Air Fryer Bread Pudding

This air fryer bread pudding is one of the easiest desserts you can make, and it tastes just as good as the oven-baked version.

If you have never made bread pudding before, it is basically just bread soaked in a simple custard and then baked until golden. It is warm, comforting, and perfect for when you want something sweet without too much effort.

The air fryer makes it even simpler because it cooks faster and you don’t have to heat up your whole oven for one small dish.

You only need a handful of basic ingredients that you probably already have at home. Nothing fancy or hard to find.

It comes out with a crispy golden top and a soft, custardy center. Great on its own or with a little ice cream on the side.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy Outside and Custardy Inside – The air fryer gives the top a perfectly golden crunch while the center stays soft and creamy.

Warm and Cozy Flavor – The mix of cinnamon and nutmeg with vanilla creates a rich comforting taste in every single bite.

Small Batch Perfection – This recipe makes just enough for two to four people so nothing goes to waste.

Ingredients

• 4 cups Bread, Cut into 1-Inch Cubes (French Bread or Brioche)
• 2 large Eggs
• 1/2 cup Whole Milk
• 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
• 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• Pinch of Salt
• 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
• 1/4 cup Raisins
• 1 tbsp Powdered Sugar, for Dusting

How To Make

Step 1

Spread the bread cubes out on a baking sheet and let them sit for about 30 minutes to dry out slightly. If using fresh, soft bread, this step helps the cubes absorb the custard without turning to mush. Alternatively, you can use day-old bread.

Step 2

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth and well combined.

Step 3

Add the bread cubes and raisins to the custard mixture. Gently fold everything together, pressing the bread down so it soaks up the liquid. Let it sit for 10 minutes, giving it a gentle stir halfway through, until the bread has absorbed most of the custard.

Step 4

Brush the melted butter inside a 6-inch round baking pan or oven-safe dish that fits in your air fryer. Pour the bread pudding mixture into the pan and press the top down gently with a spatula to even it out.

Step 5

Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F. Place the pan in the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes. Check the center with a toothpick or knife.

If the center still looks very wet, cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes until the top is golden and the custard is set but still slightly jiggly in the very center.

Step 6

Remove the pan from the air fryer and let it cool for 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. The bread pudding is wonderful on its own or with a drizzle of warm caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tips

Use Stale or Dried-Out Bread

Fresh, soft bread soaks up the custard too fast and turns into a mushy mess. You want bread that has some dryness to it so it absorbs the liquid slowly and still holds its shape after cooking.

If you don’t have day-old bread, cut it into cubes and leave them out on the counter for 30 minutes like the recipe says. But honestly, even longer is better. If you have time, leave them out for a couple of hours or even overnight.

Brioche works great here because it’s rich and buttery, but it’s also very soft. So if you go with brioche, definitely make sure you dry it out first or it’ll break down too quickly in the custard.

Don’t Skip the Soaking Time

After you mix the bread cubes into the custard, let it sit for the full 10 minutes. This is where the bread absorbs all that flavor and the whole thing comes together.

Give it a gentle stir halfway through and press the cubes down lightly so they’re all in contact with the liquid. You want every piece to be soaked, not just the ones on the bottom.

If you rush this step and pour it straight into the pan, you’ll get dry spots in the finished pudding where the bread never absorbed anything. Those bites won’t taste right.

Cook at 320 and Don’t Go Higher

It might be tempting to crank the air fryer up to speed things along, but 320 degrees F is the right temperature for this. Air fryers circulate hot air aggressively, so what feels like a low temp actually cooks faster than you’d expect.

If you go higher, the top and edges will brown and crisp up way before the custard in the center has time to set. You’ll end up with a burnt outside and a raw, runny middle.

Keeping it at 320 lets the heat work its way through evenly so the custard sets all the way through while the top gets a nice golden color.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
• Air Fryer Stuffed French Toast Bites
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll Bites
• Air Fryer Banana Bread
• Air Fryer Lava Cake

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular sandwich bread instead of French bread or brioche?

You can, but the results won’t be quite as rich or custardy. French bread and brioche have a denser, sturdier structure that soaks up the custard really well without falling apart, and brioche adds extra richness because of its buttery flavor.

If sandwich bread is all you have, it will still work. Just make sure you let the cubes dry out a bit longer so they hold their shape better once they absorb the custard mixture.