Air Fryer Cannoli Stuffed French Toast is a deliciously quick and easy breakfast perfect for the whole family. Brioche bread, a simple egg and cinnamon dip, sweet ricotta filling with chocolate chips, and ten minutes in the air fryer are all you need.
It's so delicious you won't know whether it's breakfast or dessert! Serve it for rushed weekday mornings, lazy weekend brunches, or special holidays like Mother's Day or Valentine's Day.
Table of contents
- Air fryer recipes for every meal
- Why you'll love this air fryer stuffed French toast recipe
- What is French Toast?
- What bread works best for French Toast
- Ingredients
- How to cook Stuffed French Toast in the air fryer
- What to serve with French toast
- How to store and reheat stuffed French toast leftovers
- FAQs
- More easy breakfast recipes
Air fryer recipes for every meal
If you're a regular reader, you already know how much I love my air fryer. I have recipes from Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls for appetizers, Air Fryer Hot Dogs for easy lunches, and even Air Fryer Filet Mignon for special dinners.
Now you can add this quick breakfast recipe for French Toast in the air fryer and have every meal covered! And this incredibly easy and delicious brioche stuffed French Toast recipe is just in time for the rushed back-to-school mornings too!
Why you'll love this air fryer stuffed French toast recipe
Stale Bread? No Problem!: Have you ever had a loaf of bread that you swear you could use up quickly and then wind up with a loaf of stale bread a week later? No worries! That's the perfect time to make that stale bread into this delicious, mouthwatering Cannoli Stuffed French Toast. And what better way to make it than in an air fryer?!
Rich Cannoli Filling: The cannoli filling takes this recipe up a notch from the classic French Toast. It's rich, a little sweet, and, of course, there's chocolate in it. This air fryer stuffed French Toast is special enough for any occasion but easy enough for a laidback weekend breakfast. Check out all the tips and tricks below and you just might want to make it this every weekend!
Quick & Easy: With just a few simple ingredients you can have this sweet and delicious breakfast on the table in 20 minutes!
What is French Toast?
French Toast is a breakfast dish made with sliced stale bread dipped into an egg and cream mixture. Traditionally, regular French toast is pan-fried but now there's the perfect shortcut, and way less messy way to do it, by air frying it! It is also called eggy bread, gypsy toast, Bombay toast, and poor knights.
Where did it come from? And nope, it's not French! It actually originated back in the Roman Empire where they called it pan dolcis. It reappeared in England during the 15th century where it became known as Lost Bread, for the stale bread used, or pain perdu.
The U.S. was first introduced to it around 1724 by an innkeeper named Joseph French. He called his version French Toast. And so it is today.
What bread works best for French Toast
- Brioche is my preferred bread. It is sweeter than normal bread, and quite rich tasting with a distinct buttery flavor, and provides a great base for a breakfast that is kind of like dessert.
- Challah bread is a braided, eggy bread that can also be used. It is made without diary and with oil instead of butter producing a bread that is not quite as rich as a brioche. It is also not as sweet so extra sugar may need to be added to the batter.
- Stale French bread or a baguette, while not sweet and rich, is still tasty. The bread will have to be soaked a little longer and the finished result will come out denser and chewier than either of the breads above.
- Texas toast is another great option for this recipe. The bread is thicker and soaks up the custard mixture very well. It will come out softer than any of the breads above with a slightly more buttery taste. Make sure to get the plain version.
Ingredients
Here's your handy list of everything you'll need to make this fantastically delicious Air Fryer French Toast stuffed with cannoli filling. Find all the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
For the cannoli filling:
- Ricotta cheese - is the base of the creamy filling usually associated with the classic Italian dessert
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Mini chocolate chips - adds a bit of decadence and sweetness to the creamy ricotta filling.
For the stuffed French toast:
- Brioche bread
- Butter
- Eggs
- Half and half
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
How to cook Stuffed French Toast in the air fryer
Ready to whip up a breakfast that's as easy as it is delicious? This air-fried stuffed French toast is your ticket to a fuss-free, flavorful meal. Follow these simple steps and you'll be done in no time.
How to make cannoli filling
- Mix ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl.
- Stir in mini chocolate chips. Set aside.
How to make French Toast batter
- Whisk eggs in a medium bowl.
- Melt butter and let cool slightly. Whisk melted butter into beaten eggs. Do this slowly so as not to cook the eggs.
- Add half and half to the egg mixture.
- Finally whisk in the extract, sugar, and cinnamon.
Stuffing the French Toast
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray. While the air fryer is preheating prepare the brioche bread by soaking each side in the egg batter for 15 seconds. You don't want the bread to become too wet and fall apart as you place it in the fryer.
- Carefully place the soaked bread into the air fryer and dollop some of the ricotta mixture on top. Spread evenly.
- Repeat with another slice of bread and place beside the first slice. Make sure there is adequate space around each piece of bread so the air fryer can cook them evenly.
- Soak the remaining two slices of bread and place them on top of the filling on each slice of bread.
How to air fry Cannoli Stuffed French Toast
- Lightly coat the top slices of bread with cooking spray. Air fry for 5 minutes.
- Open the fryer and gently turn over each slice of Stuffed French Toast.
- Spray the uncooked tops with cooking oil spray.
- Air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
To serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar, a pat of butter, and some maple syrup. Believe me, this is the easiest and best French Toast you'll ever try! And all it takes is 20 minutes from prep to table! And, it's so good you might even think you're having dessert for breakfast!
What to serve with French toast
When you are wondering what to serve with a yummy French Toast breakfast, here are some ideas:
- Top it with powdered sugar, berries, fresh mint leaves, and maple syrup.
