Cinnamon Roll French Toast (Printable Version)
Handheld cinnamon roll–inspired French toast with sweet cream cheese filling, fried golden and rolled in cinnamon sugar.
# What You'll Need:
→ Filling
01 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Roll Ups
04 - 8 slices soft white sandwich bread, crusts removed
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
06 - 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
→ Egg Mixture
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/4 cup whole milk
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Cooking
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
# How To Make It:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, blend softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until completely smooth.
02 - Using a rolling pin, flatten each bread slice to an even thickness for easy rolling.
03 - Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture along one edge of each flattened bread slice. Roll each slice tightly to enclose the filling.
04 - In a shallow dish, whisk large eggs with milk and vanilla extract until well combined.
05 - In another bowl, blend granulated sugar with ground cinnamon for coating.
06 - Dip each filled bread roll into the egg mixture, ensuring all sides are thoroughly coated.
07 - Heat unsalted butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, fry roll ups for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown on all surfaces.
08 - Immediately after frying, brush or roll each warm roll up in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to achieve an even coating.
09 - Serve warm, optionally garnished with maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get all the best, gooey cinnamon roll flavors, but in a crispy, handheld package nobody can resist.
- They cook up shockingly quickly, saving breakfast when everyone wakes up starving and impatient.
02 -
- If you leave the roll ups in the custard mixture too long, the bread collapses into mush—fast dips are the safest bet.
- Slightly stale bread actually rolls and crisps even better than just-baked, making this a perfect rescue for leftovers.
03 -
- Seal the edge of the bread roll with a tiny swipe of cream cheese so it stays closed while frying.
- Wipe out excess cinnamon sugar from the pan between batches, or it can burn and affect the flavor.