Delightful Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast Magic

Oh, hello there! If you’re anything like me, the arrival of spring brings with it a lovely craving for cosy, comforting breakfasts, and nothing quite says spring like a basket full of hot cross buns. This year, I’ve had a bit of a revelation – turning those spiced Easter favourites into the most delightful Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast. It’s honestly one of those recipes that just *works*, and it’s so wonderfully quick. I remember the first time I made it, on a chilly Sunday morning, and the whole kitchen filled with that classic cinnamon and fruit aroma. It felt like a little bit of Mary Berry magic, you know? Reliable, utterly delicious, and perfect for a relaxed weekend treat or even a speedy weekday breakfast if you fancy a bit of a lift. Trust me, this is a game-changer!

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast

• It’s super speedy – ready in just 16 minutes from start to finish!
• An absolutely brilliant way to use up any leftover hot cross buns after Easter.
• You get that lovely French toast crispiness hugging a soft, spiced centre.
• Seriously easy to make, perfect for even beginner cooks.
• The flavour is just divine – all those warm spices you love.

Ingredients for Your Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast

• 4 large hot cross buns
• 3 large eggs
• 150 ml whole milk
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 20 g butter, melted
• Light cooking oil spray
• Fresh strawberries, sliced (for serving)
• Fresh blueberries (for serving)
• Greek yogurt (for serving)
• Maple syrup (for serving)

How to Make Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast: Step-by-Step

Step 1: First things first, grab your hot cross buns and slice them right in half horizontally. So, you’ll have the top half and the bottom half of each bun. Easy peasy!

Step 2: Now, get a shallow dish – a pie dish or a wide bowl works perfectly. Whisk together your eggs, lovely whole milk, caster sugar (just a tablespoon for a hint of sweetness), and that gorgeous ground cinnamon. Give it a good whisk until it’s all smooth and combined. This is our flavour base!

Step 3: Pop your hot cross bun halves cut-side down into that egg mixture. Let them soak for about 2 minutes. You want them to get nice and saturated, but not soggy. Then, flip them over and let the other cut side soak for another 2 minutes. Gotta get all that eggy goodness in there!

Step 4: Time for the air fryer! Preheat it to 200°C. Most air fryers are pretty quick to heat up, but if yours needs a bit longer, give it about 3 minutes. While it’s preheating, line your air fryer basket with some baking parchment – this makes cleaning up a doddle! Give the parchment a little spritz of cooking oil spray to stop anything sticking. If you’re after more air fryer inspiration, check out these air fryer stuffed mushrooms or these air fryer mushrooms with cheese for more ideas!

Step 5: Carefully arrange your soaked hot cross bun halves in a single layer in the basket. Don’t cram them in; give them a bit of breathing room so they can get lovely and crisp. Now, brush the cut sides with that melted butter. This really helps them get golden brown and adds a beautiful richness. You might find you need to do this in batches, which is absolutely fine. Just keep the cooked ones warm while you do the rest.

Step 6: Pop the basket back into the air fryer. Cook at 200°C for about 5 to 6 minutes. Keep an eye on them through the window if you can – you’re looking for a beautiful golden brown colour and those edges to be lightly crisp. Honestly, the smell at this stage is just divine!

Step 7: Once they’re done and looking wonderfully golden, carefully remove them from the air fryer. If you’re cooking in batches, make sure to keep the first lot warm while you finish the remaining buns. You could pop them on a plate in a slightly warm oven (around 100°C) – just for a few minutes!

Serving Suggestions for Your Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast

This Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast is already a treat, but here are a few ideas to take it to the next level:

Fresh Berries: A colourful mix of sliced strawberries and plump blueberries adds a lovely sweetness and a burst of freshness that cuts through the richness beautifully. It’s like a little bit of sunshine on a plate!

Creamy Greek Yogurt: A dollop of thick Greek yogurt provides a cool, creamy contrast to the warm, spiced toast. It’s a healthier option that still feels incredibly indulgent.

Drizzled Maple Syrup: You can’t go wrong with a classic! A generous drizzle of good quality maple syrup adds that comforting sweetness that just sings with the cinnamon and spices. For more lovely fruity ideas, have a look at my blueberry treats, my dark chocolate blueberry bites, or these chocolate-covered blueberry bites – they make a gorgeous side!

Storing and Reheating Your Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast

If you happen to have any of this delightful French toast left over – which is a rare treat in my house! – storing it is easy. Once cooled, pop any uneaten portions into an airtight container and pop them in the fridge. They’ll keep nicely for up to 2 days. To reheat and get that lovely crispiness back, I highly recommend popping them back into the air fryer for about 3-4 minutes at 180°C. This brings them back to life way better than a microwave, which can make them a bit soggy. You want that delicious golden crisp!

Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast

Q: Can I use stale hot cross buns for this recipe?

A: Absolutely! In fact, slightly stale hot cross buns are even better for this Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast. They hold their shape really well when soaked and won’t get too mushy, plus they’ll crisp up beautifully in the air fryer.

Q: What if I don’t have an air fryer? Can I still make this?

A: Oh, no worries at all! You can definitely still enjoy this. Just follow the soaking steps as usual. Then, heat a generous knob of butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and cook the bun halves for about 3-4 minutes per side, until they’re golden brown and toasted. It’s just as delicious!

Q: Can I make the egg mixture ahead of time?

A: Yes, you can totally mix up the egg, milk, sugar, and cinnamon mixture an hour or two in advance and keep it covered in the fridge. Just give it a quick whisk again before you start soaking your buns. It saves a bit of time on busy mornings!

Enjoy Your Delicious Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast!

I really hope you give this Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast a go this spring. It’s such a simple yet completely rewarding way to start your day. Please let me know in the comments how you get on, and I’d love to see your creations! You can also find more tasty ideas over on my Pinterest page. Happy cooking!

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