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A bowl of air fryer bread pudding topped with a creamy sauce.

Air Fryer Bread Pudding

Air Fryer Bread Pudding proves simple ingredients can make something truly delicious. The air fryer gives it a perfectly crisp top while keeping the inside soft and custardy, and the homemade English cream sauce makes every bite even better. Whether you’re using up leftover bread or prepping ahead for a gathering, it’s an easy, fuss-free recipe that always delivers. Serve it warm or chilled on a cozy night in or at a dinner party—it’s versatile, effortless, and always a favorite.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 908kcal
Author: Mandy Applegate

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raisins
  • ¼ cup ron
  • 6 cups French bread at least a day old, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 cups milk divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

For the English cream:

  • 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
  • 3 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup vanilla sugar or sugar + 1 teaspoon vanilla beans

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the raisins with ron. Cover and soak for 1 to 2 hours.
    1 cup raisins, ¼ cup ron
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine half of the milk and cubed bread. Use your hands to press the bread into the milk until fully saturated (it may not absorb all the milk).
    2 cups milk, 6 cups French bread
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, then add the sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Add the rest of the milk, mix well and pour this mixture over the soaked bread and add the ron-soaked raisins. Stir gently to combine.
    1 large egg, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¾ cup milk, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  • Pour the bread mixture into the prepared pan. Bake in the air fryer at 160ºC (320°F) for 25 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned and pulled away from the sides of the pan.
  • Serve with the English cream.

For the English Cream:

  • In a small heavy saucepan, heat the cream, butter and vanilla sugar over medium heat until bubbles form around the edges.
    1 ¼ cups heavy cream, 3 tablespoons butter, ¼ cup vanilla sugar
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks until smooth. Slowly pour ½ cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly.
    3 egg yolks
  • Gradually add the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining cream, whisking continuously.
  • Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickly coats the back of a spoon.

Notes

  • Customize with mix-ins: If you're out of raisins or just want something else to change up the flavor, you can swap for chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried cranberries.
  • Use stale bread for the best texture: Fresh bread can turn mushy, while slightly dry bread soaks up the custard without falling apart. If your bread is too soft, let it sit out overnight or toast it lightly before using.
  • Let the bread soak long enough: The more time the bread has to absorb the milk, the better the final texture will be. Pressing the bread down helps it soak up every drop.
  • Check for doneness: The bread pudding should be set around the edges but still slightly soft in the center when removed from the air fryer. If you let it bake until fully solid, you might lose its creaminess. Also, the bread's center will continue to firm up as it cools, so there is no need for those extra minutes of baking!
  • Don’t rush the egg tempering step: Slowly adding hot cream to the egg yolks prevents them from scrambling and helps you achieve that smooth, velvety sauce texture.
  • Whisk continuously for a smooth texture: Keep whisking the tempered egg yolks with the cream mixture as it cooks to prevent lumps or curdling. Stirring constantly helps the eggs blend evenly into the cream, giving you that silky, pourable sauce without any graininess.
  • Let it rest before slicing: Allowing the pudding to sit for 10 minutes before cutting makes serving easier and helps the flavors fully settle.

Nutrition

Calories: 908kcal | Carbohydrates: 144g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 1161mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 947IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 242mg | Iron: 8mg
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