The Ultimate Cinnamon Roll French Toast Rolls Recipe

Are you looking for a breakfast that truly wows? A dish that feels wonderfully decadent but is actually quite simple to prepare? If so, you’re in the right place. We’re about to fuse two of the world’s most cherished breakfast dishes—the warm, gooey cinnamon roll and the classic, custardy French toast—into one spectacular treat: Cinnamon Roll French Toast Rolls. This recipe is set to become your go-to for creating magical mornings, especially when you need some inspiring christmas breakfast ideas.

Picture this: soft, tender bread, swirled with a fragrant cinnamon-sugar filling, dipped in a rich vanilla custard, and then pan-fried until golden brown. As a final flourish, we drizzle them with a delicious cream cheese glaze. It’s an indulgent, delightful, and utterly scrumptious way to begin any day, but it feels particularly fitting during the festive season. Let’s head to the kitchen!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The Best of Both Worlds: There’s no longer any need to choose between your breakfast favourites! This recipe beautifully combines the signature swirl and warm spice of a cinnamon roll with the soft, egg-soaked deliciousness of French toast.
• No Yeast, No Problem: We’ve decided to skip the lengthy process of making yeasted dough from scratch. By using simple sliced bread, you achieve all the flavour in a mere fraction of the time, making this a wonderfully approachable recipe for everyone.
• Perfectly Portioned: Each little roll is an ideal individual serving. This makes them fantastic for serving to guests, managing portion sizes, and arranging an attractive platter for a special christmas brunch.
• Visually Stunning: It must be said—they look absolutely fantastic! The gorgeous swirl inside each roll gives them a professional, bakery-quality appearance that is sure to draw admiration from your family and friends.
• Adaptable and Fun: Consider this recipe a brilliant starting point for your own culinary creativity. Feel free to add chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or experiment with a completely different kind of filling.

Ingredients

• soft, white sandwich bread
• unsalted butter
• soft light brown sugar
• ground cinnamon
• large free-range eggs
• whole milk
• double cream
• vanilla extract
• vegetable oil
• full-fat cream cheese
• icing sugar

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 100g full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 120g icing sugar, sifted
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

How to Make Perfect Cinnamon Roll French Toast Rolls

Crafting this delightful cinnamon roll french toast is a straightforward, three-stage process: first, we prepare the cinnamon swirl; next, we assemble the rolls; and finally, we give them the French toast treatment. We’ve laid out the method in simple, clear steps to ensure you get a perfect outcome every single time.

Step 1: Prepare the Cinnamon-Sugar Filling

1. In a small bowl, combine the 60g of softened unsalted butter with the soft light brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
2. Using a fork or a small spatula, mix everything together until it forms a smooth, easily spreadable paste. If the butter is a bit too firm, a quick 10-second burst in the microwave should soften it, but take care not to let it melt. Set this filling aside.

Step 2: Assemble the Rolls

1. Take your slices of bread (after removing the crusts) and use a rolling pin to flatten each one until it is roughly half its original thickness. This step makes the bread much easier to roll and helps it maintain its shape.
2. Working with one flattened slice at a time, spread a thin, even layer of the cinnamon-sugar filling over the entire surface, making sure to go right to the edges.
3. Beginning at one of the shorter ends, roll the bread up snugly to form a tight log. The sticky filling will help it hold together.
4. With a sharp, serrated knife, carefully slice each log into three or four evenly sized pinwheels, each around 2-3 cm thick. Repeat this process with the remaining bread and filling. You should have about 30-40 mini rolls when you’re finished.

Step 3: Create the Custard and Cook the Rolls

1. In a shallow dish wide enough to accommodate a few rolls, whisk together the eggs, milk, double cream, vanilla extract, and a small pinch of salt. Continue whisking until the mixture is uniform and completely smooth. For extra guidance on achieving the perfect consistency, King Arthur Baking has an excellent guide to French toast custard.
2. Heat a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add 1 tbsp of butter along with a small splash of vegetable oil. The addition of oil helps to prevent the butter from browning too quickly.
3. Working in batches, take a few of your prepared rolls and give each one a brief dip in the egg mixture. A soak of about 10–15 seconds per side is all that’s needed. Be careful not to let them get too saturated, as they may begin to fall apart.
4. Gently transfer the soaked rolls to the hot pan, placing them swirl-side up or down. Cook for 2–3 minutes on each flat side, until they become a beautiful golden brown and are cooked through. You can also stand them on their coiled edge for a moment to brown the sides.
5. Move the cooked rolls onto a wire rack while you finish cooking the remaining batches.

