Air Fryer French Toast Recipe

Americans have been obsessed with easy and convenient breakfast alternatives for a long time, and since the introduction of sliced bread, the possibilities have become endless. So, it seems rather curious that French toast has always played second fiddle to pancakes. They're both delightfully sweet breakfast options, but pancakes have always reigned supreme when it comes to flavor and convenience. However, French toast is just as delicious, and arguably even easier to make!

Recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge proves just how easy it is to whip up a fulfilling breakfast with her air fryer French toast recipe. "My air fryer has fully replaced all appliances," Olayinka jokes about the versatile appliance. But seriously, folks — whipping up French toast in the air fryer is a brilliant solution for anyone who loves the warmth and fluffiness but doesn't want the hassle of cooking in a pan. "This recipe is absolutely delicious," Olayinka says of this French toast, noting that it requires "minimal effort" to make. It doesn't get much better than that, so let's get into this air fryer French toast recipe.

To make Olayinka's recipe for air fryer French toast, you'll need to start out with sixx slices of brioche bread. "Brioche is the best bread for French toast as it's already sweet so you don't have that much sugar and it's soft so it takes up all the batter," Olayinka explains. For the rich, custard-like egg dip in which you'll be soaking your brioche, you'll need two medium eggs, some whole milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.

As for cooking tools, you'll need a shallow-bottomed mixing bowl (with enough surface area to fit a slice of brioche), an air fryer, some nonstick spray, and some parchment paper, which will help make cleaning a snap. Finally, don't forget about the toppings — maple syrup, butter, and fresh fruit are all great options.

To get started on making this French toast, you'll want to make the egg mixture. This is super easy because you won't have to actually wait for the egg mixture to cook separately, but rather it will cook as you air fry the bread. Simply use a fork or a whisk to combine the milk, the eggs, the melted butter, and the vanilla extract in your mixing bowl. Once you've mixed these ingredients, set the bowl aside for just a moment and grab your slices of brioche bread.

Before you start dipping, grab a large baking tray and line it with parchment paper — this will make the whole process easier and less messy. Now, going one slice of brioche at a time, dip the bread into the egg mixture, and set it aside on a the parchment-lined tray. The dipping should be quick — "in and out," as Olayinka describes it, otherwise your French toast will be too soggy. Repeat this process for each slice of the brioche, until all of the bread is ready for the air fryer.

Take out your air fryer and line the cooking vessel with perforated parchment paper. If you don't have perforated parchment paper, you can make it yourself by cutting holes in regular parchment paper. Spray the paper with nonstick spray. Once that's done, set your air fryer to 335 F and wait for it to heat up. When it's heated, lay two slices of the egg-soaked brioche on top of the perforated parchment and set a timer for six minutes. You may want to flip the slices of French toast halfway through cooking to ensure that they cook evenly.

Continue this process until you've cooked each slice of French toast, and then you're ready to enjoy! A typical air fryer fits two slices at a time, and since this recipe makes six slices total, you'll need to cook in three batches. Once you're done, you can top your air fryer French toast with butter, maple syrup, or fresh fruit. We hope you enjoy this easy, delicious recipe!