Healthy grilled French toast sticks made from scratch with a rich milk and egg batter and cinnamon and nutmeg. Cooks up crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Served with a simple, wholesome raspberry sauce instead of syrup.
Kids love junk food. Doesn't everybody?
I think part of the allure of junk food is that we aren't supposed to eat it. We want what we shouldn't have.
When I was at the Sara Lee Back to School Nutrition Summit in July, Chef Jill Houck talked to us about making healthy, nutritious foods look like junk food.
Is that brilliant or what? I love the concept.
I think Gracie will devour anything that looks remotely like a French Fry, as long as she can dip it in something that reminds her of ketchup. That's exactly what Chef Jill was betting on when she created the recipe below.
You could make these ahead of time and freeze them. Wouldn't your mornings be simpler if you were pulling a couple of French Toast sticks out of the freezer instead of trying to cook them from scratch?
Who needs those pre-made frozen ones from the grocery store that are deep fried? Not my kids!
What you'll need to make healthy French toast sticks
For the French toast sticks
- 4 slices of bread, cut into 3-4 sticks each
- ½ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
- pinch ground cinnamon
- pinch ground nutmeg
- pinch salt
- butter flavored cooking spray (or real butter)
For the dipping sauce
- 1 cup raspberries fresh or frozen - I think this would be awesome with any fresh fruit. Strawberries would still look like ketchup but blueberries or peaches or even apples would be delicious, too.
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice - I always say that fresh is worlds better than the prepared in a bottle stuff, but in this recipe, there is virtually no difference. I never buy the prepared stuff and thus have to squeeze a lemon, but if you already have the bottle, go ahead and use it.
- ½ cup powdered sugar
How to make healthy French toast sticks
- Combine the milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix well with a whisk until smooth. Refrigerate until needed.
- In a blender, combine raspberries, lemon juice and sugar until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and refrigerate until needed.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and brush spray with butter-flavored cooking spray or a small amount of butter.
- Dip the bread sticks into the batter, coating them evenly. Cook the slices on one side until evenly browned, then turn and brown the other side.
- Serve the French toast sticks immediately with raspberry dipping sauce.
- Cut French Toast sticks into thinner sticks for little kids to dip into the raspberry sauce like fries in ketchup.
What makes these French toast sticks healthy
Normally, French toast sticks are deep fried, and these aren't which makes them healthier right off the bat.
More than that, most of the time, we drizzle or dip the sticks into syrup. Syrup, while tasty, is a nutritional mess, so substituting raspberry dipping sauce instantly bumps up the vitamins and minerals that your kids need.
And, if all that wasn't enough, it's very easy to disguise whole grain bread in these French toast sticks. Your kids won't know whether the French Toast sticks that they're dipping came from white bread or whole wheat. They'll just dip and eat. Win!
Try these other delicious berry recipes while you're here:
- Fresh Raspberry Sauce for Cheesecake, Ice Cream, or Shortcake
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
- Easy Homemade Raspberry Pie
- Easy No Bake Berry Trifle – A Patriotic Dessert
- Red, White, and Blue Fruit Tart
- Fluffy Cranberry Fruit Salad with Pineapple
- How to Make Strawberry Overnight Oats
French Toast Sticks with Raspberry Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
For the French toast sticks
- 4 slices bread cut into 3-4 sticks each
- ½ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
- pinch ground cinnamon
- pinch ground nutmeg
- pinch salt
- butter flavored cooking spray or real butter
For the dipping sauce
- 1 cup raspberries fresh or frozen - I think this would be awesome with any fresh fruit. Strawberries would still look like ketchup but blueberries or peaches or even apples would be delicious, too.
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Combine the milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix well with a whisk until smooth. Refrigerate until needed.
- In a blender, combine raspberries, lemon juice and sugar until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and refrigerate until needed.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and brush spray with butter-flavored cooking spray or a small amount of butter.
- Dip the bread slices into the batter, coating them evenly. Cook the slices on one side until evenly browned, then turn and brown the other side.
- Serve the French toast sticks immediately with raspberry dipping sauce.
- Cut French Toast sticks into thinner sticks for little kids to dip into the raspberry sauce like fries in ketchup.
