The Best Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake – Christmas Breakfast Ideas

This Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake hits all the right notes: soft, custardy bread, swirls of cinnamon, and a golden, slightly crisp top. It’s easy to prep the night before, bakes while gifts are opened, and fills the house with the best holiday smell.

You can make it with store-bought cinnamon rolls or homemade. Either way, it’s a crowd-pleaser that feels special but doesn’t stress you out.

What Makes This French Toast Bake Recipe So Good

• Make-ahead friendly: Prep it the night before, then just bake in the morning.
• Minimal effort, big payoff: Uses simple ingredients, but tastes like a bakery treat.
• Perfect texture: Custardy in the middle, lightly crisp on top, with gooey cinnamon swirls.
• Flexible: Works with canned cinnamon rolls or stale brioche/cinnamon bread.
• Feeds a crowd: One pan serves a family or small group with ease.

Shopping List for French Toast Bake

• Canned cinnamon rolls (2 tubes, 12–16 oz each), with icing packets included
• Large eggs (6)
• Whole milk (1 cup) or half-and-half for a richer custard
• Heavy cream (1/2 cup) for extra decadence
• Pure vanilla extract (2 teaspoons)
• Ground cinnamon (1–2 teaspoons)
• Ground nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon, optional)
• Brown sugar (1/3 cup)
• Unsalted butter (2 tablespoons), melted, plus extra for greasing
• Salt (a pinch)
• Maple syrup (for serving, optional)
• Cream cheese (2 oz, optional, for thickened icing)
• Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

Step-by-Step Instructions for French Toast Bake

1. Prep the pan: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter. This helps the edges crisp and prevents sticking.
2. Cut the rolls: Open the cinnamon roll cans and set aside the icing packets.Cut each unbaked roll into 4–6 pieces. Scatter the pieces evenly in the baking dish.
3. Make the custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, melted butter, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
4. Combine: Pour the custard evenly over the cinnamon roll pieces. Gently press down so every piece soaks a bit.
5. Rest time: Let it sit for 15–20 minutes at room temperature to absorb.For best flavor and texture, cover and refrigerate overnight.
6. Preheat: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). If chilled, let the dish sit on the counter while the oven preheats.
7. Bake: Bake uncovered for 35–45 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
8. Finish with icing: Warm the icing packets in a bowl of hot water for 2–3 minutes.Drizzle over the hot bake. For a thicker glaze, beat the icing with 2 oz softened cream cheese before drizzling.
9. Serve: Let it rest for 5–10 minutes. Serve warm with maple syrup, an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Storage Instructions for French Toast Bake

• Refrigerate: Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm individual servings in the microwave for 30–60 seconds, or reheat the whole dish at 300°F (150°C) for 10–15 minutes.
• Freeze: Wrap portions tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat gently to keep the texture soft.

Health Benefits of French Toast Bake

This is a comfort bake, but you can still find a few bright spots. Eggs bring protein and nutrients like choline and B vitamins. Milk and cream add calcium and vitamin D.

Cinnamon offers warm flavor with no added sugar and may help balance sweetness by letting you use less syrup.

For a lighter version, swap in 2% milk for heavy cream, reduce brown sugar to 2 tablespoons, and skip extra syrup. You’ll keep the cozy flavor with a bit less richness.

What Not to Do

• Don’t skip greasing the pan. Cinnamon sugar sticks fast and can burn on the edges.
• Don’t underbake the center. If it jiggles a lot, give it a few more minutes or cover with foil to prevent over-browning.
• Don’t pour on cold icing right from the fridge. Warm it slightly so it spreads nicely over the hot bake.
• Don’t overload with extra sugar. The rolls and icing are sweet. Taste before adding more syrup or powdered sugar.
• Don’t skip the rest time. A short soak—or an overnight rest—helps the custard absorb and prevents dry pockets.

