These French Toast Waffle Sticks are the ultimate kid-friendly breakfast made right in the waffle maker! Bread strips are dipped in a simple mixture of eggs (yep they'll actually be eating eggs!), milk, banana, cinnamon, and flax, then cooked until golden and crisp on the outside while staying soft on the inside. They're easy to make, freezer-friendly, and packed with more nutrition than traditional French toast sticks.
As a dietitian mom of two, I love finding ways to boost the nutrition of foods my kids already enjoy. These French Toast Waffle Sticks are one of those recipes that feels fun enough for toddlers but still contains protein, healthy fats, fiber, and whole-food ingredients that help keep little bellies satisfied. Plus, I love them too?!
Whether you're serving them for breakfast, snack time, or meal prep for the week, these waffle maker French toast sticks are sure to become a family favorite.
Why You'll Love These French Toast Waffle Sticks
- no added sugar needed
- gets your egg hating toddler actually eating eggs
- easy to make in the waffle maker
- toddler and big kid approved
- naturally sweetened with banana
- great source of protein, fiber, and iron
- perfect for baby-led weaning and finger foods
- freezer-friendly for busy mornings
- can turn them into breakfast or good morning kabobs!
I bet you'd also love my strawberry French toast cups and my easy French toast in a mug for quick mornings!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These French Toast Waffle Sticks
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Your French Toast Waffle Sticks
- Hint for the Best French Toast Waffle Sticks
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storing Your French Toast Waffle Sticks
- Tiff's Dietitian Tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- French Toast Waffle Sticks for Kids
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to make these French toast waffle sticks:
- Bread - the base of these French Toast Waffle Sticks! Bread provides carbohydrates, which are your little one's body's preferred source of energy for play, learning, and growth.
- Eggs - eggs add protein and healthy fats to help keep little bellies fuller longer, and provide nutrients like choline, which supports brain development!
- Milk - milk adds calcium, vitamin D, and protein to support growing bones and teeth (you can use dairy or your favorite dairy-free alternative)
- Banana - totally optional, but banana naturally sweetens these waffle sticks without the need for added sugar. It also provides fiber and potassium while helping create a soft, fluffy texture!
- Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste - a little vanilla adds warmth and sweetness, helping these taste like a special breakfast treat
- Cinnamon - cinnamon adds flavor without added sugar and pairs perfectly with the banana and vanilla
- Ground Flaxseed or Chia Seeds - these tiny seeds are packed with fiber, healthy fats, and plant-based omega-3s. They are an easy way to boost nutrition while helping keep kids satisfied! Use code TIFF10 on Tiny Sprouts for discount
See recipe card for quantities.
I love using ingredients like banana, flax, and chia because they add nutrition without changing the flavor much. It's an easy way to make a favorite breakfast a little more filling and nutrient-dense for growing toddlers and kids.
How to Make Your French Toast Waffle Sticks
- Step 1: While your waffle maker is warming up, cut your bread slices into sticks about 1 inch wide.
- Step 2: In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, mashed banana (if using), vanilla, cinnamon, and ground flax or chia seeds until well combined.
- Step 3: Dip each bread stick into the mixture, coating all sides.
- Step 4: Place the coated bread sticks into a preheated waffle maker and cook until golden brown and slightly crisp on the outside.
Hint for the Best French Toast Waffle Sticks
Don't rush the cooking time! Let the waffle maker do the work and cook the French toast sticks until they're golden brown and slightly crisp on the outside. This helps create that perfect contrast between the crispy exterior and soft, fluffy center that kids love. If your waffle maker has a browning setting, choose medium to medium-high for the best texture.
Substitutions
Don't have an ingredient on hand? These French Toast Waffle Sticks are easy to customize! Here are some ideas:
- bread: whole wheat bread, sourdough, brioche, Texas toast, multigrain bread, or gluten-free bread
- milk: whole milk, 2% milk, oat milk, soy milk, Ripple Kids, or almond milk
- banana: ¼ cup pumpkin puree, ¼ cup applesauce, or simply omit
- ground flaxseed: ground chia seeds, hemp hearts, or omit
- cinnamon: pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, nutmeg, or omit
- eggs: flax eggs or your favorite egg replacer
Variations
One of my favorite things about these French Toast Waffle Sticks is how easy they are to customize based on what you have on hand or your child's preferences!
