Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns

Name: Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 28 min
Ingredients: 12 Hawaiian bread rolls; 8 ounces whipped cream cheese; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup finely chopped strawberries; 3 large eggs; 1/4 cup milk

We are big fans of weekend brunch, and is there anything that screams classic brunch more than French toast? We’re shaking things up a bit, though, with a fun twist: strawberry cheesecake French toast buns filled with luscious strawberries and cream, all cooked to crispy perfection in an air fryer!

This recipe is a total crowd-pleaser, ridiculously easy to whip up, and it’s guaranteed to add a splash of sunshine to your brunch spread or even a mid-afternoon tea. Heck, you could even sneak a bite as a midnight snack! Trust us — there’s never a wrong time to indulge in this scrumptious delight!

What makes Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns special
What equipment do you need to make Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns
How to make Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns
How to bake in the oven
How to store leftovers

Common Questions about Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns
Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns Recipe

What makes Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns special

These are utterly delicious and so sweet, the perfect recipe for a delightful breakfast or a dessert. They’re so fun because we use Hawaiian buns for the base.

Hawaiian buns are similar in flavor to a French brioche (they’ve got that delicious sweetness that plays with your taste buds) but they incorporate potato flour and are actually based on Portuguese baking. We think they make for a wonderful base for these French Toast Buns!

Plus, the strawberry and whipped cream cheese makes for a sweet, creamy, and slightly tangy filling. Each bite that gets you a combination of the Hawaiian buns with the filling is perfect. We think this recipe is so full of incredible flavor — and we’re convinced you’ll agree!

strawberries in a bowl with cream cheese on top

whipped cream mixture with chopped strawberries

What equipment do you need to make Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns

In addition to bowls and whisks for mixing the ingredients, you’ll want an air fryer to get these French Toast Buns to utter perfection.

Air fryers are tabletop and portable convection ovens that function by circulating hot air around food in a basket. They don’t traditionally “fry” foods in the sense that they don’t use heated oil to cook them, which means it’s a much healthier alternative, but it still achieves that same crispy effect. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can wrap these Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns in aluminum foil and bake.

Hawaiian rolls, one with a hole poked into the center

How to make Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns

Cut out the center of the Hawaiian rolls and press them into the roll.
Mix together whipped cream cheese, and sugar in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
Fold in the chopped strawberries.
Stuff about 1 heaping tablespoon of the filling into the Hawaiian buns.
In another bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.
Dip stuffed Hawaiian rolls in egg and milk mixture until thoroughly coated.
Air fry at 350 degrees F. for 6-8 minutes until buns are golden brown.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Serve and enjoy!

How to bake in the oven

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place in a buttered baking dish and bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

a strawberry cream cheese stuffed Hawaiian roll in an egg wash

strawberry cream cheese stuffed Hawaiian rolls in an air fryer

How to store leftovers

On the off chance you have leftovers (which we don’t predict since these are so delicious!), store the buns in a single layer in an airtight container. Place them in the fridge and eat within three days.

Common Questions about Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Buns

How do you keep the cream cheese filling from leaking out?

The trick is creating a pocket in the bun rather than cutting all the way through, and making sure your cream cheese mixture is thick enough. Chilling the filled buns for 15-20 minutes before dipping in the egg mixture also helps the filling stay put.

Can you make these ahead of time?

You can prep most components the night before – mix your cream cheese filling, prepare the egg custard mixture, and even stuff the buns. Keep everything separate in the fridge overnight, then just dip and cook in the morning. The stuffed buns actually benefit from chilling — it helps the filling stay in place.

How ripe should the strawberries be?

Look for bright red, fragrant strawberries that are firm but still give slightly when pressed. Too ripe and they’ll make the filling runny; not ripe enough and they won’t have that amazing sweet flavor. If you’re using frozen strawberries, thaw and drain them very well to prevent excess moisture.

What’s the best way to serve these?

Serve them hot while the filling is still warm and melty. A light dusting of powdered sugar, fresh strawberry slices, and a drizzle of maple syrup are classic toppings. You can also add a dollop of whipped cream or a spoonful of strawberry sauce for an extra wow factor!