French toast is one of those breakfasts that feels fancy but doesn’t have to be hard work. I love making it on weekend mornings when we have a little extra time to enjoy breakfast together. But standing over a hot skillet flipping slice after slice? Not so much fun, especially when everyone’s hungry and waiting.
That’s where my air fryer comes to the rescue. I can make multiple pieces at once without babysitting them on the stove. Plus, adding pumpkin to the mix gives it that cozy fall flavor we all crave when the weather starts cooling down. The pumpkin makes the custard extra creamy too.
The best part is how hands-off this method is. You dip the bread, pop it in the air fryer, and in about 10 minutes you’ve got golden, crispy french toast that tastes like fall in every bite. No flipping required.
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin French Toast
- Quick and easy breakfast – Ready in just 20-30 minutes, this air fryer version is faster than traditional stovetop french toast and perfect for busy mornings.
- Fall flavors in every bite – The combination of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice brings all those cozy autumn tastes you crave right to your breakfast table.
- Crispy outside, fluffy inside – The air fryer creates the perfect texture – golden and crispy on the outside while keeping the center soft and custardy.
- Simple pantry ingredients – Most of these ingredients are probably already in your kitchen, making this an easy go-to recipe when you want something special without a trip to the store.
- No flipping required – Unlike stovetop french toast, the air fryer cooks both sides evenly without you having to stand over the stove and flip each piece.
What Kind of French Bread Should I Use?
For air fryer pumpkin french toast, you’ll want to use a day-old French bread loaf that’s slightly stale – this actually works better than fresh bread because it soaks up the pumpkin custard mixture without falling apart. A classic French baguette or a wider French bread loaf both work great, just make sure to slice it into thick pieces, about 1-inch thick. If your bread is too fresh and soft, you can leave the slices out on the counter for about 30 minutes to let them firm up a bit. Avoid pre-sliced sandwich bread for this recipe since it’s too thin and will get soggy when you dip it in the pumpkin mixture.
Options for Substitutions
This cozy fall breakfast is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:
- French bread: Brioche, challah, or thick-cut Texas toast work great here. Even regular sandwich bread can work in a pinch – just use thicker slices so they don’t fall apart when dipped.
- Pumpkin puree: If you’re out of pumpkin puree, try mashed sweet potato or butternut squash puree. You could also skip it entirely and add an extra tablespoon of milk to keep the custard smooth.
- Pumpkin pie spice: Don’t have pumpkin pie spice? Mix together 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and a pinch of cloves. Or just use extra cinnamon if that’s all you have.
- Milk: Heavy cream makes it richer, while almond milk or oat milk work for dairy-free options. Just keep the same amount.
- Butter: Coconut oil or vegetable oil can replace the melted butter if needed. For dairy-free, make sure to use plant-based butter.
- Powdered sugar: Regular granulated sugar works fine for dusting, or you can skip it and serve with maple syrup instead.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making air fryer French toast is not preheating your air fryer, which can lead to uneven cooking and soggy centers – always give it 3-5 minutes to heat up before adding your bread.
Another common error is soaking the bread too long in the pumpkin custard mixture, as this can make it fall apart when you try to transfer it to the air fryer basket – a quick 30-second dip on each side is plenty.
Don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket either, since the hot air needs to circulate freely around each piece for that perfect golden-brown exterior, so cook in batches if needed.
Finally, keep an eye on the cooking time since air fryers can vary in intensity – start checking at the 6-minute mark to avoid burning, and flip halfway through for even browning on both sides.
What to Serve With Pumpkin French Toast?
This pumpkin french toast is perfect for a cozy fall breakfast, and it pairs beautifully with crispy bacon or breakfast sausage to balance out all those warm spices. I love drizzling maple syrup on top and adding a dollop of whipped cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you’re feeling fancy. Fresh berries like strawberries or blueberries add a nice pop of color and freshness that cuts through the richness of the pumpkin flavors. For drinks, it goes great with hot coffee, spiced chai tea, or even a glass of cold milk for the kids.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Leftover pumpkin French toast keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. I like to layer pieces between parchment paper so they don’t stick together. It’s perfect for quick breakfasts during the week when you’re in a rush!
Freeze: This French toast freezes really well for up to 2 months. Just let it cool completely, then wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap or store them in a freezer bag with parchment between each slice. It’s like having homemade frozen waffles, but way better!
Reheat: To warm up your French toast, pop it back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes, or use a toaster on medium heat. You can also microwave it for 30-45 seconds if you’re in a hurry. The air fryer method gives you that nice crispy outside again, just like when it was fresh.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 1400-1600
- Protein: 40-48 g
- Fat: 26-32 g
- Carbohydrates: 260-290 g
Ingredients
- 1 french bread loaf
- 2 eggs (large)
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice mix
- 1 1/2 tbsp pumpkin purée
- 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
Step 1: Slice the French Bread into Sticks
- 1 French bread loaf
Slice the French bread loaf into sticks that are about 2 inches wide and around 5 inches long.
Try to keep the pieces uniform so they cook evenly in the air fryer.
Step 2: Prepare the Egg Mixture
- 2 eggs (large)
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice mix
- 1 1/2 tbsp pumpkin purée
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until well combined.
Add in the ground cinnamon, granulated sugar, pumpkin pie spice mix, and pumpkin purée.
Mix everything thoroughly to create a smooth, spiced custard for dipping the bread sticks.
Step 3: Dip Bread Sticks in Egg Mixture
- sliced French bread sticks (from Step 1)
- egg mixture (from Step 2)
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
Take each bread stick (from Step 1) and dip it into the egg mixture (from Step 2), ensuring each piece is fully coated.
As you finish coating the sticks, place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Step 4: Air Fry the Sticks and Drizzle with Butter
- 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Air fry the coated bread sticks at 400°F for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, open the basket, flip each stick over to ensure even browning, and drizzle with the melted butter.
Continue air frying for another 5 minutes, or until the sticks are golden brown but not overdone.
I sometimes let the sticks cool for a minute before serving so they’re easier to handle.
Step 5: Finish and Serve
- 1 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
Remove the French toast sticks from the air fryer.
Dust generously with confectioners’ sugar, and if you like, an extra sprinkle of ground cinnamon or sugar for added flavor.
Serve warm, ideally with a side of maple syrup for dipping.
For a little extra fall flair, I love to add a touch more pumpkin pie spice right at the end.
