1. Gather all your ingredients. Cut your bread of choice (Challah, Brioche, Texas Toast, or other alternatives) into thick slices or sticks for even cooking.
2. Prepare the egg mixture by whisking together eggs, heavy cream or milk, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Ensure the mixture is smooth and well-incorporated.
3. Dip each bread slice into the egg mixture, allowing it to soak briefly on each side. Do not oversaturate, especially for soft breads, to prevent sogginess during cooking.
4. Preheat your chosen cooking method: air fryer to 370°F or a pan or griddle over medium heat.
5. For the air fryer method, place the soaked bread slices into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping. Cook for 6 minutes, flip the slices, and cook for another 3 minutes until golden brown.
6. For the pan or griddle method, heat a combination of butter and oil until the pan is hot. Cook each slice of bread for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
7. In a separate shallow bowl, mix granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to create the cinnamon sugar coating.
8. Brush the cooked bread slices immediately with melted butter, then generously coat them in the cinnamon sugar mixture, ensuring full and even coverage.
9. Serve the Churro French Toast warm with optional toppings such as cream cheese glaze, maple syrup, fresh fruits, or a drizzle of salted caramel or chocolate sauce for added flavor.
10. If storing leftovers, cool the French toast pieces completely on a wire rack before placing them in an airtight container for refrigeration (up to 4 days) or freezing (up to 3 months).
11. Reheat leftovers using an air fryer, oven, or stovetop to maintain the crispy exterior and soft interior. Avoid microwaving to prevent sogginess.