- Crispy bacon or browned sausage links are the perfect savory accompaniments.
- Beverages like coffee, hot tea, orange juice, or a mimosa.
How to store and reheat stuffed French toast leftovers
Wrap cooled stuffed French toast leftovers with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing is not recommended because it will become soggy and watery after thawing.
To Reheat:
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Air fry the stuffed French toast for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave: This is a quick way to reheat it but it will lose its crispness. Microwave on high for 30 seconds then in 20-second increments until heated through.
- Oven: Place the stuffed French toast on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
FAQs
I don't like to soak my bread slices for this air fryer version longer than 15-30 seconds. Maybe slightly longer if the bread is thicker, say 1-½" to 2". Make sure to cook it for the allotted time and, above all, don't overcrowd it!
I like to use 3 eggs for every cup of milk. This produces a French Toast that is creamy and not overly eggy. The more eggs the more the flavor of the eggs will come through.
A good French toast will be crispy on the outside and soft and custardy in the center.
Yes. I love to save my batter in the refrigerator for making a fresh batch the following day. It will keep for about 24-36 hours.
More easy breakfast recipes
Breakfast Street Tacos are a simple combination of scrambled eggs, bacon, refried beans, and avocado rolled up in a tortilla. It's breakfast without a plate!
Bacon Cheddar Scones are like little scotch pancakes or biscuits filled with bacon and cheese. Perfect for making and freezing for quick breakfasts throughout the week.
Air Fryer Donut Holes with cinnamon sugar are great for kids of all ages.
Air Fryer French Toast Roll Ups with Nutella filling.
Baked Banana Doughnuts take only 20 minutes and have all the flavors of your favorite banana bread but in doughnut form. A little healthier than fried and super delicious too!
Find more easy breakfast recipes on 2CM!
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Air Fryer Cannoli Stuffed French Toast
Ingredients
Cannoli Filling
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips
French Toast
- 4 slices ½" thick brioche bread challah or Texas Toast
- 3 eggs
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted & slightly cooled
- 1 cup half & half
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Garnishes: Powdered sugar, sliced fruit & berries, maple syrup
Instructions
Cannoli Filling
- Blend ricotta cheese with powdered sugar and extract until smooth.
- Stir in mini chocolate chips and set aside.
- Preheat air fryer at 360 degrees for 5 minutes. Once preheated, spray basket with nonstick cooking spray.
French Toast
- Crack eggs in a medium bowl and whisk well.
- Slowly add melted butter, whisking continuously so that eggs do not start to cook.
- Add milk, sugar, extract, and cinnamon and whisk until completely mixed and sugar has dissolved.
- Dip one slice of bread into mixture, turn and dip other side.
- Place into preheated air fryer basket.
- Dollop some of the cannoli mixture onto the top of the bread and spread evenly with a spoon.
- Take second piece of bread and repeat dipping in egg mixture. Place on top of cannoli filling.
- Repeat with remaining two slices of bread and place in air fryer.
- Make sure there is plenty of room in-between stuffed French toast slices.
- Spray the tops of the French toast slices with nonstick cooking spray.
- Air fry for 5 minutes, turn slices over, spray tops with nonstick cooking spray, and air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove with spatula and place on serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar.
- Serve with butter, berries, sliced fruit, maple syrup and even whipped cream.
Notes
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Air fry the stuffed French toast for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave: This is a quick way to reheat it but it will lose its crispness. Microwave on high for 30 seconds then in 20-second increments until heated through.
- Oven: Place the stuffed French toast on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition
This post has been updated with more helpful information. It was first posted on May 2, 2021.
Loreto and Nicoletta says
You gotta just love air fryers, especially when french toast like this come out of it. So happy you used the brioche, perfect bread for this breakfast treat. Thanks for the history, didn't know it originated in the 13th century Rome. Makes Nicoletta and I very proud being Italian and all
Linda Warren says
I'm with you, air fryers are great! And there is nothing like French Toast made with brioche.
Tristin says
This cannoli filling brings this French Toast to a whole new level! Delicious!!
Linda Warren says
I totally agree! It just makes it like dessert for breakfast!
Marta says
I can't believe how good these were! We made them for breakfast this morning and had to fight over the last french toast cannoli. (But I won)
GUNJAN C Dudani says
cool! didn't know i could make French toast in air fryer. I love the cannoli twist to it.
Linda Warren says
If you love cannoli fillings you'll love this breakfast! As to the air fryer, I'm game to trying anything in it. It's amazing what it can do!
Eva says
What a genius idea to have cannoli filling in a French toast. But above all, to make it in the air fryer instead of actual frying! Amazing!
Linda Warren says
I love my air fryer and it made cooking French Toast much less messy and cleanup was a breeze.
Veronika Sykorova says
The cannoli filling is a brilliant idea! I love a good classic french toast but I've never tried one with a filling. A total game-changer!
Linda Warren says
It is! The filling always makes me think of eating dessert for breakfast. Any filling works so it always tastes like something new.
Bernice Hill says
I'm a HUGE fan of zero waste kitchens and French toast is the perfect way to use up stale bread. Stuffing it just takes it to a whole other level of delicious.
Linda Warren says
So true! I'll eat up stale bread like this any day of the week! lol
Chef Dennis says
Here I am wishing it's breakfast soon! This Air Fryer Cannoli Stuffed French Toast looks absolutely mouthwatering.
Linda Warren says
It is sooo good! Wish you could join me.
Colleen says
I love my air fryer but I never thought to use it for French toast. Now I can't wait to make this recipe. Weekend goals!
Linda Warren says
Ha ha. I know just what you mean! I am so enamored of my air fryer that I am trying anything and everything in it. It's amazing what it can do.