French Toast Sticks with Maple Butter Dipping Sauce Recipe
I buy the buttery homestyle bread from my grocery store bakery unsliced for this recipe. That way, I can control the thickness for the French toast sticks! If you're making this for brunch or as a breakfast for your family, slice the bread first before you do anything else. This will allow the bread to dry out a little bit and hold the egg-milk mixture even better.
Melt 2 tablespoons Land O’Lakes® Unsalted Butter in the microwave and set aside, allow to cool.
Cut the bread into 1-inch slices and then into 1-inch sticks, about 4 sticks per slice of bread. Place on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and set aside.
In a shallow dish, add eggs, vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Using a whisk, whisk until thoroughly mixed together. Add melted (cooled) butter and whisk thoroughly. Slowly add whole milk while whisking. Continue whisking until the egg-milk mixture is thoroughly combined.
Add 3 tablespoons Land O’Lakes® Unsalted Butter to a non-stick skillet and turn heat to medium. Cook the sticks in half batches. Once butter melts, one at at time (for 8 sticks) dip the bread sticks in the egg-milk mixture for just a second, turn over and dip again. Add to the pan and continue until there are 8 French toast sticks in the pan.
Cook for 2 minutes on the first side and then flip and cook for 1 minute each for the remaining sides. Use tongs to turn the French toast sticks. When they are done, remove from pan and place on another baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Wipe pan out with a clean paper towel. Add 3 tablespoons Land O’Lakes® Unsalted Butter to a non-stick skillet. Repeat the dipping and cooking of the remaining 8 bread sticks.
Add maple syrup and Land O’Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil to a small bowl. Whisk together (with a clean whisk) until mixed together.
Serve the French toast sticks with the maple butter dipping sauce.
Notes: These actually refrigerate very well, if you want to cook them ahead. I store them in a zippered plastic bag and reheat in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds. They won't be as crunchy as they are when they are fresh but they still taste great!