TheAngelForever says
That sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing. I think my boys will love it.
.-= TheAngelForever´s last blog ..Spotlight on PR =-.
TheAngelForever says
That sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing. I think my boys will love it.
.-= TheAngelForever´s last blog ..Spotlight on PR =-.
[email protected] says
Sounds good. I have given her french toast - but not french toast sticks!! Great. I hope it is ok that I linked up my TMTT post, since it was the Grace in the Kitchen edition.
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Same old thing.. and loving every minute of it! =-.
[email protected] says
Sounds good. I have given her french toast - but not french toast sticks!! Great. I hope it is ok that I linked up my TMTT post, since it was the Grace in the Kitchen edition.
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Same old thing.. and loving every minute of it! =-.
Kayla says
Okay that sounds AMAZING!
I'm hungry now >.< Lol
Kayla says
Okay that sounds AMAZING!
I'm hungry now >.< Lol
Dawn (Painter Mommy) says
I am always hesitant about checking out your blog posts until I have eaten. You are always makin' me HUNGRY! LOL
.-= Dawn (Painter Mommy)´s last blog ..How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies =-.
Ann Kroeker says
Terrific idea! I asked the kids what their favorite food was at Family Camp this year. "French Toast Sticks!" was their enthusiastic reply, in unison, with lots of "Mmmmm"s involved.
.-= Ann Kroeker´s last blog ..Food on Fridays: Chocolate-Chip Cookie Trick =-.
Ann Kroeker says
Terrific idea! I asked the kids what their favorite food was at Family Camp this year. "French Toast Sticks!" was their enthusiastic reply, in unison, with lots of "Mmmmm"s involved.
.-= Ann Kroeker´s last blog ..Food on Fridays: Chocolate-Chip Cookie Trick =-.
bj says
Ummm, these sound great !
Could you tell me how you add what you are featuring to your blog name when you link up with Mr. Linky? Are you just adding it after your URL?
Thanks..bj
.-= bj´s last blog ..THE ESSENCE OF SUMMER..... =-.
bj says
Ummm, these sound great !
Could you tell me how you add what you are featuring to your blog name when you link up with Mr. Linky? Are you just adding it after your URL?
Thanks..bj
.-= bj´s last blog ..THE ESSENCE OF SUMMER..... =-.
Dawn (Painter Mommy) says
I am always hesitant about checking out your blog posts until I have eaten. You are always makin' me HUNGRY! LOL
.-= Dawn (Painter Mommy)´s last blog ..How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies =-.
Sharinskishe says
What a wonderful idea! I think my family would love using fruit dip with their french toast.
Thanks for sharing.
Shari
.-= Sharinskishe´s last blog ..Make-Do Planter from a Thrifty Find =-.
Sharinskishe says
What a wonderful idea! I think my family would love using fruit dip with their french toast.
Thanks for sharing.
Shari
.-= Sharinskishe´s last blog ..Make-Do Planter from a Thrifty Find =-.
Amy Green - Simply Sugar & says
I had to stop by and see your Raspberry Dipping Sauce - I"m looking for new fruit sauces all of the time. I found you via Ann Kroeker's Food on Friday! Love this post!
Amy Green - Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free says
I had to stop by and see your Raspberry Dipping Sauce - I"m looking for new fruit sauces all of the time. I found you via Ann Kroeker's Food on Friday! Love this post!
darnold23 says
I hope you will come to Crock Pot Wednesdays at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com this week. Mr. Linky is up and waiting for your entry
darnold23 says
I hope you will come to Crock Pot Wednesdays at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com this week. Mr. Linky is up and waiting for your entry
Jill Houk says
Tara, I'm so glad you re-printed this recipe!!!! I love that other parents have embraced the whole grains message. Let me know how your kids like the French Toast sticks.
More recipes to be posted on fb this week on the Sara Lee Soft & Smooth fan page.
Jill Houk says
Tara, I'm so glad you re-printed this recipe!!!! I love that other parents have embraced the whole grains message. Let me know how your kids like the French Toast sticks.
More recipes to be posted on fb this week on the Sara Lee Soft & Smooth fan page.