Air-Fried Bread Pudding: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryer bread pudding is a quick, easy, and delicious dessert that can be made in under 30 minutes. It is a fun twist on the traditional bread pudding recipe, with a crispy top and a soft, creamy inside. The best type of bread to use is slightly stale, dense bread such as Italian, French, Brioche, or Challah, as it will absorb the custard better. You can also add your own twist to the recipe by including chocolate chips, dried fruit, or a splash of alcohol.

Choosing the right bread

Stale Bread vs. Fresh Bread

It's best to use slightly stale or day-old bread for air fryer bread pudding. Stale bread has a drier texture, allowing it to absorb the custard mixture more effectively. This results in a moist and creamy pudding. If you don't have stale bread on hand, you can cube fresh bread and let it air dry for a few hours before using it. Alternatively, you can leave the bread out overnight to dry out.

Bread Texture and Density

For bread pudding, it's essential to choose a bread with a dense or firm texture. This texture enables the bread to absorb the custard without falling apart or disintegrating. Soft Italian bread, brioche, challah, Texas toast, French bread, and even standard supermarket sandwich bread work well. These options provide a sturdy base while still absorbing the custard flavours.

Bread Type and Flavour

When selecting a bread type, consider the flavour and add-ins. For example, raisin or cinnamon bread can enhance the taste of your pudding, especially when paired with similar spices and ingredients. If you want to add chocolate to your pudding, consider using chocolate chip bread or adding chocolate chips to your mixture. Croissants are another delicious option, as in a croissant bread pudding recipe.

Bread Crust

While you can remove the crusts from the bread, as seen in some recipes, it is not necessary. The crusts will soften during the cooking process, especially if you use softer bread varieties. However, if you prefer a softer texture throughout your pudding, you can opt for crustless bread or remove the crusts before cubing the bread.

Portion Size

Finally, consider the portion size you desire. If you want to make individual servings, you can use smaller bread slices or tear the bread into smaller pieces. For a larger batch, you may need to adjust the recipe accordingly and cook the pudding in multiple batches or use a larger air fryer.

Custard preparation

To make the custard for your bread pudding, you'll need eggs, milk or cream, sugar, and butter. Some recipes also include vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.

First, whisk the eggs in a bowl. Then, add the sugar, milk, cream, cinnamon, and vanilla, and whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved. Finally, stir in the hot melted butter. This prevents the butter from clumping when mixed with cold liquid.

For a chocolate bread pudding, melt some chocolate in a separate bowl and stir this into the mixture.

Adding toppings

Bread pudding is a versatile dessert that can be customised with various toppings. Here are some ideas for adding toppings to your air fryer bread pudding:

Sweet Toppings

• Ice cream – A scoop of vanilla ice cream is a classic accompaniment to bread pudding, providing a creamy contrast to the texture of the pudding.
• Honey – Drizzling honey on top of the bread pudding adds a touch of sweetness and a beautiful golden colour.
• Caramel – For those with a sweet tooth, a drizzle of caramel sauce can take the dessert to the next level.
• Chocolate – Chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, or a combination of both can be added for a indulgent touch.
• Fruits – Fresh berries or dried fruits like raisins, sultanas, cranberries, or mixed dried fruit can be sprinkled on top for a burst of flavour and colour.
• Nuts – Toasted pecans or walnuts add a crunchy texture and a subtle nutty flavour to the pudding.
• Coconut – For a tropical twist, sprinkle shredded coconut on top, or even replace some of the milk in the recipe with coconut milk.

Savoury Toppings

• Spices – Experiment with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice to add a savoury edge to the sweetness of the pudding.
• Alcohol – A splash of bourbon, rum, brandy, or Grand Marnier adds depth and richness to the pudding.

Feel free to mix and match toppings to create your own unique combination!

Air fryer settings

The ideal air fryer temperature for making bread pudding is between 325°F and 350°F. The cooking time will vary depending on the quantity of the mixture and the number of servings, but it typically ranges from 12 to 15 minutes. For a single serving, 12 to 14 minutes at 330°F should suffice. For a larger batch, you may need to cook it for up to 70 minutes at 150°F.

It is important to preheat the air fryer before adding the bread pudding mixture. Additionally,sectioning the mixture into smaller ramekins or a baking dish that fits inside the air fryer ensures even cooking.

To achieve a crispy top and a soft, moist interior, it is recommended to sprinkle sugar on top of the mixture before air frying. This will help form a delicious, golden crust.

Serving suggestions

Bread pudding is best served warm, shortly after it has been cooked. The warmth of the pudding topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes an irresistible treat. It is also great with a sauce such as vanilla custard sauce, chocolate sauce, or rum sauce.

Some people also enjoy bread pudding at room temperature or chilled. When chilled, the pudding can set further and may have a slightly firmer texture.

You can also serve it with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar, cinnamon, or cocoa powder on top. A garnish of mint or fresh berries adds a pretty touch.

Bread pudding also works as a comforting breakfast or brunch dish, especially when drizzled with maple syrup and fresh fruit, like air fryer French toast.

Frequently asked questions