Oh, those slow, cozy weekend mornings when you have nowhere else you need to be! Sometimes, you just crave that indulgent feeling without spending half the day in the kitchen. That’s why I am obsessed with finding the fastest, tastiest breakfast hacks, and this recipe is my latest obsession. We are taking that pillowy soft texture you love in French toast and giving it the spicy, sugary, pure joy of a churro, all thanks to the air fryer!
Seriously, making these Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites takes about 13 minutes total, and they are incredible. I’ve been perfecting quick breakfast inventions for years, and this one nails the sweet spot between easy cleanup and maximum flavor payoff. Get ready, because your brunch game is about to get seriously upgraded!
Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
Honestly, what’s not to love? These come together faster than waiting for the toaster! They are perfect whether you need a quick weekday win or are planning out your holiday brunch spread.
- Total time is just 13 minutes—can’t beat that speed!
- They use just a handful of extremely common ingredients.
- The flavor payoff is huge; they taste like a true indulgence.
- They make for fantastic, shareable Easy Treats!
Essential Equipment for Perfect Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
You don’t need a whole bakery setup for this, thank goodness! Having the right tools just makes the process faster and more reliable, which is key when we’re trying to get breakfast on the table quickly. Trust me, your air fryer is the star here.
Make sure you have these handy:
- Your trusty Air Fryer (the MVP of quick breakfasts!)
- A shallow bowl for dipping the bread cubes.
- A Whisk for getting that egg mixture perfectly smooth.
- A sturdy mixing bowl for the cinnamon sugar coating.
Ingredients for Homemade Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
When you’re aiming for true simplicity, having fantastic staple ingredients makes all the difference. These aren’t complicated; they are just the right things put together cleverly. I always keep my bread selection simple, but the quality of the cinnamon matters a lot for that perfect churro flavor!
Because we are keeping this fast, using day-old bread is actually a huge advantage. It soaks up the custard mix without completely dissolving into mush. Speaking of mush, make sure your bread is cut BEFORE you start mixing everything else up. It’s one of those details that prevents kitchen chaos later on.
For the Bites
This section is all about getting that perfect internal fluffiness before they hit the hot air. Don’t skip whisking the eggs really well; we want them fully combined with the milk!
- 4 slices Brioche or sandwich bread, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 Eggs
- 120 ml Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
For the Coating
This is where the churro magic happens! Remember, you need to melt the butter completely because we are tossing the warm pieces directly into it before the sugar comes in. That melted butter is what makes the cinnamon sugar actually stick!
- 40 g Butter, Melted
- 80 g Sugar
- 2 tsp Cinnamon
If you ever want to dive into the world of salt differences—like whether to use regular table salt versus some fancy sea salt—that’s a fun rabbit hole, but for this recipe, simple sugar works wonderfully to balance the spices!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
Okay, follow me here, because timing is everything when you want that crispy exterior and fluffy center. It moves fast, but don’t stress! The key is efficiency, not long soaks. If you let the bread sit too long in the egg mixture, you end up with soggy cubes that won’t crisp up nicely in the basket. I learned this the hard way when I was once rushing through making some scone dough and ended up with a mess—lesson learned: speed in dipping is crucial!
Preparing the Bread and Egg Mixture
First things first, make sure your bread is already cut into those perfect little cubes, about an inch square. While that’s done, grab your shallow bowl and whisk up the two eggs, the milk, and that splash of vanilla extract until it’s all uniform. Now, this is important: dip those bread cubes in quickly! We’re talking two seconds max per side. They should be barely coated, just kiss the liquid and move on. Trust me, if you let them sit, they will get heavy!
Air Frying the French Toast Cubes
Set your air fryer to 180°C. Don’t overload the basket; these need space to circulate that hot air! Pop the dipped cubes in and cook for around 7 to 8 minutes total. You absolutely must remember to shake the basket really well right around the four-minute mark. This ensures every single side gets golden brown and crispy.
Creating the Cinnamon Sugar Coating for Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
While those beauties are getting crispy, you need to mix your coating. Combine that 80g of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a dry bowl. When the timer goes off, pull the basket out, and immediately toss those piping hot cubes into the bowl with the melted butter. You want them fully slicked! Then, while they are still buttery, drop them into the coating and toss them around until every surface of your Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites is completely covered in sugary spice. Serve them instantly!
