Make delicious Blackberry French Toast Cups in an oven OR an air fryer. They’re easy to make, and are decadent, single serving breakfasts.
Every now and then I make French toast cups for our breakfast. They are a delicious, occasional TREAT we really enjoy, and I’ve been making them in different variations for years.
I came up with this version because I wanted to use some of our blackberries last summer. What I like about this dish is you make it the night BEFORE you’ll be serving it, and refrigerate it overnight. The next morning, all you will need to do is bake and serve!
I have included instructions for cooking this recipe in a traditional oven or an air fryer. Both are convenient, trusted methods which can be used to make this yummy breakfast.
The recipe (as written) makes two servings, but can easily be doubled or tripled, etc. Here’s how to make Blackberry French Toast Cups.
Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page
Butter And Fill The Ramekins
The first thing you need to do is prepare the ingredients for overnight “refrigeration”. Yes, you need to plan ahead for this recipe! Make it up the night before you want to enjoy it for breakfast the next morning. Here’s how:
Butter the bottom and sides of 2 oven-safe ramekins. The ramekins I use are a standard size, about 4½ wide by 2″ tall.
Cut some 1-2 day old, fairly stale Italian bread into bite-sized cubes, leaving the crusts ON the bread. You will need 2 cups total. Divide HALF the bread cubes between the 2 ramekins, reserving the rest for a second layer.
IMPORTANT: The reason for using stale bread is that it has become slightly hardened, which allows it to soak in an egg mixture overnight without becoming so soggy that it falls apart into MUSH.
Add The Blackberries In Layers
Gently stir ½ teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar into the blackberries until the sugar dissolves. Add HALF of the blackberries on top of the bread cubes, dividing them evenly between the ramekins.
Repeat with a second layer of bread cubes, and another layer of blackberries, until the ramekins are full.
Mix And Add The Egg Filling
In a medium bowl, place the eggs, vanilla, milk, and 2 teaspoons granulated sugar. Whisk these ingredients together with a fork or wire whisk until they’re well blended.
Carefully pour the egg mixture into the ramekins, evenly dividing it between the two dishes. The mixture should come very close to the top of the ramekins.
Time To Chill!
Use a spoon or fork to lightly press the bread cubes down into the egg mixture. You want as many of the bread cubes covered with the liquid as possible.
Cover the ramekins tightly with plastic wrap, and place them in the refrigerator overnight (at least 6 hours). The bread cubes will soak up some of the liquid overnight.
Remove the ramekins from the fridge about 15 minutes before baking, to take off some of the chill. Remove the plastic wrap, and press the bread cubes back down into any remaining liquid. Preheat your oven to 375°F. during this time.
Bake Or Air-Fry The Blackberry French Toast Cups
Now It’s time to cook the Blackberry French Toast Cups! They can be cooked using a traditional oven OR an air-fryer. When baking, place a sheet of foil underneath, to catch any spills (for easy cleanup).
To Cook In An Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out free of “batter”. The French toast cups should be nice and golden brown on top.
To Cook In An Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 350° F. Place ramekins carefully into the basket, being careful not to spill. Cook for 13 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 250°F, and cook 3 more minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out free of “batter”. The French toast cups should be nicely browned on top.
IMPORTANT: Since air fryer AND oven temps can vary with different manufacturers, be sure to check on the French toast cups occasionally toward the end of the cooking time, to ensure they do not overcook.
Serve And Enjoy!
Once they’ve finished cooking (either method), transfer the ramekins to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes. Sift powdered sugar over the top of each ramekin before serving.
We think they taste best when they’ve had time to cool a bit, and we like to eat them warm, but not blazing hot!
My husband likes to eat his right out of the ramekin, with only sifted powdered sugar. I prefer to slide a butter knife around the edges of the ramekin and remove the French toast cup from the ramekin.
Serve the blackberry French toast cups with powdered sugar, maple syrup or pancake syrup (whatever you prefer). Grab a fork, dig in, and enjoy this delicious breakfast treat!
I hope you have the chance to make this dish, and trust you will like it as much as we do! The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to meet your needs.
Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a GREAT day!
Looking For More FRENCH TOAST RECIPES?
You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some delicious French toast recipes, including:
- Classic French Toast
- Apple Pecan French Toast Cups
- Blueberry and Cream Cheese-Stuffed French Toast
- Chocolate Chip Orange French Toast
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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓
Make delicious Blackberry French Toast Cups in an oven OR an air fryer. They're easy to make, and are decadent, single serving breakfasts.
- 1 teaspoon butter softened (for ramekins)
- 2 cups Italian bread cubes (stale-2 or 3 days old) cut in 1" cubes
- ¾ cup blackberries (if frozen, thaw/drain)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup 1% milk
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Butter bottom and sides of 2 oven-safe ramekins (4½" wide by 2" tall).
Cut bread into 1" cubes (can leave crusts on). Divide HALF the bread cubes evenly between the ramekins, reserving other half for a 2nd layer.
Gently combine lemon juice and 1 tsp. sugar with blackberries until sugar dissolves. Place HALF the blackberries on top of the bread cubes, dividing them evenly between ramekins. Add 2nd layer of remaining bread cubes, and 2nd layer of remaining blackberries, until ramekins are full. Set aside.
Place eggs, vanilla, milk, and 2 tsp. sugar in a medium bowl; whisk until fully blended. Pour into the ramekins, evenly dividing between the two. Liquid should come very close to the top of the ramekins.
Use a spoon or fork to press bread cubes down into egg mixture, covering as many as possible with liquid. Cover ramekins with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight (at least 6 hours). Remove ramekins from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking. Remove plastic wrap; press bread cubes down into any remaining liquid. Preheat oven during this time.
To Cook In Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out free of “batter”. The French toast cups should be nice and golden brown on top.
To Cook In Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 350° F. Place ramekins carefully into the basket, being careful not to spill. Cook 13 minutes, then reduce temperature to 250°F. Cook 3 more minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out free of “batter”. The French toast cups should be nicely browned on top.
IMPORTANT: Air fryer/Oven temps can vary widely- check for doneness occasionally toward the end of cooking time, so they don't overcook.
Transfer ramekins to a wire rack; cool a few minutes. Serve in the ramekin or after removing it from the dish (use knife around edges to help remove it). Serve with sifted powdered sugar, maple syrup or pancake syrup, and enjoy!
Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!