- protein-packed French toast sticks - add 2 tablespoons of hemp hearts or a few tablespoons of Greek yogurt to the batter for additional protein and healthy fats
- berry French toast sticks - mash a few strawberries or blueberries into the batter for a naturally sweet fruity twist or even top with a berry chia jam!
- pumpkin spice French toast waffle sticks - replace the banana with ¼ cup pumpkin puree and add a pinch of pumpkin pie spice for a cozy fall version
- cinnamon roll French toast sticks - toss sticks in cinnamon sugar coating for a flavor that tastes like a cinnamon roll and pair with a cream cheese dip!
- dairy-free French toast sticks - use your favorite dairy-free milk such as oat milk, soy milk, or Ripple Kids
- chocolate chip French toast waffle sticks - mix a few mini chocolate chips into the batter or sprinkle them on top before serving for a fun treat
- banana bread French toast waffle sticks - use cinnamon raisin bread and the mashed banana for a flavor combination that tastes just like banana bread
Go check out this mug cake French toast version for an even easier option!
Equipment
One of the best things about these French Toast Waffle Sticks is that you don't need any fancy equipment to make them! You'll need a waffle maker to create the crispy waffle texture, a mixing bowl for whisking together the egg mixture, and a whisk or fork to combine the ingredients. A knife and cutting board are helpful for slicing the bread into sticks before dipping and cooking. That's it, just a few simple kitchen tools for an easy breakfast your whole family will love!
Storing Your French Toast Waffle Sticks
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze, allow the sticks to cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat in the toaster, air fryer, or oven until warmed through.
Tiff's Dietitian Tip
If your toddler is going through an "egg ick" phase, don't stress. It's completely normal for little ones to go through periods where they suddenly reject foods they previously loved. Instead of pressuring them to eat eggs on their own, try incorporating eggs into familiar foods like these French Toast Waffle Sticks, muffins, pancakes, or baked goods.
Continued exposure helps build familiarity and keeps eggs on the menu without turning mealtime into a battle. Remember: exposure counts, even if they don't take a bite! If you need more support with your picky eater I'd love to chat!
FAQ
Almost any bread will work, including whole wheat, sourdough, brioche, Texas toast, or sandwich bread. Whole wheat bread is a great option if you'd like to add extra fiber.
Yes. Use your favorite dairy-free milk.
Yes! These French Toast Waffle Sticks are soft on the inside, easy to hold, and naturally sweetened with banana, making them a great option for toddlers and young children. Even great way to offer eggs to babies!
Absolutely. The banana adds natural sweetness and helps create a soft texture, but you can leave it out if preferred.
Nope! You can cook the bread strips in a skillet just like traditional French toast. The waffle maker simply creates a fun shape and slightly crispier texture that many kids love, plus makes cooking and clean up easier in my opinion!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these French toast waffle sticks:
French Toast Waffle Sticks for Kids
Ingredients
- 6 slices bread of choice (depending size) cut into strips, about 12 strips total
- 2 large eggs or flax eggs
- ⅓ cup milk of choice
- 1 medium ripe banana mashed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, mashed banana (if using), vanilla extract, cinnamon, and flaxseed until smooth.
- Cut each slice of bread into strips (3 strips for normal sliced bread). Dip each bread strip into the egg mixture, coating all sides.
- Place the coated bread strips into the waffle maker in a single layer. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and lightly crisp.
- Repeat with the remaining bread strips and serve warm.
Notes
- The exact number of waffle sticks will vary depending on the size and thickness of your bread. Expect anywhere from 12-18 sticks.
- Slightly stale bread works best because it absorbs the egg mixture without becoming soggy.
- Cook until golden brown and lightly crisp on the outside for the best texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze cooled waffle sticks in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in the toaster, air fryer, or oven for the crispiest results.
- Serve with Greek yogurt, nut butter, fruit, or milk for a more balanced breakfast or snack.
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