This air fryer French toast recipe is my secret weapon for those busy mornings when I want a homemade breakfast without the hassle! With just a handful of pantry ingredients, I can whip up a batch in under 15 minutes. Plus, the air fryer makes it so simple and efficient, turning thick slices of brioche into perfectly crispy and golden pieces. It’s also easy to customize for one person or a whole family, making it a versatile go-to for any occasion.
This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above!
💭 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick 15 minute recipe with simple ingredients. It really doesn’t get easier to make this breakfast favorite: perfect crispiness, minimal mess
- Great for make-ahead and batch cooking: The only constraint is the size of your air fryer basket, but can be prepped and cooked so easily!
📋 Ingredients and notes
You’ll need eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, cinnamon, and a thickly sliced bread for this easy air fryer French toast recipe. You’ll also need some cooking oil spray for the air fryer.
Notes and Variations
- You’ll want thick slices of bread to hold the egg custard without getting soggy. I’ve also tested this recipe with challah, buttermilk bread, white bread, sandwich bread, French bread, sourdough and even whole wheat bread – they don’t always get as fluffy for all of them, but all works!
- Whole milk works best, but 2% milk or dairy-free milk (almond or oat milk) also work. I don’t recommend fat-free milk since this recipe doesn’t use butter, and you need some fat. You can use half and half, for a more indulgent toast.
- I’ve used brown sugar for the best caramelization but any sugar, maple syrup or even monk fruit sweetener will work.
- I’ve used vanilla and ground cinnamon, but you can add warm spices like nutmeg, or cardamom.
📖 How to make air fryer French toast
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (if your air fryer is a tray style one that needs to be preheated). If it’s a basket style air-fryer, don’t preheat!
- Make the egg custard: Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a large but shallow mixing bowl. Combine until all the ingredients are mixed into a smooth wet batter. Set aside.
- Set up an assembly line: Place a slice of bread on one side, the egg mixture in front of you, and your air fryer basket or tray to the other side. Line your air fryer basket or tray with parchment paper.
- Soak the bread in the French toast batter: Dip the bread into the egg mixture. Let it soak 3-4 seconds on each side.
- Remove excess egg custard: Let the excess drip back out in the bowl. Then, gently place on to the air fryer basket or tray, in a single layer, without touching each other. Then spray a coating of cooking spray on top of the slices.
Prepare air fryer French toast: Cook at 380°F for 5 minutes, then flip the bread slices and air fry for 3-4 minutes.
👩🏽🍳 Top tips and FAQs
Top Tip
Leftover bread works better than fresh bread. If you have time, leave the bread overnight to get “stale” so it crisps better.
- Choose a shallow bowl (with flat bottom) or a pie plate for the egg custard.
- Mix the egg custard well until the sugar is fully dissolved. Ensure there no large pieces of the yolk remain.
- Allow excess to drip back into bowl before placing in the air fryer. This helps avoid “pooling” of egg custard under toast slices.
- Dust with cinnamon sugar on top for extra crunchy French toast. The sugar caramelizes making it a delicious treat.
Troubleshooting
Yes! Most parchment paper or baking paper can handle heat up to 400°F. Do not use wax paper though – those are not air fryer or oven-safe!
Traditional French toast browns due to butter and fat in the egg custard. The level of browning will depend on the type of milk and bread, and the strength of your air fryer. The best browning occurs when you whole milk and/or half-and-half.
This is likely due to too much dairy or sugar in relation to the egg in the custard. Make sure you let the excess drip back into the bowl before placing in the air fryer, and you’ll get perfect crispy French toast.
Yes! If you want to make frozen French toast or frozen French toast sticks in the air fryer, preheat your air fryer or oven to 350° and cook for 4 – 5 minutes. You don’t need to thaw or flip them halfway.
🍴 What to serve with air fryer French toast
My favorite toppings include mixed berry compote, fresh or frozen berries or other fruits, maple syrup or honey, nut butters or spreads, jams, chocolate or strawberry syrup, or whipped cream. I do not recommend saving leftovers or freezing this recipe.
More French toast recipes:
I also have a couple of other French toast recipes you can try:
- Classic French toast with berry compote (simple stovetop version!)
- Bombay toast (Indian savory French toast)
- Croissant French toast bake
- Air fryer frozen French toast sticks
If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to comment and rate! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Air Fryer French Toast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 eggs, large
- ⅓ cup milk, substitute half and half
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 slices bread, thickly sliced brioche, or similar
- 1 teaspoon cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
- Combine eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and cinnamon in a large but shallow mixing bowl. Whisk well until all the ingredients are combined. Set aside.
- Set up an assembly line with bread slices, egg custard mixture, and air fryer basket or tray. Line your air fryer basket or tray with parchment paper.
- Take one slice of bread, dip into the egg mixture. Let it soak 3-4 seconds on each side. Let the excess drip back out in the bowl and gently place on to the air fryer basket or tray, in a single layer, without touching each other. Then spray a coating of cooking spray on top of the slices.
- Bake at 380°F for 5 minutes, flip, and air fry other side at 380°F again for 3-4 minutes. Actual time might vary based on the air fryer model. So, watch for a nice golden brown color on both sides before you're done.
- Serve your air fryer French toast with some maple syrup, a delicious berry compote, and/or some powdered sugar to your liking.
Notes
- If you’re cooking in batches, wait to soak the bread until you’re able to air fry them.
- Scale down for one person (use just 1 egg and a couple of tablespoons of milk) or up for a larger family (use slider on the recipe card).
- Make sure to not use wax paper and don’t line the tray with parchment paper when you’re preheating.
- To make parchment stick, spray a tiny bit of non-stick spray on the tray and then lay down the parchment paper on top. Then, spray the top of the parchment paper with a non-stick cooking spray
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I never make french toast because I can only cook one at a time. I never thought of using the air fryer!! Turned out great!
I made this over the weekend and loved how it turned out! I had never used my air fryer for French toast, but it was such a great way to make it — gave the toast the most perfect crispy edges. So good!
Making french toast in the air fryer was a breeze. It also makes the outside so crisp.