Tips for Success with Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
I’ve made these bites probably a dozen times now, and a couple of little tweaks make them go from good to absolutely irresistible. The biggest tip I can give you concerns the bread. Sure, you can use fresh brioche, but if you have some that is a day or two old, grab that! Stale bread doesn’t get waterlogged when you use it for French toast, which means it holds its cubical shape better in the air fryer basket.
For coating adherence? The key is speed and heat. You MUST toss them in the melted butter right out of the air fryer. If they cool down even a little bit, the sugar mixture won’t stick to the surface properly. Because we are keeping the ingredient list super short, these shine as one of those perfect Easy Desserts With Few Ingredients, so don’t mess with the buttering/sugaring order!
Making Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites Ahead of Time
Look, these are definitely best enjoyed piping hot, right after they come out of the air fryer basket, but I get it—sometimes we need meal prep wins! If you’re making these for a big brunch crowd, you can definitely cook them completely earlier in the day.
Just make sure to store the fully coated bites in an airtight container at room temperature. When it’s time to serve, pop them back into the air fryer at 160°C for about 3 to 4 minutes. They crisp right up again! Resist the urge to pre-dip the bread; that step must happen right before cooking or they get too soggy for storage.
Variations on Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
While the standard recipe is amazing, sometimes you need a little twist to keep things exciting. It’s so fun to see how small tweaks can turn this into a whole new experience! These little changes are my favorite kind of simple Baking Ideas because they don’t require hauling out a bunch of extra stuff.
First thing: spice it up! Add a tiny pinch of nutmeg or even a dash of cardamom into your cinnamon sugar blend. That warm depth is lovely. If you’re feeling extra decadent, swap that brioche for challah bread—it’s a bit richer!
And for a topping? Forget plain syrup! Try a quick drizzle of melted chocolate or maybe even a light glaze made from powdered sugar and a teaspoon of orange juice. It instantly turns them into a fancy brunch feature!
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
It’s funny how often people ask the same things when they see such a fun recipe! It’s totally normal, especially when you’re trying to keep things fast and simple. These are seriously some of the easiest Simple Desserts you can make, so let me clear up a few burning questions I keep getting about these bites.
Can I make these Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites without an Air Fryer?
Oh, absolutely! If your air fryer is busy or you just don’t have one, don’t despair. The original notes mention using a baking sheet. You can bake these on a tray at 200°C (which is about 400°F) for a slightly longer time—around 10 to 12 minutes. Just make sure you flip them halfway through so everything gets nice and golden brown!
What type of bread works best for these easy treats?
I really, really love Brioche here because it’s rich and naturally sweet, which holds up beautifully when dipped. But honestly, any sturdy sandwich bread works just fine, which makes finding ingredients for these easy treats much simpler. The main goal is using bread that isn’t super soft and fresh, as day-old bread is sturdier against the egg wash.
What is the best dipping liquid if I want to make them extra special?
While the recipe keeps the dipping liquid simple with just milk, eggs, and vanilla, if you want to kick it up a notch, use half-and-half instead of regular milk—it adds amazing richness! Or, you could swap about a quarter cup of the milk for a splash of orange juice mixed with a tiny bit of brown sugar. It tastes fantastic with the cinnamon!
Serving Suggestions for Your Homemade Desserts
Since these little bites are essentially cinnamon-sugar coated French toast cubes, they beg to be dipped! They stand alone beautifully as one of the easiest Homemade Desserts, but a little something extra never hurts, right?
Serve them warm with a side of pure maple syrup, of course. But wow, try dipping them into a homemade chocolate ganache! If you want something lighter, fresh slices of strawberries or bananas add a pop of color and freshness that balances the sweetness perfectly. These are fantastic for sharing!
Air Fryer Churro French Toast Bites
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Whisk
Ingredients
For the Bites
- 4 slices Brioche or sandwich bread Cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 Eggs
- 120 ml Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
For the Coating
- 40 g Butter Melted
- 80 g Sugar
- 2 tsp Cinnamon
Instructions
- Cut the bread into bite-sized cubes.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, and vanilla together in a shallow bowl.
- Dip the bread cubes quickly into the egg mixture, coating them lightly.
- Air fry the dipped bread cubes at 180°C for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.
- While the bites are cooking, combine the sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl to make the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Toss the warm bites immediately in the melted butter until coated.
- Roll the buttered bites in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully covered, then serve right away.