By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 21, 2018
When the holidays roll around, I need an easy and reliably delicious breakfast that I can whip up when family visits– expectedly or unexpectedly. This cinnamon roll french toast casserole is made with premade cinnamon rolls, so it’s ridiculously easy to make, but it also looks absolutely amazing. And I love that I don’t have to wake up early to make it!
What’s in This Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole?
For those of you opposed to store-bought dough… look away now! This french toast casserole recipe totally uses store-bought cinnamon roll dough, and I’m 100% okay with it. This cinnamon roll french toast was made for those mornings when you don’t want to get up before 8! My kids ask for this recipe time and time again, and I always oblige. How can I not when it’s this easy and delicious.
- Butter: Unsalted butter keeps this casserole nice and moist.
- Cinnamon Rolls: I recommend Pillsbury Grands! for the best results. You’ll need 2 tubes. Make sure to save the frosting to top of your finished casserole!
- Eggs: Add richness to the casserole and help bind everything together.
- Heavy Cream: Hydrates the casserole to give it a pudding-like texture.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a touch of warmth and enhances the flavor of the filling.
- Vanilla Extract : Enhances the sweetness of the casserole.
- Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup adds sweetness and a breakfast-y flavor to this casserole.
- Pecans: I like to top my casserole off with some chopped nuts, but you can certainly leave them out.
Variations To Try
There are tons of fun cinnamon roll flavors out there. I know Pillsbury makes a hot cocoa flavor and a pumpkin spice one. Both would make amazing casseroles!
And if you prefer a more traditional bread pudding -style approach, you can chop up the premade cinnamon rolls into cubes before placing in the pan. Easy peasy!
How to Store and Reheat
Once baked, I have found that this casserole keeps best covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I like to reheat it in a 350°F oven (covered with foil to protect the frosting) for about 30 minutes.
How to Freeze
Freeze cinnamon roll french toast casserole tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
This cinnamon roll french toast casserole is a great complement to recipes like Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole or Baked Eggs . Every savory breakfast needs a sweet companion! So if you’ve got a big family to feed or a bunch of guests over for the holidays, make sure you have plenty of food. I mean, you can never have too much food on the holidays!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
When I first made this I made it with regular cinnamon rolls and 8 fit into a 6×9-inch baking dish. When I made it again, I used 10 Grands in a 9×13-inch baking dish. You can do either!
5-Star Review
“I made this during Christmas while we were snowed in our cabin and it was a HIT! My kids just loved it. Delicious, gooey, and packed full of cinnamon. I was nervous about using syrup since I was using the icing too but it’s definitely a finishing touch to the French toast flavor. I’ve made it 3 times since and it never disappoints. I will make it again and again and AGAIN!” -Karen
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams, melted (½ stick)
- ▢ 35 ounces Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls 992 grams (2 (17.5-ounce) tubes)
- ▢ 6 large eggs 300 grams
- ▢ ½ cup heavy cream 114 grams
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 8 grams
- ▢ 1 cup pure maple syrup 312 grams, divided
- ▢ 1 cup chopped pecans 114 grams
- ▢ Frosting from the cinnamon rolls warmed
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Pour the melted butter into a 9×13-inch (3-quart) baking pan and spread to coat. ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Cut the dough into 8 rounds (if it’s not already segmented into rounds) and place the cinnamon rolls into the bottom of the baking dish. Set icing aside. 35 ounces Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls
- In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add in the cream, cinnamon, and vanilla until well blended. 6 large eggs, ½ cup heavy cream, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pour the egg mixture over the rolls; it’s okay if it completely covers the roll
- Pour ½ cup of maple syrup over the rolls and sprinkle with pecan bits. 1 cup pure maple syrup, 1 cup chopped pecans
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Pour the extra ½ cup of maple syrup over the cooked rolls and drizzle with the warmed icing. Frosting from the cinnamon rolls
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole Step by Step
Prep the Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F Pour ¼ cup of melted unsalted butter into a 9×13-inch (3-quart) baking pan and spread to coat.
Spread Out the Rolls: Cut 35 ounces (2 tubes) of Pillsbury Grands! cinnamon roll dough into 8 rounds (if it’s not already segmented into rounds) and place the cinnamon rolls into the bottom of the baking dish. Set icing aside.
Make the Custard: In a medium bowl, beat 6 large eggs. Add in ½ cup of heavy cream, 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract until well blended.
Coat the Rolls: Pour the egg mixture over the rolls; it’s okay if it completely covers the roll
Top the Casserole: Pour ½ cup of maple syrup over the rolls and sprinkle with 1 cup of pecan bits.
Bake the Casseroel: Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Ice the Casserole: Pour the extra ½ cup of maple syrup over the cooked rolls and drizzle with the warmed icing from the cinnamon roll tubes.
More Breakfast Recipes To Try
- Skillet Breakfast Casserole
- Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Bites
- Ham and Potato Casserole
- Breakfast Pizza
- Home Fries
- Sausage and Potato Casserole
Cinnamon French Toast Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams, melted (½ stick)
- 35 ounces Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls 992 grams (2 (17.5-ounce) tubes)
- 6 large eggs 300 grams
- ½ cup heavy cream 114 grams
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 8 grams
- 1 cup pure maple syrup 312 grams, divided
- 1 cup chopped pecans 114 grams
- Frosting from the cinnamon rolls warmed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Pour the melted butter into a 9x13-inch (3-quart) baking pan and spread to coat. ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Cut the dough into 8 rounds (if it’s not already segmented into rounds) and place the cinnamon rolls into the bottom of the baking dish. Set icing aside. 35 ounces Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls
- In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add in the cream, cinnamon, and vanilla until well blended. 6 large eggs, ½ cup heavy cream, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pour the egg mixture over the rolls; it’s okay if it completely covers the roll
- Pour ½ cup of maple syrup over the rolls and sprinkle with pecan bits. 1 cup pure maple syrup, 1 cup chopped pecans
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Pour the extra ½ cup of maple syrup over the cooked rolls and drizzle with the warmed icing. Frosting from the cinnamon rolls
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
