These air fryer french toast sticks take brioche bread dipped in a sweet, maple-flavored custard, seasoned with warm cinnamon, and baked until crispy in the air fryer!
French toast is always a delicious way to start the day, but if I’m being honest, I don’t always have the time in the morning to satisfy my craving by making some on the stove or in the oven.
That’s where these air fryer french toast sticks come in; they’re super fast to whip together, and can be made in your air fryer in no time!
I use buttery and rich brioche bread cut into sticks and dipped in a custard made from eggs, creamy whole milk, sweet maple syrup, and warm cinnamon.
And the best part, when you do have a little extra time, you can make up extra french toast sticks and freeze them for later, so you’ll have french toast even faster next time!
Trust me, once you try these air fryer french toast sticks, you’ll never make french toast any other way.
Ingredients for air fryer french toast sticks
- Brioche bread – This is my favorite bread to use for French toast.
- Custard – A combination of eggs and whole milk will make the base of our custard.
- Maple syrup – Maple syrup will add a complex caramelized sweetness to our custard.
- Vanilla extract – Vanilla extract will add a subtle and sweet vanilla flavor.
- Ground cinnamon – Cinnamon will give the French toast some warmth.
What is brioche bread?
Brioche is a French bread that is made from an enriched dough, which means it uses a higher proportion of butter and eggs than regular bread.
This enriched dough is what gives brioche its soft but dense texture, and is perfect for soaking up custard for a french toast application!
Topping ideas
What can I top my french toast with? I am so glad you asked.
Here are my favorite toppings for these air fryer french toast sticks:
- Maple syrup
- Whipped cream and berries
- A sprinkle of cinnamon sugar
- Sliced bananas
- Nutella or other nut spreads
- Honey and chopped nuts (pecans are my favorite to use here)
- Ice cream (who said French toast is just for breakfast?)
Air Fryer FAQ
An air fryer is basically a tabletop convection oven.
It mimics the outcome of a deep-fat fryer but without the use of oil. Hot hair is moved around via a fan that quickly and crisply cooks up the food.
The 2 most common air fryers you’ll see are basket style (that is what I have) or convection/toaster oven style.
There are pluses to both but I personally prefer my basket style.
I prefer the basket-style air fryer as it’s a bit smaller and takes up less room than the toaster oven-style air fryer.
My biggest tip when it comes to air fryers is to make sure you pick a style that will work the most for your family and the amount of food you will be cooking.
My large basket-style air fryer can cook up to 12 wings, 2-4 servings of french fries, etc. which works well for my household.
Make ahead
These air fryer french toast sticks can be made and frozen ahead of time, so they’re ready whenever the craving strikes!
Simply prepare as directed, and let the french toast sticks cool completely. Lay them on a baking sheet and pop into the freezer until they’re all frozen individually.
Take the now-frozen french toast sticks place them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag, and store them for up to 3 months!
To reheat from frozen, you can use your air fryer again, or your toaster on a low setting.
Storage and leftovers
Any leftover air fryer french toast sticks can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, you can use your microwave and cover the french toast sticks with a damp paper towel and heat for 1-2 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Alternatively, you can use your air fryer to reheat, at 300º for 3-4 minutes.
More French toast recipes
- Looking for something decadent? Try my S’mores French Toast
- Ready for apple season? Try my Apple Pie Baked French Toast
- Love individual servings? Try my Cherry Yogurt French Toast Cups
- Need something with lots of fruit? Try my Peach Topped French Toast
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
These air fryer french toast sticks take brioche bread dipped in a sweet, maple-flavored custard, seasoned with warm cinnamon, and baked until crispy in the air fryer!
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 slices brioche, at least 1 inch thick
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 5 minutes. When the air fryer is preheated, grease it lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon until well combined.
- Slice the brioche into 1-inch thick strips and dip them one at a time into the egg mixture, making sure to coat all sides of the bread with egg. Don’t let the bread sit in the custard too long or it will become soggy. Just a quick dunk is all they need.
- Place the french toast sticks in a single layer in the air fryer and cook at 375 degrees F for 5 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp on the outside. Make sure not to crowd the air fryer. You may need to cook the French toast in batches.
- Serve immediately with maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, and/or berries.
- Storage: Store any leftover French toast sticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 638Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 384mgSodium: 653mgCarbohydrates: 70gFiber: 2gSugar: 18gProtein: 19g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.
