Crispy Air Fryer French Toast Bites: Your New Favorite Quick & Easy Breakfast Treat
Imagine a delicious breakfast that tastes like a dessert, is incredibly easy to make, and ready in minutes. That’s exactly what you get with these amazing Air Fryer French Toast Bites! With just a few minutes of prep time and a mere 8 minutes in your air fryer, you’ll be indulging in warm, crispy, cinnamon-sugar coated morsels that are perfect for any morning. Whether you’re looking for a fun weekend breakfast activity with the kids or a quick, sweet treat to start your day, these bite-sized delights are guaranteed to be a hit with both children and adults alike.
Forget standing over a hot stove flipping individual slices of French toast. Our air fryer method streamlines the process, delivering perfectly cooked, golden-brown French toast bites with a delightful crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. They’re ideal for dipping, sharing, or simply enjoying one delightful bite at a time. Get ready to transform your breakfast routine with this unbelievably simple and utterly delicious recipe!
Why This Air Fryer French Toast Bites Recipe Works Wonders
French toast has always been a beloved breakfast classic, often feeling like a decadent dessert disguised as morning fare. This recipe elevates that experience, making these sweet, bite-sized breakfast treats easier and quicker than ever before, all thanks to the magic of the air fryer. Here’s why this method is a game-changer for your breakfast routine:
- Effortless Preparation: No need for greasy skillets or constant attention. The air fryer handles the cooking, freeing you up to prepare other breakfast items or just relax.
- Perfect Texture Every Time: The air fryer circulates hot air, creating an incredibly crispy, golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside wonderfully soft and tender. This texture is often hard to achieve with traditional pan-frying without excess oil.
- Reduced Oil, Healthier Option: Using an air fryer means you need significantly less oil compared to pan-frying, making these French toast bites a lighter yet equally satisfying option.
- Speed and Convenience: From prep to plate, these French toast bites are ready in under 15 minutes. This makes them ideal for busy weekdays when you crave something special, or for lazy weekend mornings when you don’t want to spend all your time cooking.
- Kid-Friendly Fun: The bite-sized format is perfect for little hands and encourages independent eating. Kids will love dipping these sweet morsels into syrup, and they can even help with the simple preparation steps. It’s a fantastic way to get them involved in the kitchen!
- Easy Cleanup: Minimal mess means less time scrubbing pans. Most air fryer baskets are non-stick and easy to wipe clean, allowing you more time to enjoy your breakfast.
Related: For another incredibly easy air fryer treat, try our amazing air fryer chicken nuggets!
Simple Ingredients for Delicious French Toast Bites
Crafting these irresistible Air Fryer French Toast Bites requires only a handful of common pantry staples. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, proving that you don’t need exotic ingredients to create something truly special. For the best results, we recommend using high-quality ingredients, especially when it comes to your bread, as it forms the foundation of these delightful treats.
You’ll need a good, thick-sliced bread that can hold its shape after soaking in the egg mixture. Beyond that, a few dairy items, eggs, and some sweetening agents are all you need to bring this breakfast masterpiece to life. Gather your ingredients, and let’s get ready to make some magic in the air fryer!
How to Make Perfect Air Fryer French Toast Bites
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Stir until thoroughly mixed, then set this sweet cinnamon-sugar coating aside. This mixture will be tossed with the warm French toast bites immediately after cooking to ensure a beautiful, even coating.
- Begin by preparing your bread. Carefully cut each slice of bread into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Aim for approximately 9 squares per slice, ensuring that all pieces are roughly the same size for even cooking in the air fryer. Uniformity is key for perfectly cooked bites!
- In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk the three large eggs until well-beaten. Then, mix in the buttermilk, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and the maple extract. The buttermilk adds a lovely tang and helps tenderize the bread, while the maple extract enhances the classic French toast flavor, giving it an extra aromatic touch.
- Add the carefully cut bread cubes to the prepared egg mixture. Stir gently but thoroughly to ensure every single piece of bread is evenly coated with the rich, flavorful liquid. Allow the bread to soak for a minute or two, absorbing the mixture, but avoid oversaturating to prevent sogginess.
- Prepare your air fryer basket by spraying it with a non-stick cooking spray or lining it with perforated parchment paper or foil to prevent the French toast bites from sticking. Arrange the coated bread pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd it. Cook in batches if necessary to ensure optimal air circulation and crispy results.
