Cinnamon roll french toast is a simple and decadent french toast made from cinnamon rolls soaked in a rich cinnamon spiced custard. This recipe can be baked as a cinnamon roll french toast casserole or made like classic french toast. It’s the perfect easy and indulgent breakfast or brunch.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I love wonderfully indulgent french toast inspired recipes. My Brioche French Toast, Croissant French Toast, Brioche French Toast Casserole, French Toast Muffins and Banana French Toast are just a few of many that I love making when I want an extra special, but quick breakfast or brunch. This french toast from cinnamon rolls is another french toast recipe I know you’ll reach for again and again.
- Easy to make, bake and eat: This baked cinnamon bun french toast tastes like something you would order at that cute brunch place in town, but is so simple to make at home. Simply prepare the store bought cinnamon rolls, mix the rich custard, bake until golden, top cinnamon roll icing and serve.
- Perfectly cozy and made for holiday breakfast and brunch. There’s nothing more satisfying than enjoying a deliciously indulgent breakfast everyone will love and that’s also easy to make. This french toast from cinnamon rolls recipe is equally as perfect for a special weekend brunch as it is a holiday breakfast.
Ingredients
This easy cinnamon roll french toast casserole requires only a handful of simple ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge. Here’s what you need.
Gather store bought croissants, eggs, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, butter and maple syrup.
Substitutions
This rich and golden french toast cinnamon roll recipe is as easy to make as it is delicious. Should you need them, here are my recommended substitutions for this recipe.
- Cinnamon Rolls: This recipe works best with canned store bought cinnamon rolls like Pillsbury Grands or Immaculate as an organic option. Use larger stale or day old cinnamon rolls sliced in half to make this a fried classic french toast.
- Eggs: While eggs are essential to the custard, they can be substituted using an egg replacement like Just Egg. Substitute 3 tablespoons (45 ml) egg replacement for every 1 egg in the recipe.
- Milk: Whole milk is preferred, but feel free to use any milk you like.
- Vanilla Extract: This gives a lovely flavor boost to the french toast from cinnamon rolls. Omit if you don’t have this ingredient.
- Ground Cinnamon: I love ground cinnamon with vanilla. Feel free to use ½ - 1 teaspoon of any ground spices or spice blends you like.
- Butter: Feel free to use any butter you like.
- Maple Syrup: Feel free to use another liquid sweetener you like such as honey.
Variations
- Classic French Toast with Cinnamon Rolls: This option uses dried out baked cinnamon rolls instead of a slice of bread. Prepare the already baked cinnamon rolls by slicing them in half along the circumference of the cinnamon bun. Prepare the french toast custard by mixing 2 large eggs with ¼ cup (60 ml) milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Use butter to fry the custard coated cinnamon roll slices in the pan and maple syrup for serving.
- Overnight Cinnamon Roll French Toast: Use my recipe for Brioche French Toast Casserole and substitute the stale or day old cinnamon rolls for the brioche.
How To Make
Learn how to make cinnamon roll french toast in a few easy steps.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C) for at least 20 - 30 minutes before baking the cinnamon roll casserole. Grease an 8 x 8 (20 cm) baking dish with 2 tablespoons (30 ml ) melted butter. Cut the canned cinnamon rolls into pieces. Each cinnamon roll can be cut into 6 - 8 equally sized pieces. Place the cinnamon roll pieces in a single layer in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs until lightly beaten. Whisk in the milk, vanilla extract and cinnamon until well combined. Whisk in the maple syrup until well combined.
3. Pour the cinnamon custard on top of the cinnamon roll pieces in the baking dish. Bake the french toast cinnamon rolls for about 25 minutes. The edges of the baked cinnamon rolls should pull slightly away from the edges of the baking dish. The custard should be set and a toothpick inserted into the center should yield a few moist crumbs. Cool the cinnamon roll french toast casserole for 10 - 15 minutes. Top the cinnamon rolls with the reserved icing packet.
How To Store, Freeze and Thaw
- Store: Fully cool the baked cinnamon roll french toast. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. See my Croissant French Toast recipe for storage directions if this recipe was made as a classic pan fried french toast.
- Freeze: Fully cool the baked cinnamon swirl french toast casserole. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- Thaw and Reheat: Transfer the entire french toast dish (or pre sliced pieces) to the fridge to thaw overnight. Reheat the cinnamon roll bake by baking it in a 350 F (177 C) oven until warmed though or slice into pieces and heat through in the microwave.
M’s Expert Tips
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature: This allows the ingredients to mix together more evenly and easily resulting in a smoother custard filling.
- Leave the cinnamon rolls big for a more classic baked french toast. This recipe cuts up the unbaked cinnamon rolls for a more bread pudding final bake. Leave the rolls in tact and layer in a single layer along the bottom of the dish. Follow the rest of the recipe as written.
- Top the french toast with your favorite toppings. Although this recipe for french toast with cinnamon rolls tastes amazing with the icing packet, I love serving mine with more maple syrup and berries.
FAQs
This recipe for french toast cinnamon rolls can be made two ways. One way is more like a baked cinnamon roll casserole and the other is just like classic french toast, just made with sliced cinnamon rolls.
This happens when too much liquid is used to make the custard. Make sure to use the ingredient measurements as written in the recipe.
They are essentially the same type of pastry. Cinnamon buns tend to be a bit thinner and include nuts in the filling. Cinnamon rolls are a bit thicker and fluffier with a cinnamon sugar filling.
Other Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Try
- Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream
- Cinnamon Rolls and Apple Pie Filling
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Cinnamon Roll Muffins
If you try this Cinnamon Roll French Toast recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! -M
Cinnamon Roll French Toast Recipe
Equipment
- 1 8 x 8 inch (20 cm) baking dish
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 can refridgerated cinnamon rolls
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (120 ml) maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C) for at least 20 - 30 minutes before baking the cinnamon roll casserole. Grease an 8 x 8 (20 cm) baking dish with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) melted butter.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Cut the canned cinnamon rolls into pieces. Each cinnamon roll can be cut into 6 - 8 equally sized pieces. Place the cinnamon roll pieces in a single layer in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Set the icing packet aside for topping the cinnamon roll casserole after baking.1 can refridgerated cinnamon rolls
- In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs until lightly beaten. Whisk in the milk, vanilla extract and cinnamon until well combined. Whisk in the maple syrup until well combined.3 large eggs, room temperature, ¼ cup (60 ml) milk, room temperature, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon , ½ cup (120 ml) maple syrup
- Pour the cinnamon custard on top of the cinnamon roll pieces in the baking dish. Bake the french toast cinnamon rolls for about 25 minutes. The edges of the baked cinnamon rolls should pull slightly away from the edges of the baking dish. The custard should be set and a toothpick inserted into the center should yield a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the cinnamon roll french toast casserole for 10 - 15 minutes. Top the cinnamon rolls with the reserved icing packet.
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