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- Remove the sticks from the pan and immediately roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat both sides while the french toast sticks are still warm.
- Repeat steps 4-7 with remaining bread.
- Serve french toast sticks immediately, while still warm.
Notes
Nutrition
* Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should be used as an estimate only. See the nutrition policy for more information.
💌 Want to Save This?
Enter your email and we will send you a direct link to this post!
We will also add you to our email list. Unsubsribe at any time.
Kathy
This recipe looks so good. Can’t wait to try it!
Jill
Could I use the canyon bread? It’s the best tasting gluten free one that I’ve found.
Katie | Wheat by the Wayside
Sure you can!