Delish Air Fryer French Toast Recipes

This is the kind of breakfast that makes the whole house smell like cinnamon and butter, but without you babysitting a skillet while the coffee goes cold. It’s classic French toast—custardy in the middle, caramelized at the edges—made fast in the air fryer so every slice comes out golden and crisp at the exact same time. If you’ve got thick bread, five-ish pantry staples, and ten minutes, you’re halfway to a plate of pure comfort.

My family is feral for this. Saturday morning, someone always yells “French toast?” and my husband acts like he just won the lottery while our kid climbs up on a chair to whisk the eggs like a tiny sous-chef with no regard for splash zone boundaries. Cinnamon ends up on the cat. The air fryer beeps, the dog loses his mind, and we all crowd the counter for that first maple-drippy bite. It’s become our low-effort, maximum-payoff breakfast that still feels cute and weekend-y.

How to Make It

Here’s the move: grab 8 thick slices of brioche or Texas toast. In a shallow bowl, whisk 3 large eggs with 1/2 cup milk (plus 2 tablespoons cream if you’ve got it), 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a small pinch of salt. If the cinnamon floats on top and looks annoying, keep whisking—it’ll behave.

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes. Lightly spray the basket or lay down perforated parchment (poke holes if you DIY—it needs airflow). Dip each slice for just a couple seconds per side—don’t let it soak like a sponge or you’ll be on Team Soggy. Let the extra drip off, lay the slices in a single layer, and give the tops a tiny brush of melted butter if you’re feeling extra.

Air fry 7–9 minutes, flipping halfway. They’ll look pale at minute three and then boom—golden. For thicker bread, add another minute. Serve with maple, berries, powdered sugar, or, honestly, a fistful of bacon. Makes about 4 servings. If you’re feeding a crowd, keep the first batch warm at 200°F in the oven while the next goes.

✔Ingredient Notes

– Brioche or Texas toast: Thick slices hold the custard and crisp outside. Regular sandwich bread works, but it’ll cook faster and can go flimsy—keep the dip quick.
– Eggs: The structure. No eggs = custard meltdown. If you’re egg-free, try Just Egg or a cornstarch-milk slurry, but texture changes.
– Milk + cream: Whole milk is best; splash of cream makes it diner-level plush. Almond/oat milk work, just don’t skip the pinch of salt so it doesn’t taste flat.
– Vanilla: The cozy bakery smell. I’ve done almond extract in a pinch—use half as much.
– Cinnamon: Whisk it well so it doesn’t float like confetti. A tiny grate of nutmeg is luxe.
– Sugar: Helps caramelize. Maple syrup in the custard is lovely—use 1 tablespoon.
– Salt: Tiny pinch = big flavor. Don’t skip.
– Butter: Melted, brushed on top before cooking or mid-flip for extra golden.
– Cooking spray/parchment: Keeps it from sticking and tearing your beautiful toast. Don’t smother—light coat only.

✔Recipe Steps

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes and lightly spray the basket or line with perforated parchment.
2. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a wide bowl until smooth.
3. Dip bread slices 2–3 seconds per side; let excess drip off.
4. Arrange slices in a single layer; brush tops lightly with melted butter.
5. Air fry 7–9 minutes, flipping at the 4-minute mark, until deep golden and set.
6. Serve hot with maple syrup, berries, and a dusting of powdered sugar; keep batches warm in a 200°F oven if needed.

What to Serve It With

– Fresh berries and a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream
– Bacon or breakfast sausage (salty + sweet forever)
– Peanut butter and sliced bananas for a protein pop
– Quick berry compote: simmer frozen berries with a spoon of maple and a squeeze of lemon
– Espresso, obviously, or a giant iced latte if it’s that kind of morning

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Don’t oversoak the bread. Quick dip, quick drip, into the basket.
– Don’t crowd the basket. Overlap = soggy steam zone.
– If it’s too pale, add 1–2 minutes. Air fryers are all a little chaotic.
– If your cinnamon floats, whisk it with the sugar first, then add liquids.
– Use day-old bread when you can. It drinks just the right amount of custard.

✔Storage Tips

Pop leftovers into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2–3 minutes so the edges crisp back up. Freeze on a sheet tray, then bag for up to 2 months—reheat straight from frozen at 350°F for 4–5 minutes. Cold French toast dunked in coffee is a thing and I am not ashamed.

✔Variations and Substitutions

– Stuffed: Spread softened cream cheese and a swipe of jam between two thinner slices; dip and air fry a minute longer.
– Crunchy: Press dipped slices in crushed cornflakes or cinnamon cereal before cooking.
– Dairy-free: Use almond or oat milk; brush with coconut oil instead of butter.
– Gluten-free: Use sturdy gluten-free sandwich bread; shorten cook time by 1 minute.
– Orange spice: Add 1 teaspoon orange zest and a pinch of cardamom to the custard.
– Less sweet: Skip the sugar in the custard and let maple syrup do the work.
– Honey ↔ sugar: Swap 1 tablespoon honey or maple for the sugar if that’s what you’ve got.
– Chocolate chip chaos: Sprinkle mini chips on the slices after flipping for a melty top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Delish Air Fryer French Toast Recipes

Golden, custardy French toast made fast in the air fryer—crispy edges, fluffy centers, and classic cinnamon-vanilla flavor. Perfect for busy mornings or a brunch that impresses with minimal effort.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 8 slices thick-cut brioche or Texas toast
• ▢ 4 large eggs
• ▢ 0.75 cup whole milk
• ▢ 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ▢ 0.25 tsp fine salt
• ▢ 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted, optional for brushing
• ▢ nonstick cooking spray for greasing the air fryer basket

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes. Lightly coat the basket with nonstick spray.
• In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until smooth and well combined.
• Dip each bread slice into the custard for 10 to 15 seconds per side, letting excess drip back into the dish.
• Arrange slices in a single layer in the basket (do not crowd). Brush tops lightly with melted butter or mist with spray.
• Air fry for 5 to 6 minutes, flip, then cook 3 to 4 minutes more until deep golden with crisp edges and a custardy center.
• Repeat with remaining slices. Serve warm with maple syrup, fresh berries, and a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

Day-old or slightly dried bread browns best. If your air fryer runs hot, cook at 360°F. For extra richness, swap half of the milk with half-and-half. Keep finished slices warm in a 200°F oven while cooking the rest.