Step 4: Whip Up the Cream Cheese Glaze

1. As the rolls are cooking, you can prepare the glaze. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer or a strong whisk until it is completely smooth and free of any lumps.
2. Gradually add the sifted icing sugar and continue to beat until well combined.
3. Pour in the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk, and mix until smooth. If you find the glaze is too thick, add the rest of the milk a little at a time until it reaches a perfect drizzling consistency.
4. Once all your Cinnamon Roll French Toast Rolls are cooked, arrange them on a platter and drizzle them generously with the cream cheese glaze. Serve immediately while they are lovely and warm.

Tips for Success and Make-Ahead Advice

To guarantee your rolls turn out absolutely perfectly, we suggest keeping these simple pointers in mind. They can make all the difference between a good breakfast and a truly unforgettable one.

• Use the Right Bread: A soft, slightly enriched white bread like brioche or challah gives fantastic results, but a standard soft white sliced loaf is also a great choice. We recommend avoiding dense, artisan-style loaves as they won’t soak up the custard as effectively or roll as neatly.
• Don’t Over-Soak: This is the most important rule for any French toast! A very quick dip is sufficient. If the bread absorbs too much of the egg mixture, it can become overly soft and may disintegrate in the pan.
• Manage the Heat: Keep your frying pan on a medium-low heat. If the temperature is too high, the sugar in the filling and the egg coating will burn before the centre of the roll has had a chance to cook through properly.
• Make-Ahead for an Easy Morning: You can prepare the rolls (steps 1 and 2) the evening before. Just arrange the uncooked, sliced rolls in a single layer inside an airtight container and pop them in the fridge. In the morning, all that’s left to do is make the custard, dip the rolls, and fry them. This is a game-changer for a relaxed Christmas morning!

Planning Your Festive Meals

While we adore an indulgent breakfast over the holidays, we know that planning the other meals is equally important. If you are searching for simple yet delicious dinner ideas to round out your festive menu, why not have a look at some of our other popular recipes? For a comforting and elegant main course, our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe is always a winner. Alternatively, for something with a flavourful and zesty twist, our Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls make a wonderful choice for a lighter meal after the big day.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Breakfast Awaits

These Cinnamon Roll French Toast Rolls are so much more than a recipe; they are an experience to be shared. They make the perfect centrepiece for a slow weekend morning, a special celebratory brunch, or a truly magical Christmas breakfast. This dish is wonderful proof that you don’t need complicated methods or hours of work to create something truly special and delicious.

We are so thrilled for you to bring this little piece of joy into your kitchen. The combination of warm cinnamon, a sweet and tangy glaze, and soft, custardy bread is a flavour memory just waiting to be created. So please, give this wonderful recipe a go!

Have you tried our Cinnamon Roll French Toast Rolls? We would be absolutely delighted to hear about it! Please leave a comment below to let us know how they came out, and don’t forget to tag us in your beautiful breakfast pictures on social media!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

For the Rolls & Filling:

• • 8-10 slices soft white sandwich bread, crusts removed
  • 60g unsalted butter, softened
  • 50g soft light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

For the Custard & Frying:

• • 2 large eggs
  • 120ml whole milk
  • 60ml double cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter + 1 tbsp vegetable oil for frying

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 100g full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 120g icing sugar, sifted
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Prepare Filling & Rolls: In a small bowl, mix the 60g softened butter with the brown sugar and cinnamon to form a paste. Remove crusts from bread slices and flatten them with a rolling pin. Spread the filling evenly on each slice, roll up tightly, and slice each log into 3-4 pinwheels.
2. Create Custard & Soak Rolls: In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, double cream, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Briefly dip each roll into the custard (about 10-15 seconds per side), being careful not to over-soak them.
3. Cook the Rolls: Heat 1 tbsp butter and oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Working in batches, cook the soaked rolls for 2-3 minutes on each flat side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack.
4. Make Glaze & Serve: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar, followed by 1/2 tsp vanilla and 1 tbsp of milk. Add more milk if needed to reach a drizzling consistency. Drizzle generously over the warm rolls and serve immediately.

Nutrition (estimated per serving):
Calories: 710,
Carbs: 75 g,
Protein: 11 g,
Fat: 41 g