Air Fryer Bread Pudding

• Bread: Soft breads like Italian, French, Brioche, or Challah work best for bread pudding in air fryer because they absorb the custard quickly and bake evenly; avoid crusty baguettes, which don’t soften enough during the short air frying time.
• Milk and Cream: A mix of whole milk and a bit of heavy cream adds richness to the vanilla custard, but you can also use just whole milk or half-and-half depending on your preference and how indulgent you want it—especially great for a festive Christmas breakfast or brunch.
• Eggs: Two large eggs are essential to help the vanilla custard set properly and give the pudding its classic creamy texture.
• Butter: Just two tablespoons of melted butter adds extra richness and depth of flavor to the pudding without making it greasy.
• Raisins: As the pudding cooks in the air fryer, the raisins soften and plump up, adding natural sweetness and a pleasant chewy contrast to the creamy custard.

Best Bread for Bread Pudding (Air Fryer Edition)

The best bread for homemade bread pudding is slightly stale or day-old bread with a soft, dense texture that can soak up the custard without falling apart.

Great options include soft Italian bread, brioche, challah, croissants, or even raisin or cinnamon swirl bread for extra flavor. You can also use everyday options like supermarket sandwich bread, burger buns, or hot dog buns—perfect for using up leftovers!

Breads to Avoid: Very crusty breads like baguettes or seeded whole grain loaves aren’t ideal, as they don’t soften quickly enough in the short air fryer cooking time and may not absorb the custard well.

Delicious Variations to Try

• Chocolate twist: Skip the raisins and stir in some semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Warm spices: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice to deepen the cozy fall flavor.
• Nutty crunch: Mix in some chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts for added texture and richness.
• Tropical flair: Swap some of the milk with coconut milk and sprinkle in shredded coconut along with raisins.
• Boozy boost: A splash of bourbon, rum, brandy, or Grand Marnier adds beautiful depth and warmth—perfect for holiday gatherings.

How to make bread and butter pudding in air fryer?

You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.

5.Layer half of the bread cubes in the cake pan, then sprinkle half of the raisins.

6. Pour approximately half of the egg mixture evenly over this layer.

7. Add the remaining bread and raisins, then pour the remaining custard evenly over the top.

8. Use the back of a spoon, gently press the bread into the liquid.

9. Cook for 11 to 13 minutes in a preheated 350 degree air fryer or the top gets a deep golden color.

Serving Suggestions

Air fried bread pudding is best enjoyed warm, fresh from the air fryer, when the custard is soft and comforting—especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top for a truly irresistible treat. For a simple finishing touch, dust the top with powdered sugar, cinnamon, or cocoa powder. Garnish with fresh berries or a sprig of mint to add color and elegance.

It also pairs beautifully with sauces like vanilla custard, the vanilla tres leches sauce served with the croissant bread pudding, chocolate sauce, or even rum sauce for a richer dessert. In a pinch, a quick "cheat" custard sauce can be made by gently melting good-quality vanilla ice cream—since it's essentially frozen custard. it works surprisingly well!

That said, bread pudding can also be served at room temperature or chilled. When cold, it sets more firmly and offers a slightly denser, sliceable texture.

Storage and reheating

• Fridge - Cool the bread and butter pudding to room temperature, then tightly cover or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Yes, you can freeze your bread pudding. Transfer the cooled pudding to a air tight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
• Thawing and Reheating: When ready to eat, thaw frozen bread pudding in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in microwave until warmed through.

Love air fryer desserts? Try our air fryer baked apples or air fryer banana cake.

Tips for Success

• Best bread to use: Soft Italian or French loaves, brioche, or challah work beautifully as they soak up the vanilla custard well without falling apart.
• Using soft breads: If you're using softer options like sandwich bread, burger buns, hot dog buns, or dinner rolls, cube them and let them air-dry on a baking sheet for a few hours to firm up—this helps them absorb the custard better.
• Beat eggs first: Lightly beat the eggs before adding the milk and cream. This ensures a smoother custard with evenly mixed ingredients.
• Keep raisins from burning: Raisins on the surface can brown too quickly in the air fryer. If too many are exposed, gently press them down into the pudding before cooking.
• Make-ahead option: Assemble the pudding in the pan, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before air frying as directed.

More bread pudding recipes

• This Hawaiian roll French toast casserole is an irresistible combination of soft, custardy Hawaiian sweet rolls infused with fragrant cardamom and fresh raspberries, all topped with a sweet, crunchy almond crust.
• This eggnog croissant bread pudding is the ultimate holiday breakfast or brunch dish, especially for Christmas morning! 
• The best croissant bread pudding is inspired by the classic tiramisu! It is heavenly when served with vanilla tres leches sauce with optional booze, making it one of the best breakfast desserts you’ve ever had and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
• French toast muffins are an easy twist on classic baked French toast! Topped with a cinnamon sugar pecan topping,