Cut each piece of bread into 3 equal pieces. Place on a large baking sheet and set aside.
In a large pie plate or bowl, add the large eggs, milk, vanilla and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon on a large plate. Set aside.
Melt 2 Tablespoons of the salted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Quickly dip the sticks into the egg mixture—don’t let them soak—then shake off any excess. Place them in the pan, cooking in two batches to prevent overcrowding. Turn occasionally to cook each side until golden brown.
As soon as the French toast sticks are golden, transfer them straight to the cinnamon sugar and roll to coat. (Make sure to do this while they’re still hot—this helps the sugar stick.)
Melt remaining butter and cook the remaining French toast sticks. Serve immediately with maple syrup and a light sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired. Enjoy!