Air Fryer Kneaders French Toast (Copycat Recipe)
Description
Thick slices of chunky cinnamon bread soaked in vanilla custard, air fried until golden, and drizzled with an easy 3-ingredient homemade caramel syrup — a copycat of the famous Kneaders Chunky Cinnamon French Toast, ready in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Kneaders French Toast:
- 1 loaf chunky cinnamon bread, about 1 pound, cut into 1½–2-inch slices — Kneaders chunky cinnamon bread, or any thick-cut cinnamon swirl, brioche, challah, or French bread
- 6 large eggs
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Homemade Caramel Syrup:
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup light corn syrup
For Serving (optional):
- Sliced fresh strawberries
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Slice the bread into thick slices, about 1½ to 2 inches.
- In a large, shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, kosher salt, and vanilla extract until completely smooth.
- Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, letting it soak for a few seconds per side. Let the excess drip off.
- Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line it with perforated parchment paper. Arrange the dipped slices in a single layer without overlapping, working in batches as needed. Brush the tops lightly with melted butter.
- Air fry at 330 degrees F for 8–12 minutes, flipping halfway through and brushing the second side with butter, until golden brown and the custard is set in the center.
- While the French toast cooks, combine the brown sugar, heavy whipping cream, and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, whisking until smooth, 3–5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly; the syrup thickens as it sits.
- Serve the French toast warm, drizzled with caramel syrup and topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Equipment
- Small Saucepan
- Parchment Paper or Cooking Spray
Notes
- Bread: Day-old bread soaks up the custard without turning soggy. If your bread has no cinnamon swirl, increase the ground cinnamon to 2 teaspoons.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftover French toast up to 2 days or freeze up to 2 months; store syrup separately in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Reheat toast in the air fryer at 320°F for 2–4 minutes and rewarm syrup gently.
- Air fryers vary: Start checking at 8 minutes and remove when deeply golden.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 628kcalCarbohydrates: 89gProtein: 12gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 255mgSodium: 563mgPotassium: 348mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 89gVitamin A: 1168IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 249mgIron: 1mg