Posted by This Air Fryer Bread Pudding is a delightful dessert infused with cinnamon, vanilla, and plump raisins. It’s simple, quick, and ready in just 30 minutes, making it a perfect treat. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a heavenly experience!
What is bread pudding?
Bread pudding is a classic dessert made by soaking cubed stale bread in a sweet egg custard and baking it until golden brown. The result is a soft, creamy, and utterly divine treat. This air fryer version is inspired by bread and butter pudding. It features two layers of cubed bread interspersed with golden raisins, all soaked in a rich egg custard before being air-fried to perfection. The tops form a beautifully golden, crusty exterior, while the inside remains soft and custardy. One bite, and it’s hard to stop!
Why this recipe works?
This recipe makes a small 6-inch pan of pudding, perfect for serving two people generously or four as a light dessert. It’s an ideal treat for family gatherings, and the best part is you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy this easy-to-make air fryer bread pudding. The air fryer uses hot air to cook the food from the top, achieving a gorgeous golden-brown crust while keeping the interior wonderfully soft and creamy.
Ingredients
- Bread: I recommend using soft Italian, French, Brioche, or Challah bread. Avoid crusty baguettes, as they don’t absorb the custard well in the short air frying process.
- Milk and cream: Whole milk with a splash of heavy cream adds richness, but you can substitute with just whole milk if preferred.
- Eggs: Essential for setting the custard.
- Butter: Melted butter adds flavor and richness.
- Raisins: As the bread pudding cooks, the raisins plump up, adding natural sweetness and a chewy texture.
- Flavorings: Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon bring the pudding to life.
Best bread for bread pudding
The best bread for bread pudding is slightly stale or day-old, with a dense or firm texture that can soak up the custard without falling apart. Italian bread, brioche, or challah are popular choices, but you can also use standard sandwich bread or burger buns. Avoid very crusty bread like baguettes, as they won’t soften enough during the short air frying process.
Variations
- Replace raisins with semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Experiment with spices like nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice.
- Add chopped toasted pecans or walnuts.
- Substitute some of the milk with coconut milk and add shredded coconut with the raisins.
- For a richer flavor, add a splash of bourbon, rum, brandy, or Grand Marnier.
How to make?
- Whisk eggs in a bowl, then add sugar, milk, cream, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the melted butter to prevent clumping.
- Layer half of the cubed bread in a cake pan, then sprinkle half of the raisins.
- Pour half of the egg mixture over the bread layer.
- Add the remaining bread and raisins, then pour the rest of the custard evenly over the top.
- Gently press the bread into the liquid using the back of a spoon.
How to serve?
Air fryer bread pudding is best served warm. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top makes it an irresistible dessert. You can also drizzle it with vanilla custard sauce, chocolate sauce, or rum sauce for extra indulgence. For a lighter touch, sprinkle powdered sugar, cinnamon, or cocoa powder over the top, and garnish with mint or fresh berries. This bread pudding also works well as a comforting breakfast or brunch dish, especially when paired with maple syrup and fresh fruit, just like air fryer French toast.
This easy and delicious Air Fryer Bread Pudding is packed with cinnamon, vanilla, and juicy raisins. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect dessert or breakfast treat, especially when served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Course: Breakfast
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 415 kcal
Equipment:
- Air Fryer
- 6-inch cake pan
Ingredients:
Egg Mixture:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup heavy cream (or substitute with whole milk)
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons hot melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
- 4 cups cubed white bread (cut into ¾-inch cubes; see notes for bread choices)
- ⅓ cup golden raisins
Instructions:
- Prepare the Custard:
In a bowl, whisk the eggs to combine. Add the sugar, milk, cream, cinnamon, and vanilla, and whisk until the sugar dissolves completely. Stir in the melted butter to prevent clumping when mixed with the cold milk. - Assemble the Pudding:
Grease a 6-inch round cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. Layer half of the bread cubes in the pan, then sprinkle half of the raisins over the bread. Pour half of the egg mixture evenly over the bread and raisins. - Layer the Bread and Custard:
Add the remaining bread cubes on top, followed by the remaining raisins. Pour the rest of the custard evenly over the bread. Gently press the bread into the liquid using the back of a spoon to help it absorb the custard. - Cook in the Air Fryer:
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Once preheated, place the cake pan in the air fryer basket and cook for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the top is deep golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. - Serve:
Allow the bread pudding to rest for a few minutes before serving. Dust the top with powdered sugar and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgence.
Notes:
- Bread Choice: For best results, use soft Italian, French, brioche, or challah bread. If using soft sandwich bread, burger buns, or hot dog buns, place the cubed bread on a baking sheet and let it air dry for a few hours before use.
- Egg Preparation: Lightly beat the eggs before mixing with the milk to ensure they are thoroughly combined.
Nutrition (per serving):
- Calories: 415 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 105g
- Protein: 31g
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sodium: 1029mg
- Potassium: 423mg
- Fiber: 10g
- Sugar: 39g
- Vitamin A: 583 IU
- Vitamin C: 1mg
- Calcium: 348mg
- Iron: 9mg
Nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on specific ingredients used.