Toast Sticks

My boys love french toast sticks! But, have you ever read the ingredients?...... Eww..... So, feeling like a little purist, off I set on making them a home made version:

Bread:
1 cup warm water
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4tsp salt
1 packet yeast
1Tbsp olive oil



Combine 1 cup of flour, the salt, and yeast in a large bowl or stand mixer with a dough hook. Once well combined, add the rest of the flour, adjusting as necessary depending on how wet or dry the dough becomes. Once combined, remove and kneed for about 5 minutes. Place in a large oiled bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Place the bowl in a warm place until the dough doubles in size. Punch the dough down and place on a lightly floured cutting board or counter and let it sit for another 10 minutes.
Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. The shape you roll in out to depends on what shape loaf you intend to make. If you want a french baguette, roll it out to a rectangle then starting with a long side roll the dough over and seal with a little water at the seams. Heat your oven to 375f. Grease a cookie sheet, sprinkle a little corn meal, and place the dough on the meal. Lightly score the top of the bread on the diagonal about 2 inches apart and bake until browned.


Now for making the french toast:

3 eggs
2tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup whole milk
1Tbsp butter
1/4 cup brown sugar

Cut the cooled bread into sticks 3-4 inches long, by 1 inch wide, by 1 inch high. Whisk together the eggs, milk, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Toss a few of the stick to coat and let them soak for a few minutes. The soaked up mixture will create a custard effect in the middle of the sticks when cooked, making the inside oh so creamy and yummy! Repeat these steps for all the sticks. Melt the butter over medium low to medium heat. Add a few of the sticks and cook each side for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the pan and immediately sprinkle each side with some of the brown sugar. The heat from the stick will almost brulee the sugar, making them nice and crunchy! Drizzle with maple syrup of honey if you like! Hope you enjoy!


The price:
All of these ingredients were already on hand! Yes at one time we paid for them, however given they were all bought for different things, this meal was essentially free!!