Ready for the best air fryer french toast recipe out there? The little bites of french toast sticks are perfectly crispy and addictive. Plus, making these at home is an amazing healthy alternative to the frozen deep fried ones at the store. The secret to the best results is using the right type of hearty bread and not making the custard with too much egg. So, grab that air fryer and let’s get breakfast on the table!
Why I Love This Recipe
Back in 1986, I got my first job working at Burger King. I worked there for two years and during that time is when they came out with french toast sticks. Instantly, I was addicted. Since I only worked the breakfast shift on the weekends, those little french toast bites became the highlight of my shifts.
While I wish I could eat deep-fried french toast every weekend, age has other plans for the size of my waistline. This air fryer french toast was my solution. They turn out perfectly crisp and crunchy without needing a trip down into hot oil. And to say that my kids loved them is quite an understatement. My son has already made them as an after-school snack twice in the past week.
Air Fryer French Toast Ingredients & Tools
Potato bread, or other hearty bread
Large egg
Milk
Half and half
Vanilla extract
Ground cinnamon
Kosher salt
Air fryer
How to Make Air Fryer French Toast
Skip the skillet and grab the air fryer for the best french toast in just a few minutes!
Time needed: 10 minutes
How to Make Air Fryer French Toast
Decide if you want a whole slice of french toast or sticks
Honestly, the recipe is exactly the same so just pick whichever way you prefer your air fryer french toast! Just use a hearty slice of bread so it doesn’t fall apart when it gets wet.
Make the perfect custard
Here is where people go wrong with their french toast. They go too heavy on the egg and it’s like eating scrambled eggs stuck to bread. Just use one egg and use more milk or cream for the perfect custard.
Don’t oversaturate the bread
It’s important to give the bread just a quick dip into the custard on both sides. If it absorbs too much liquid, it will become soggy and fall apart.
Use a preheated air fryer
Some air fryer recipes don’t require preheating but this one definitely does. Having the basket already hot helps the french toast cook evenly and get nice and crispy so don’t skip this important step.
Serve while hot
Air fryer french toast is definitely the best hot so don’t wait around to eat them. If they do cool off, just pop them back into the air fryer for a couple of minutes to heat up again and get crispy.
Recipe FAQs
Why doesn’t my french toast get crispy?
If your french toast isn’t getting crispy, you need to increase the temperature. Remember that you are starting with wet bread so for the surface of that french toast to crisp up requires high heat so the moisture can evaporate. For an air fryer, that means using a high temp like 400 degrees.
Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?
Yes, parchment paper can be used in an air fryer. It is perfectly safe in that machine, just as it is safe inside a standard oven. Many recipes for air fryer french toast suggest using parchment paper in the basket to keep the bread from sticking but if you preheat the machine, it eliminates the need for the parchment.
Can I use a whole piece of bread instead of sticks?
Yes, this air fryer french toast recipe works great for either sticks or whole slices of bread. I only made them into sticks because I knew my kids would love them that way, and they did! If you are cooking a whole piece of bread, just add another minute or two to the baking time listed in the recipe below.
Best bread to use in air fryer french toast
The best bread to use is a hearty one. And what that means is one that won’t fall apart once the custard is soaked into the bread. I used potato bread, but sourdough, cinnamon raisin, whole grain, French, or Italian bread would all work well. Just don’t try using that cheap sandwich bread.
Air Fryer French Toast Recipe Variations
The beauty of cooking at home is the freedom to play around with new recipes and make it exactly how your family loves their food. Yes, even with something as simple as air fryer french toast, you can play around with the different ingredients and have some fun! Try out one or all of these suggestions and let me know what you think.
Try different breads to mix up both the texture and the flavor of the air fryer french toast. Anything that is hearty will work well like sourdough, cinnamon raisin, or whole grain.
Add nutmeg into the custard along with the cinnamon. Just a small pinch will add another layer of flavor.
Include lemon or orange zest in the custard mixture. Just a few swipes across a microplane will add an amazing citrus profile to the french toast.
Looking for More Great Air Fryer Recipes?
If you loved this recipe, you better take a second and go grab these other yummy ones as well! And do it now before you scroll or you’ll forget. Trust me.
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Mix together the eggs, milk, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a flat bowl.
Slice each piece of bread into 4 even pieces, or keep it whole. Dip both sides of the bread into the custard then put them into the basket of the hot air fryer.
Cook at 400 degrees for 4-5 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. No need to flip them halfway through. If you are cooking a whole slice of bread, it will take 5-6 minutes.
Notes
This recipe was made with a 1500-watt machine. If yours is a 1300-watt, you will need more time. If yours is a 1700-watt, you will need less time.
Carole Jones is an Arizona-based cookbook author & food blogger. She's authored The 30 Minute Cooking From Frozen Cookbook and the self-published Take 5: Chicken e-cookbook. For the past 15 years, Carole has shared her culinary adventures cooking and baking for her six brutally honest children here on My Kitchen Escapades. Hot, crusty bread is Carole's love language, but her two adorable grandchildren are a close second. Yes, second. Don't judge.
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