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There’s nothing like the smell of cinnamon and apples to make your kitchen feel cozy. These Vegan Apple Cinnamon French Toast Sticks are crispy, custardy, and full of warm, spiced flavor. Made with juicy sautéed apples and a creamy vegan batter, they’re simple, comforting, and just a little bit special. These elevated French toast sticks will quickly become your favorite breakfast recipe.
Ingredients for vegan apple cinnamon French toast sticks:
- Bread – Stale bread is key! If yours isn’t stale, slice it thick and let it sit out for a few hours.
- Apples – I used red apples. Peel them and cut into small to medium chunks.
- Maple syrup – For a slightly healthier twist, I use pure maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
- Cinnamon – Just a teaspoon brings all the cozy vibes.
- Cornflour (cornstarch) – Combined with plant-based milk, this replaces the eggy custard.
- Plant-based milk – I used oat milk, but any kind will work. I prefer oat milk as it has the most similar consistency to whole milk.
- Plant-based butter – Salted vegan butter adds depth and richness.
All about the maple apple sauce…
This maple apple sauce elevates a traditional French toast recipe into something more magical. Start by removing the skin from the apples, and then cut them into small-medium chunks. Heat butter in a pan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add in the chopped apples and maple syrup. Mix and cook together for around 15-20 minutes or until the apples become soft and break apart easily. Allow to cool at room temperature.
Transfer the cooled maple apples into a food processor along with 1/2 cup of the oat milk. Blend until smooth. You can make this maple apple sauce the day before, too!
Making the apple cinnamon French toast sticks…
In a shallow bowl, carefully add the remaining milk, the maple apple sauce, ground cinnamon and cornstarch. You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla into this recipe if you like, I didn’t because I didn’t want anything to overpower the star of this recipe (the apples) too much. Whisk together until combined.
Grab your slices of bread, and slice each piece into 3-4 sticks. If your bread isn’t stale, I’d recommend slicing it into only 3 sticks, as the thicker they are, the less likely they will become too soggy. Also, slice the sticks before you do anything so they can become slightly stale while you make the maple apple sauce, etc.
Place a few bread sticks into the cinnamon apple custard, allow to sit for 20-30 seconds, flip and let sit for a further 20-30 seconds. If your bread isn’t stale, you’ll want to dunk it into the custard, flip it, and place it onto a baking sheet. Repeat until all of the bread sticks have been perfectly drenched in the custard.
Heat a wide pan over medium-high heat, add in 1 tsp of salted vegan butter. Once the butter has melted, carefully place 3-4 of the sticks into the pan. Try not to crowd the pan, and keep a good space between each french toast stick. Allow the French toast to cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully flip, and toast the other side for the same amount of time. Repeat with all of the sticks.
Serve warm with thinly sliced apples and a small bowl of maple syrup for dunking. Because why drizzle when you can dip? Naughty, but nice.
Print Ingredients
- 5 slices of thick, stale bread
- 2 apples, peeled and chopped (1 1/2 cups chopped)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 3 tbsp salted vegan butter
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup oat milk
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp of butter over medium heat, add in the chopped apples and 1 tbsp maple syrup. Cook together for 20-30 minutes or until the apples soften. Allow to cool. Transfer into a blender with 1/2 cup oat milk. Blend until smooth.
- In a wide bowl, combine the maple apple sauce, the remaining 1/2 cup of milk, ground cinnamon and cornstarch. Whisk together.
- Slice each slice of bread into 3-4 sticks. Place a few of the bread sticks into the batter. Allow to sit for 20-30 seconds, flip, and allow to sit on the other side for a further 20-30 seconds. Transfer onto a baking tray. Repeat until all the bread sticks are covered.
- Heat 1tsp vegan butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the batter-covered bread sticks into the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown, flip and repeat. Try not to crowd the pan! Repeat with all the bread sticks.
- Enjoy warm with maple syrup!
