Making French toast for kids can be the simplest way to satisfy their taste buds and keep them filled. These toasts are delicious and can be a great breakfast or snack option for a picky eater. French toasts were initially created to use stale bread but gradually became a gourmet food. These toasts are the simplest recipes that can tempt your children. Moreover, they hardly take any preparation time, making them perfect for the days when you are occupied with work. Read on to find some nutritional facts about French toast and easy recipes.
Key Pointers
- French toast is a simple and delicious dish that is a filling snack.
- The classic French toast recipe involves coating bread slices with a mixture of eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and milk.
- French toast recipes have many variations, such as Cinnamon French Toast Sticks and Buttermilk French Toast.
- A serving of French toast provides energy, protein, fat, carbs, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and cholesterol.
Easy And Quick Recipe To Make French Toast For Kids
Though French toast is named so, the French did not invent it! Instead, it is credited to the Americans who named this dish French toast because it was popular among the French immigrants in the US. The first recorded recipe for French toast can be traced back to 300 AD Rome and is even included in the Roman cookbook Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome by Apicius. Hence, even the French knew this toast as Roman before being given this new name. In many countries, it is called ‘lost bread’ as it uses stale bread to make a delicious breakfast without waste (1).
Making French toast cannot get easier than this! This classic easy french toast recipe for kids will not just save you time but will also ensure that your little one enjoys a wholesome meal!
You will need
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon powder
- ¼ cup milk
- 4 slices of brown bread
- Butter
Optional toppings:
- Whipped cream
- Maple syrup
- Fresh fruits and berries
How to
- Add the egg, vanilla and cinnamon in a bowl. Whisk it well.
- Add the milk next and keep stirring.
- Now, take a bread slice and dip it in the egg mixture. Make sure the mix coats both sides of the bread slice well.
- Melt butter in a nonstick pan.
- Place the bread in the pan and cook until it turns golden brown on both sides.
And that’s it! You can serve yummy French toast to your kid with some optional toppings and watch them enjoy it!
Quick tipHow Healthy Is French Toast?
So, French toast is tasty. But is it healthy? If this worry is holding you back from adding this awesome dish to your kid’s menu, check out the table below!
Nutritional Value of French toast
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 273kcal |
| Protein | 10.36g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 11.38g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 32.34g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.2g |
| Sugars | 10.08g |
| Calcium | 143g |
| Iron | 2.39mg |
| Magnesium | 20mg |
| Phosphorus | 148mg |
| Potassium | 135mg |
| Sodium | 302mg |
| Cholesterol | 177mg |
Using sourdough instead of regular bread can also increase the nutritional value of French toast. Studies have shown that sourdough has significantly fewer FODMAPs in the 50-85% range, which helps mitigate gas formation and intestinal discomfort, especially in IBS patients (3).
Now you know the trick of cooking French toast in a hurry. How about learning something more leisurely?
If you look for French toast recipes, you’ll be inundated with choices! You can cook simple French toast in a number of ways. We have listed two of the most kid-friendly French toast recipes, just for your little one!
1. Cinnamon French toast sticks
Kids love this French toast variation! They can relish this sweet dish as finger food too.
You will need
- 4 slices of white bread
- 1½tbsp butter
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- Salt
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½tsp cinnamon powder
How to
- Take the bread slices and cut each one into four sticks.
- Now mix the eggs, milk and salt in a bowl.
- Take a separate plate to mix the cinnamon and sugar.
- Take a large pan and melt the butter in it over medium heat.
- Now dip the sticks into the egg mixture and put them into the pan.
- Cook until both sides turn golden brown.
- Remove the sticks from the pan and roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Serve immediately!
Quick tipRuth, a blogger, shares a simple yet delicious French toast recipe that her kids enjoy, “My daughter loves three things: French toast, Nutella, and strawberries. I decided to take three great tastes and make them taste great together with this easy stuffed French toast recipe. Rather than complicate my life and try to find a way to hold two pieces of bread together, I decided to cut the crusts off the bread, then fold it in half and seal the edges. It’s sort of like a pastry or calzone, I suppose. Before folding the bread in half, I just pat it down and add a little Nutella and some sliced strawberries for filling. You could also add bananas or change things up and add peaches with cream cheese and a little powdered sugar for sweetness. The possibilities are endless. Just use whatever your kids like best (i).”
2. Buttermilk French toast
You never thought that you could use buttermilk to make some French toasts for brunch, did you? This savory simple French toast recipe for kids is sure to appeal to all.
You will need
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 4 eggs
- 3tbsp sugar
- ¼tsp salt
- 12 bread slices
- 4½tbsp butter
- Maple syrup
How to
- Add buttermilk, eggs, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Whisk it well.
- Pour the mixture into a pan.
- Place the bread slices in the buttermilk mixture. Don’t forget to turn the slices so that both sides can soak the mix evenly. It may take about 20 minutes.
