These Homemade Air Fryer French Toast Sticks are a sweet and delicious breakfast treat that the whole family will love!
Made with soft, fluffy Brioche, these cinnamon sugar french toast sticks are simple to make in the air fryer and perfect for dipping into maple syrup.
“I make this recipe all the time. Except that I do not dip the bread in coconut sugar. I dip it in cornflake crumbs. Which gives it an even crunchier bite.”
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks Recipe
Sure, the air fryer will heat up frozen, pre-made French toast sticks. Those are tasty, but not nearly as delicious as these homemade French Toast Sticks that we’re going to teach you how to make from Brioche!
Brioche, is a special type of bread that’s made with enriched dough and is sweeter than normal bread🥖
FYI – The air fryer is the perfect tool for cooking all sorts of breakfast food for your family on busy mornings!
Learn how to make turkey bacon in the air fryer, or air fryer pancakes next.
List of ingredients
- Brioche – Brioche is a special type of bread that‘s made with enriched dough and tastes sweeter than normal bread. You’ll need one that hasn’t already been sliced.
- Eggs – If you have time, let the eggs sit out and come to room temperature before making the custard. This way everything will mix together smoothly.
- Milk – Along with the eggs, milk helps to create the custard that the Brioche sticks will be dunked into. I suggest whole milk, but 2% will also work.
- Vanilla Extract – The French toast sticks in the air fryer will smell amazing! Pure vanilla extract makes everything taste better.
- Coconut Sugar – I’m using coconut sugar to coat the outside of the French toast. Regular granulated sugar or brown sugar can also be used.
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon plus sugar plus French toast equals perfection!
Steps to Make our Homemade French Toast
- Slice the brioche into 1-inch thick slices. Then cut each slice into three sticks. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F/190°C, and line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract with a whisk until well combined.
- In another bowl that is wide enough for the bread slices, combine the sugar and cinnamon.
- Working with one at a time, dip the bread into the egg mixture so that it is evenly covered and moistened.
- Then cover the bread with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Place the prepared french toast sticks into the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. You will likely need to work in batches.
- Cook for 6-7 minutes in the preheated air fryer basket, or until the french toast is lightly golden brown.
- Serve immediately with syrup, honey, yogurt, or your favorite toppings.
Recipe Tips and Tricks for french toast perfection🪄
- Use good bread. I love to make French toast sticks with Brioche. It is a sturdy yet light bread that holds up well to this cooking method. French or Italian bread also works well. Using regular sandwich bread will likely result in French toast sticks that fall apart since the bread is sliced too thinly.
- Use parchment paper to line the bottom only of your air fryer basket. This will keep the mess to a minimum, and help you to avoid sticking or burning of the sugar.
- Cinnamon sugar coating. The outer coating on these air-fried french toast sticks adds flavor, but also gives the outside of the toast a sweet crunch that is amazing! I’m using coconut sugar, but regular granulated sugar also works.
- Work in batches. You won’t be able to cook the whole batch at one time, so be sure to dip only as many pieces of bread as will fit. Wait to dip the rest of the bread in the egg and sugar until you’re ready to put the next batch in the air fryer.
- The second batch may cook more quickly. Since you’ve been running the air fryer, it may be a little bit hotter for the second batch. Keep an eye on your French toast sticks as they cook to avoid burning.
How to serve this French Toast
I’ve been known to eat these French toast sticks right out of the air fryer basket, but they’re actually much better with a few tasty toppings added to them!
Try the classic butter and maple syrup treatment, or add a creamy touch with yogurt and fresh berries instead.
For a really special treat, top your air fryer french toast sticks with caramelized bananas or homemade pumpkin whipped cream!
On the side, enjoy some crispy Air Fryer Bacon, Air Fryer Sausage Patties, or healthy Air Fried Oranges.
FAQs
Since the bread sticks are soaked in an egg custard mixture, it’s best that they start cooking right away so that the liquid doesn’t all drip off of them. Preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes, or per the instructions for your machine.
This tasty breakfast is really best if made and enjoyed right away. I don’t suggest making the recipe ahead of time on purpose. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days and reheat the french toast sticks in the air fryer as needed.
I also found instructions for freezer-prep French toast sticks, which can be used with this recipe as well!
The amount of French toast that you can cook at one time will depend on the size of your air fryer basket. Plan on cooking this batch of french toast sticks in 2-3 batches, making sure that the bread is in a single layer, and not stacked or overlapping at all.
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 loaf brioche bread approximately 6 inches long cut into 6 slices. 1 inch per slice
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup coconut sugar or granulated sugar
- ¾ tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Cut the loaf of brioche bread into 1 inch thick pieces. Then cut each slice so you have 3 thin slices per piece.
- Preheat the Air fryer to 370 degrees and line your basket with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix your eggs, milk, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- In another bowl, mix your sugar and cinnamon. If your bread slices won´t fit into this bowl evenly, transfer some of the sugar mixture onto a flat plate, so you are able to turn your slice around and cover evenly.
- Dip each piece of bread into your egg mixture. Make sure it is evenly covered.
- Transfer the piece into your sugar mixture and cover completely.
- Place in your Air fryer and repeat until you have filled up the space in your air fryer. It is very important to have room to turn them over and for them not to stick together, so most likely you will have to work in batches.
- Cook for 6 – 7 minutes, or until the French toast is golden brown.
- Repeat step 5 – 7 for your next batch, until you have finished with all of your bread.
- Serve the French toast sticks immediately with honey, powdered sugar, Greek yogurt, and or berries.
Notes
- Use good bread. I love to make French toast sticks with Brioche. It is a sturdy yet light bread that holds up well to this cooking method. French or Italian bread also works well. Using regular sandwich bread will likely result in French toast sticks that fall apart since the bread is sliced too thinly.
- Use parchment paper to line the bottom only of your air fryer basket. This will keep the mess to a minimum, and help you to avoid sticking or burning of the sugar.
- Cinnamon sugar coating. The outer coating on these air-fried french toast sticks adds flavor, but also gives the outside of the toast a sweet crunch that is amazing! I’m using coconut sugar, but regular granulated sugar also works.
- Work in batches. You won’t be able to cook the whole batch at one time, so be sure to dip only as many pieces of bread as will fit. Wait to dip the rest of the bread in the egg and sugar until you’re ready to put the next batch in the air fryer.
- The second batch may cook more quickly. Since you’ve been running the air fryer, it may be a little bit hotter for the second batch. Keep an eye on your French toast sticks as they cook to avoid burning.
I make this recipe all the time. Except that I do not dip the bread in coconut sugar. I dip it in cornflake crumbs. Which gives it an even crunchier bite.
Thanks Susan, what a great idea for dipping it in cornflake crumbs!