Recipe Variations of French Toast Bake

• Apple Cinnamon: Fold in 1–2 cups of peeled, small-diced apples.Add a pinch of cloves for a warm bakery vibe.
• Pecan Praline: Sprinkle 1 cup chopped pecans over the top and drizzle with 2 tablespoons melted butter mixed with 2 tablespoons brown sugar before baking.
• Orange Glaze: Stir 1 teaspoon orange zest into the icing and add 1 tablespoon orange juice for a bright, holiday twist.
• Berry Swirl: Dot with 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries or raspberries. Reduce brown sugar slightly to balance sweetness.
• Brioche Base: No cinnamon rolls? Use 6–8 cups of day-old brioche or challah cubes.Add 2 extra tablespoons brown sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon to the custard.
• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free canned cinnamon rolls or gluten-free brioche. Check labels on icing and add your own if needed.
• Lightened Up: Use 2% milk only, reduce brown sugar, and skip the cream cheese in the icing.

FAQ

Can I make this the night before?

Yes. Assemble the bake, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, set it on the counter while the oven preheats and bake as directed.

Do I have to use canned cinnamon rolls?

No. You can use brioche, challah, or cinnamon bread cubes. Increase the cinnamon and brown sugar in the custard to mimic that classic cinnamon roll flavor.

How do I know when it’s done?

The top should be golden and the center should feel set, not liquid.

A knife inserted in the middle should come out mostly clean, with a little moisture but no runny custard.

Can I halve the recipe?

Yes. Use an 8×8-inch dish and bake for 25–35 minutes, checking early. Keep an eye on browning and tent with foil if needed.

What if I don’t have heavy cream?

Use all whole milk or half-and-half.

The texture will be slightly lighter but still delicious.

How can I prevent sogginess?

Let the mixture soak so the bread absorbs the custard, and bake until the center sets. If using fresh bread instead of rolls, lightly toast the cubes first.

Can I add protein?

Yes. Serve with scrambled eggs or breakfast sausage on the side.

You can also whisk 1–2 extra eggs into the custard for a firmer set.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?

Microwave individual pieces for 30–60 seconds or warm the whole pan in a 300°F oven until heated through. A quick splash of milk over the top before reheating helps refresh it.

Wrapping Up

This Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake brings big holiday energy with almost no morning effort. It’s easy, flexible, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell like Christmas.

Whether you stick to the classic version or try a variation, you’ll have a cozy, crowd-friendly breakfast that lets you stay present for the fun. Pour the coffee, warm the oven, and enjoy a sweet, simple start to the day.

Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake – Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• Canned cinnamon rolls (2 tubes, 12–16 oz each), with icing packets included
• Large eggs (6)
• Whole milk (1 cup) or half-and-half for a richer custard
• Heavy cream (1/2 cup) for extra decadence
• Pure vanilla extract (2 teaspoons)
• Ground cinnamon (1–2 teaspoons)
• Ground nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon, optional)
• Brown sugar (1/3 cup)
• Unsalted butter (2 tablespoons), melted, plus extra for greasing
• Salt (a pinch)
• Maple syrup (for serving, optional)
• Cream cheese (2 oz, optional, for thickened icing)
• Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

Method

 

1. Prep the pan: Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter. This helps the edges crisp and prevents sticking.
2. Cut the rolls: Open the cinnamon roll cans and set aside the icing packets. Cut each unbaked roll into 4–6 pieces. Scatter the pieces evenly in the baking dish.
3. Make the custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, melted butter, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
4. Combine: Pour the custard evenly over the cinnamon roll pieces. Gently press down so every piece soaks a bit.
5. Rest time: Let it sit for 15–20 minutes at room temperature to absorb. For best flavor and texture, cover and refrigerate overnight.
6. Preheat: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). If chilled, let the dish sit on the counter while the oven preheats.
7. Bake: Bake uncovered for 35–45 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
8. Finish with icing: Warm the icing packets in a bowl of hot water for 2–3 minutes. Drizzle over the hot bake. For a thicker glaze, beat the icing with 2 oz softened cream cheese before drizzling.
9. Serve: Let it rest for 5–10 minutes. Serve warm with maple syrup, an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Hannah

Hi, I’m Hannah — the food lover behind Every Day Quick Meals! I’m all about making cooking simple, joyful, and stress-free. Between work, life, and a million to-dos, I know how hard it can be to find time for homemade food. That’s why I create quick, tasty recipes that anyone can make — no fancy skills required. My kitchen motto? Good food doesn’t need to be complicated — just made with love.