- Now, heat a little butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat.
- Place the bread slices in the pan.
- Cook until the slices turn golden brown. Do turn the slices over to ensure both sides cook evenly.
- Serve this yummy delicacy with some maple syrup and butter on top!
Quick tip3. French toast roll-ups
These delicious roll-ups can be served for brunch or as a snack in tiffins. The kids will love this crisp and mouth-watering snack.
You will need
- 8 slices of bread
- 3tbsp of Nutella, jam, or cookie butter
- 2 beaten eggs
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 3tbsp milk
- 1tbsp cinnamon powder
- 2tbsp unsalted butter
- Maple syrup
How to
- Remove the trims of the sliced bread and flatten it with a rolling pin.
- Spread a spoonful of nutella or cookie butter in a strip form on the bread and roll the bread. Repeat this with all the bread slices.
- Take a pan and melt the butter on it. Take the bread rolls, dip them in the egg mixture, and fry them in the pan until they are golden brown in color.
- Place the rolls in a bowl of sugar and cinnamon powder and coat them well. Serve it with some maple syrup.
Julie May, a mom and cookbook author, shares how French toast roll-ups are a lifesaver in summers when her home is bustling with children. She writes, “I made these darling little French toast roll-ups. I stuffed them a couple of different ways, just so we could see what we liked best. But you could fill them with a gazillion different fillings. I put them together the evening before, covered them, and popped them into the fridge. They bathed in the batter all night, and by the morning, they were ready to be popped into the oven while I got everything else ready (ii).”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How hot should a pan be for French toast?
To prepare a perfect French toast, preheat the pan to 375°F (190.5°C). If you do not have a thermometer, place your hand a few inches above the pan. You can feel the hot vapors, indicating your pan is ready to prepare French toast. Please be careful not to burn yourself while trying the latter method.
2. Why should I put milk in French toast?
The milk in the French toast plays a dual role. It moistens the bread, absorbing the flavors and making the toast nutritionally dense with protein and carbohydrates. Also, when heated, this protein and sugars undergo a Maillard reaction to give French toast its characteristic aroma and flavor.
3. Can I put eggs in French toast?
Yes, eggs in French toast help capture the flavors within the bread. When added, the egg solidifies the batter as it heats, giving structure to the French toast. Additionally, eggs are a good source of protein, making French toast one of the healthy snacks for kids.
4. How can I make non-soggy French toast?
The tip to not make a soggy French toast is not to let the bread sit in the batter for too long. Dip the bread in the milk mixture for just 10-20 seconds. Also, let the toast roast well on one side on a hot pan before flipping it.
5. What can I substitute for milk in French toast?
You may use plant-based milk to substitute dairy milk in French toast. Almond milk, soy milk, or light coconut milk would taste delicious. If you prefer a dairy-based alternative, you may choose heavy cream.
6. Is French toast meant to be crispy?
An ideal French toast is the best of both worlds. It is supposed to be crispy on the outside with a hint of softness on the inside. You could achieve this balance by dipping the bread in the mixture for a few seconds and roasting the bread well on both sides.
7. How can I involve my kids in cooking French toast?
French toast is one of the easiest recipes for beginners, so you can easily involve your child in the process of making it. Ask them to help you crack the eggs and whisk the egg mixture. While it is risky to let them come near a hot skillet, they could dip the bread in the egg mixture for you. Once you are done cooking, allow them to decorate the French toast with their favorite toppings.
French toast for kids is a great snack option when they are hungry, and you need to prepare something healthy within a few minutes. Additionally, these toasts are so versatile that you can give them an exciting twist every time by adding or altering the ingredients. However, if you are apprehensive about the nutritional quotient of French toasts, have a look at the table provided. Try this wholesome meal once in a while at home and watch your children gulp them in no time. It’s one of the best bread recipes for kids!
Infographic: Tasty Toppings To Go With French Toasts
Lip-smacking toppings are sure to make your child’s love for French toast manifold. They also provide variations to taste that keep children from getting bored with the dish and make them ask for more. Check out the infographic below for some tasty topping ideas for your regular French toast.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: How To Make Easy French Toast For Kids?
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Discover the art of creating delectable French Toast with this timeless, swift, and effortless recipe—a perfect choice for a leisurely weekend breakfast or brunch.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Easy stuffed french toast for kids.https://www.vivaveltoro.com/easy-stuffed-french-toast/
ii. Overnight Stuffed French Toast Roll Ups;
https://menumusings.blogspot.com/2014/06/overnight-stuffed-french-toast-roll-ups.html
References
- What part of France invented French toast?
https://www.wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2012/11/13/what-part-of-france-invented-french-toast/ - French toast, plain.
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/2708335/nutrients - Vera D’Amico, et al.; (2023); Does sourdough bread provide clinically relevant health benefits?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10399781/#sec27
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