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Air Fryer Strawberry Shortcake French Toast

Name: Air Fryer Strawberry Shortcake French Toast
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 390 min
Ingredients: 1 loaf brioche (challah, or French bread, cut into eight 1-inch slices); 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature); 1/4 cup granulated sugar (plus 1 tablespoon for the strawberries); 4 large eggs; 1 cup half and half; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 4 tablespoons butter (divided); 1 cup fresh strawberries (sliced); 1 cup whipped cream (for serving)

Author: Laurie Fleming
Published: April 24, 2020

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Air Fryer Strawberry Shortcake French Toast takes everything you love about the classic summer dessert and turns it into breakfast. Thick slices of bread are sandwiched around a sweet cream cheese filling, soaked overnight in vanilla custard, then air fried until the outside is golden and crisp and the inside is soft and custardy. Pile on juicy macerated strawberries and whipped cream, and it honestly eats like dessert.

Golden strawberry shortcake French toast served on a white plate with a swirl of whipped cream

The overnight soak is the secret — and the best part. You assemble everything the night before, and in the morning the air fryer does the work in about 10 minutes. It’s my favorite kind of Sunday brunch recipe: it looks and tastes like you fussed, but the fussing happened yesterday.

If you’re new to making French toast this way, start with my classic Air Fryer French Toast, then come back to this stuffed strawberries-and-cream version when you want to show off.

Air fryer strawberry shortcake French toast on a plate topped with whipped cream and sliced strawberries

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to change up. Swap the berries, the bread, or the filling — several tested variations are below.
It’s make-ahead. The sandwiches soak in the custard overnight, so morning-of prep is just butter, air fry, and top.
Crispy outside, custardy middle. Ten minutes at 330 degrees F gives you golden edges and a soft, rich center — no standing over a skillet.
Strawberry shortcake flavors, breakfast form. Sweet cream cheese, juicy berries, and whipped cream hit all the same notes as the dessert.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Full amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, along with the nutrition information.

Ingredients for air fryer strawberry shortcake French toast including bread, cream cheese, eggs, and fresh strawberries

Bread: Brioche or challah gives the most tender, rich result; a sturdy French loaf works too and holds its shape a little better. Whatever you use, cut thick 1-inch slices — slightly stale bread soaks up the custard best.
Cream cheese: Full-fat, and truly room temperature so it spreads without tearing the bread.
Granulated sugar: Most goes into the cream cheese filling; save a spoonful to macerate the strawberries.
Eggs: Four large eggs make the custard rich enough to set up inside the sandwiches.
Half and half: Adds the creaminess that makes this taste like shortcake. Whole milk works in a pinch.
Pure vanilla extract: Use the real stuff — it flavors both the custard and the finished dish.
Butter: A pat on top of each sandwich before air frying is what gets you that golden, griddled finish.
Fresh strawberries: Sliced and tossed with sugar so they release their juices into a natural syrup.
Whipped cream: The shortcake finish. Homemade or from the can — no judgment here.

How to Make Strawberry Shortcake French Toast in the Air Fryer

Slicing a loaf of brioche into thick slices for stuffed French toast

Step 1: Prep the pan and bread. Coat an air-fryer-safe pan with cooking spray (most oven-safe pans work) and cut your bread into 1-inch-thick slices.

Mixing cream cheese and sugar filling for stuffed French toast

Step 2: Make the filling. In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar until completely smooth.

Spreading sweetened cream cheese filling onto thick bread slices.

Step 3: Assemble the sandwiches. Spread the filling on half the slices, top with the remaining slices, and press down gently so they hold together. Arrange them in the pan.

Pouring vanilla custard over cream cheese stuffed French toast sandwiches

Step 4: Soak overnight. Whisk the eggs, half and half, and vanilla, then pour the custard evenly over the sandwiches. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours, or overnight. This slow soak is what creates the custardy center — don’t rush it.

Stuffed French toast sandwiches in an air fryer pan topped with pats of butter

Step 5: Air fry. Preheat the air fryer, top each sandwich with a tablespoon of butter, and air fry at 330 degrees F for 5 minutes. Flip carefully with a wide spatula, then air fry 5 more minutes until deeply golden.

Step 6: Top and serve. Spoon the macerated strawberries and their syrup over the hot French toast, add whipped cream, and serve right away.

Golden air fried strawberry shortcake French toast with macerated strawberries and whipped cream

My Best Tips

Macerate the berries first. Toss the sliced strawberries with a spoonful of sugar when you start the air fryer — by the time the toast is done, they’ll be sitting in their own syrup.
Room-temperature cream cheese only. Cold cream cheese tears the bread and mixes lumpy.
Don’t skip the chill. A 6-hour minimum soak is what separates custardy stuffed French toast from egg-washed bread.
Preheat the air fryer. Starting hot is how you get a crisp exterior instead of a pale, steamed one.
Cook in a single layer. Crowding traps steam. If your air fryer is small, work in batches and hold the finished ones in a 200 degree F oven.
Flip with support. Slide a wide spatula fully under each sandwich so the filling stays put.

Recipe Variations

Berry medley: Swap in blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries — or use a mix with the strawberries.
Strawberry banana: Layer thin banana slices with the berries, or go all in and pile my Air Fryer Fried Bananas on top while they’re warm and caramelized.
Chocolate strawberry: Swirl a spoonful of chocolate hazelnut spread into the cream cheese filling.
Lemon ricotta: Trade the cream cheese for ricotta brightened with lemon zest — lighter, and wonderful with strawberries.
Sweet and salty: Crumble my Air Fryer Brown Sugar Candied Bacon over the whipped cream. Trust me on this one.

What to Serve With It

This is rich, so I round out the brunch table with savory sides: Crispy Air Fryer Bacon, Air Fryer Breakfast Sausages, or a batch of Air Fryer Mini Cheese Frittatas for a little protein. And if you want to gild the lily, the warm caramel sauce from my Copycat Kneaders French Toast is incredible drizzled over the strawberries.

Slice of strawberry shortcake French toast on a plate with fork and berry syrup

Storage and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 320 degrees F for 2 to 3 minutes to bring back the crisp exterior — the microwave will make them soggy. Cooked, cooled sandwiches also freeze well for up to 2 months; reheat straight from frozen at 320 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really have to soak it overnight? At least 6 hours, yes — that’s what gives the center its custard texture. In a pinch, a 1-hour soak still works, but the middle will be more bready than custardy.

What’s the best bread for stuffed French toast? Brioche or challah for the most tender result; a French loaf if you want sturdier slices that hold their shape. Day-old bread of any kind soaks better than fresh.

Can I use frozen strawberries? Yes — thaw them fully and drain the excess liquid first. Fresh berries give the best texture for the topping.

Can I make it dairy-free or egg-free? For dairy-free, use plant-based cream cheese and swap the half and half for oat milk. For egg allergies, the cornstarch custard trick from my Air Fryer Eggless French Toast works here too.

Why did mine come out soggy? Usually one of three things: bread sliced too thin, an air fryer that wasn’t preheated, or too many sandwiches crowded into the pan.

Can I double the recipe? Absolutely — soak everything in a larger pan, then air fry in batches and keep the finished French toast warm in a low oven.

If your family gets as hooked on air fryer French toast as mine, make my Air Fryer French Toast Sticks next — they’re the dippable weekday version — or browse all of my French toast recipes for more ideas.