- Close the air fryer and set the temperature to 350°F (175°C). Cook for a total of 8 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time (at about 4 minutes), gently shake the basket or use tongs to flip the French toast bites. This ensures that they cook evenly and become golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- Once cooked to a beautiful golden perfection, immediately remove the French toast bites from the air fryer. Transfer them directly into the bowl of cinnamon sugar that you set aside earlier. Toss vigorously to ensure each warm, crispy bite is thoroughly coated with the sweet spice mixture. The warmth of the bites will help the sugar adhere beautifully.
- Serve your delightful Air Fryer French Toast Bites warm. They are absolutely delicious on their own, but truly shine when drizzled generously with pure maple syrup and a light sprinkle of powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness and elegance. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer French Toast Bites
Absolutely! If you prefer French toast sticks, simply cut your bread into strips instead of squares. The cooking time and temperature in the air fryer will remain the same. The sticks offer a slightly different texture, often with a bit more surface area for crispiness on the edges, while still being perfect for dipping.
Yes, you definitely can! While we’ve used cinnamon raisin bread for its added flavor, any thick-sliced bread will work wonderfully. Great options include challah, brioche, Texas toast, or even a good quality artisanal white bread. The key is using a bread that is sturdy enough to absorb the egg mixture without falling apart, ensuring a tender interior and crisp exterior.
Yes, you can! You can cut the bread and prepare the egg mixture the night before. Store the bread cubes in an airtight container and the egg mixture in a separate sealed container in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply combine and cook. For fully cooked bites, you can make them entirely, let them cool, and then store them for reheating.
Leftover French toast bites can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy again. You can also use a toaster oven for similar results. Microwaving is possible, but they won’t be as crispy.
While maple syrup and powdered sugar are classics, these bites are incredibly versatile! Consider serving them with fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), a dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate sauce or caramel, a sprinkle of toasted nuts, or even a side of fruit compote. They’re also fantastic alongside a savory breakfast sausage or bacon.
There are a few common reasons. First, ensure you’re not overcrowding the air fryer basket; good air circulation is crucial for crispiness. Second, avoid overly saturating the bread in the egg mixture; a quick dip is usually sufficient. Lastly, make sure your air fryer is preheated if recommended by the manufacturer, and flip the bites halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
These Air Fryer French Toast Bites are not only simple to make but also incredibly delicious and satisfying. They offer a delightful twist on a breakfast favorite, making it accessible for even the busiest mornings. This is a fun recipe that brings joy to the kitchen and is easy enough for kids to help prepare, creating wonderful memories alongside tasty food!
Whether you’re hosting a brunch or simply treating your family to a special breakfast, these bites are sure to impress. Their perfect balance of sweet and savory, combined with a wonderful texture, makes them an instant hit. Don’t be surprised if they become a regular request in your household!
More Delicious French Toast Recipes to Explore
If you love French toast as much as we do, you’re in for a treat! Expand your breakfast repertoire with these other fantastic French toast creations:
- French Toast Casserole: Perfect for feeding a crowd or for meal prepping, this casserole bakes up beautifully with minimal fuss.
- Strawberries and Cream Stuffed French Toast: Indulge in a gourmet breakfast experience with a luscious, creamy filling and fresh berries.
- Homemade Freezer French Toast Sticks: Prepare these ahead of time and have a quick, convenient breakfast ready to go on busy mornings.
For an extra homemade touch, try making these Air Fryer French Toast Bites with our incredible Homemade Amish White Bread. The soft, rich texture of homemade bread takes this recipe to a whole new level of deliciousness!
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Air Fryer French Toast Bites
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
French Toast Bites
- 12 slices cinnamon raisin bread 1 loaf
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp maple extract
- Powdered sugar & maple syrup optional garnish
Things You’ll Need
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Air fryer
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Tongs
Before You Begin
- You can make French toast sticks instead of bites. Simply cut them into strips instead of squares. Cook the same temp and time.
- We’ve used cinnamon raisin bread, but you can use any thick sliced bread you like.
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, stir to combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
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Cut the bread into 1-inch bite-sized pieces, about 9 squares per slice.
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Whisk the egg and mix in the buttermilk, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and maple extract.
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Add the bread squares to the egg mixture and stir to evenly coat all pieces.
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Use non-stick spray or foil in the air fryer basket to prevent sticking. Place bread into the air fryer.
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Set heat to 350 F and cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
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Remove french toast bites from the air fryer and immediately add to the bowl of cinnamon sugar. Toss to coat.
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Serve warm with maple syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.