Recipe: Cinnamon French Toast Sticks with Spicy Cider Syrup

CINNAMON FRENCH TOAST STICKS

Spicy Cider Syrup (for serving, recipe follows)
1/2 cup flour
1 1/4 cups milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
10 slices sandwich bread, cut into thirds

Make Spicy Cider Syrup and keep warm.

Beat remaining ingredients except bread with fork until smooth.

Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. Grease with cooking spray, vegetable oil, or shortening.

Dip bread sticks into batter. Drain excess batter back into the bowl. Place bread sticks on griddle. Cook about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

Serve with syrup.

SPICY CIDER SYRUP

1 cup sugar
3 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cups apple cider
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 cup butter or margarine

Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in cider and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in butter.

Source: Gold Medal