French Toast Sticks with Maple Butter Dipping Sauce

You know me, I’m all about butter…that’s why I’m so happy to be on the Land O’Lakes Kitchen Conversations panel, for the third year! Yay! The first time I had French toast my older sister, Quyen, made it for me, just like my first crepes and my first tuna pasta salad, which are all recipes I have shared on The Little Kitchen before. I have great memories of Quyen cooking for me and my other siblings. ☺

She’s the oldest out of us six kids (yes, there are six kids in my family!) and I’m the second oldest. My mom often worked two jobs when we were younger and my sister was like a second mom to us, taking care of us and cooking for us.

When it came time to change up the French toast, I thought of making it into sticks with a super dippable sauce made with Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil. It’s so simple. I have a theory that your kids will LOVE this! In fact, adults will love it, too!

I buy the buttery homestyle bread from my grocery store bakery, but I ask for the unsliced loaves. I cut the loaves into 1-inch thick slices and then into 1-inch thick sticks.

Whisk the eggs, vanilla extract and sugar together.

Then, whisk in melted butter, and then the milk.

Just like my sister did it when I was kid, I cook my French toast in Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter.

I dip the sticks in the egg and milk mixture really quickly. They don’t need to bathe in the batter or they will get soggy. No one likes soggy French toast!

Cook them on all sides. I cook the first side for 2 minutes and then the remaining sides…

for 1 minute each.

Once they are all done, mix the Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil and maple syrup together with a whisk. The spreadable butter is already soft, so it makes mixing the dipping sauce super easy.

It’s an amazing dipping sauce, perfect for brunch, breakfast and even dinner! Raise your hand if you like breakfast for dinner!

These are my new favorite brunch item for sure! I just know you’ll love these if you give them a try! The maple butter dipping sauce is where it’s at…dip the French toast sticks in it or drizzle it on top, either way it’s a winner!

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 absorb the egg and milk mixture even better.

French Toast Sticks with Maple Butter Dipping Sauce

 

Ingredients

French Toast Sticks

1/2 cup Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter (1 stick)
1/2 loaf homestyle bread, cut into 1-inch thick slices and then cut into 1-inch thick strips (about 4 sticks per slice)
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
3/4 cup whole milk

For Dipping/Serving

1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil

Directions

Melt 2 tablespoons 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, stir until thoroughly mixed together. Add melted and cooled butter and whisk thoroughly. Slowly add whole milk while whisking. Continue whisking until the egg and milk mixture is thoroughly combined.

Add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter to a non-stick skillet and turn heat to medium. Cook the French toast sticks in half batches. Once butter melts, dip the breadsticks in the egg and milk mixture for just a second one at time, and then 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, using tongs flip and cook for 1 minute each on the remaining sides. When they are done, remove from pan and place on baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Wipe skillet out with a clean paper towel and then add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter to it again. Repeat the dipping and cooking of the remaining 8 breadsticks.
Add maple syrup and Butter with Canola Oil to a small bowl. Whisk together (with a clean whisk) until mixed.
Serve the French toast sticks with the maple butter dipping sauce.

The Little Kitchen has partnered with Land O’Lakes for an exclusive endorsement of Land O’Lakes® Butter for their Kitchen Conversation blogger program. This blog post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes.