Name: Homemade Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 6 slices brioche or Texas toast; 3 large eggs; ½ cup milk (or half-and-half); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup; Pinch of salt; Spray oil for the air fryer basket

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Recipe Snapshot

PREP + COOK TIME: 20 minutes
METHOD: Air fryer
OTHER TOOLS: knife and cutting board, whisk, parchment paper
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 8

Homemade Air Fryer French Toast Sticks are a quick and easy breakfast option that you don’t need to save for the weekend alone! Thick-cut, fluffy bread that soaks up the sweetened custard mixture beautifully and toasts to a golden brown in the air fryer. Serve with a drizzle of syrup or your favorite toppings!

overhead view of white platter containing french toast sticks with blueberries and strawberries and sprinkled with powdered sugar, with bowls of fruit and air fryer in background

What’s To Love About This Recipe

Homemade French toast sticks are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, making them a delicious, kid-friendly, dunkable breakfast.
With a thick-cut bread like brioche or Texas toast, you can make this quickly in the air fryer for a decadent breakfast or treat.
This homemade version is even better than frozen, store-bought versions, thanks to its crispy texture and fresh flavor. It uses simple pantry ingredients for tasty results!
Make a batch of French toast sticks ahead for easy breakfasts throughout the week, or store them for later as a freezer-friendly option.
This recipe is quick and simple enough to make your weekday breakfasts a bit more special with minimal effort!

Ingredients Needed

Bread (brioche or Texas toast) – Fluffy, thick-cut bread like brioche or Texas toast is key to decadent French toast, as it absorbs the custard without getting too soggy. Gluten-free bread is also an option if it is thick and sturdy. Avoid using thin sandwich bread since it tends to tear or become oversaturated.
Eggs – Create the French toast custard with a beaten egg base.
Milk – Milk combined with the egg mixture creates a thinner, creamier consistency that absorbs evenly into the bread. If you prefer a slightly richer custard, use half-and-half instead.
Vanilla extract – Vanilla adds the slightest hint of sweetness and deepens the flavor of the French toast.
Cinnamon – Add a touch of cinnamon for classic French toast flavor. This goes well with any syrups or toppings you may want to serve with it.
Maple syrup – I love mixing maple syrup into the custard base for a little sweetness without adding refined sugar. The flavor is not overpoweringly sweet and still allows room for added sweet toppings.
Salt – Add a pinch of salt to balance the flavors in the custard base.
Oil spray – Choose a neutral-flavored spray, such as avocado oil or coconut oil, to help prevent sticking to the basket and crisp the sides of the toast.

ingredients to include wooden cutting board lined with parchment paper with six slices of brioche, surrounded by bowl with 3 eggs, avocado cooking spray, glass measuring cup with milk, bottle of vanilla extract, white bowl with cinnamon, wooden bowl and spoon of salt, and white bowl of maple syrup

How To Make French Toast Sticks

Preheat the air fryer to 375 ℉.
Slice each piece of bread into 4-5 thick sticks.

parchment paper lined wooden cutting board with sliced brioche and bowl of mixed ingredients on side

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup, and salt.

shallow bowl with milk and eggs, surrounded by silver whisk, bowls of cinnamon and maple syrup, and container of vanilla

overhead view of shallow bowl of all ingredients with hand whisking ingredients

Quickly dip each breadstick into the custard mixture, coating all sides without oversaturating.

hand inserting brioche slice into bowl of mixed ingredients, with parchment lined wooden cutting board containing brioche slices on side

Place air-fryer-safe parchment paper in the basket and spray it lightly with oil.
Arrange the French toast sticks in a single layer in the basket (work in batches if needed).

overhead view of parchment lined black air fryer containing 8 slices of brioche, with bowl of mixed ingredients and wooden cutting board with brioche slices on side

Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.

I heard view of parchment lined black air fryer with air fried brioche slices, with bowl of mixed ingredients and brioche slices in background

Serve French toast sticks warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries, or your favorite toppings.

closeup view of white platter containing french toast sticks with strawberries and blueberries and sprinkled with powdered sugar, with blue and white tea towel and fruit on side

Pro Tips

Use air-fryer-safe parchment paper (such as perforated or unbleached paper) for easy cleanup and less sticking. A light spray of avocado or coconut oil can also help prevent sticking.
Preheating helps the toast crisp up more quickly during the allotted cook time, but it is not mandatory.
Be sure to dip the breadsticks quickly into the mixture to avoid oversaturation.
Arrange the sticks in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the basket to allow even heating.
Flip halfway through for even browning.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Frozen homemade or store-bought French toast sticks (such as Eggo-style) can be cooked in the air fryer directly from frozen. Frozen sticks typically need slightly lower heat and a longer cook time.
For gluten-free French toast, choose a thick bread that will maintain its shape when sliced into sticks.
For a dairy-free version, use almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk in place of regular milk.
To add a sweet finishing touch, dust the toast with cinnamon-sugar after cooking for extra flavor.
Add pumpkin spice or nutmeg for seasonal flavor.

closeup view of French toast stick being dunked into bowl of maple syrup, with bowl of fruit and large platter of french toast in background

How To Serve Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

French toast sticks are the perfect breakfast treat, simple enough to make any day of the week. Serve with your favorite toppings to make breakfast a little more gourmet. Whether it’s dunking in maple syrup or a dollop of whipped cream, everyone can customize to their heart’s content!

French Toast Toppings

Maple syrup, classic or flavored (such as cinnamon, vanilla, or pecan)
Powdered sugar
Fresh berries
Whipped cream
Cinnamon sugar
Caramel or chocolate sauce
Chocolate chips
Real fruit jams, preserves, or compote
Sliced bananas or chopped apples

For a more lavish breakfast or brunch spread, serve French toast sticks with classic sides such as Crispy Air Fryer Bacon, Air Fryer Chicken Sausage, or Instant Pot Yogurt for parfaits with fresh fruit. Add Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls for a hearty, nutrient-dense option!

closeup view of french toast sticks and fruit, smothered in maple syrup

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover French toast in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

Freezer

Freeze the cooked French toast sticks in a single layer on a sheet pan, then store in tightly sealed freezer bags for up to 3 months.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

To reheat from the fridge or from frozen, add to the air fryer at 350 ℉ for 3-5 minutes for the best texture.

Homemade Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

Homemade Air Fryer French Toast Sticks are a quick and easy breakfast option that you don’t need to save for the weekend! Thick-cut, fluffy bread that soaks up the sweetened custard mixture beautifully and toasts to a golden brown in the air fryer. Serve with a drizzle of syrup or your favorite toppings!

Jennifer Draper

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Serving Size

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

6 slices brioche or Texas toast
3 large eggs
½ cup milk or half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
Pinch of salt
Spray oil for the air fryer basket

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 375 ℉
Slice each piece of bread into 4-5 thick sticks
In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup, and salt
Quickly dip each breadstick into custard mixture, coating all sides without oversaturating
Place air-fryer-safe parchment paper in basket and spray it lightly with oil
Arrange French toast sticks in a single layer in basket (work in batches if needed)
Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp
Serve French toast sticks warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries, or your favorite toppings

Notes

This recipe makes approximately 24 French toast sticks, depending on the size of the sliced bread.
Store leftover French toast sticks in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days, or freeze them in a single layer on a sheet pan, then transfer them to tightly sealed freezer bags for up to 3 months.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350 ℉ from the fridge or freezer for 3-5 minutes for the best texture.
Use air-fryer-safe parchment paper and lightly spray with oil for easy cleanup and less sticking.
Preheating the air fryer helps the French toast crisp better, but it isn’t required.
Dip the breadsticks quickly into the egg mixture to prevent oversaturation.
Arrange the sticks in a single layer without overcrowding the basket to allow even heating and proper airflow.
Flip halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.