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Craving both a cinnamon bun and French toast? Don't pick just one. These sweet little bites give you the soft, gooey middle of a cinnamon bun, wrapped up in a fluffy French toast shell. Ready before you know it, they’ll feel special enough for a lazy Sunday but easy enough for any old weekday.
Irresistible Ingredients
- Ground cinnamon: warms these up and adds even more cinnamon flavor use freshly ground for a big punch
- Refrigerated cinnamon rolls: super quick and brings in sweet spicy flavor try to pick a brand with good icing
- Maple syrup or icing: pour over at the end for that finishing touch you can use the packet or real syrup
- Large eggs: help make the custard rich bright yellow eggs add color and creaminess
- Powdered sugar: dust on top for a bakery-style look sift if you want that super smooth finish
- Milk: smooths out your custard and keeps it from turning heavy whole milk is extra luxe but whatever you've got works
- Butter: melts into the pan for golden brown bites unsalted is best so you control the flavor
- Vanilla extract: ties all the flavors together real vanilla adds something extra
Easy Step-by-Step Directions
- Finish and serve:
- Pop the bites onto your serving dish Drizzle over some maple syrup or icing Sprinkle with powdered sugar if you’re feeling fancy and enjoy them while they’re warm
- Cook the bites:
- Melt butter in a big pan at medium heat Lay out the coated dough pieces so they're not touching Cook a couple minutes on each side until they're caramel colored Flip gently so they don't fall apart
- Coat the pieces:
- Drop a handful of cut dough pieces into your egg mix Flip them lightly so they soak up the custard but don’t let them get mushy This step makes the French toast magic happen
- Mix the custard:
- Beat your eggs milk cinnamon and vanilla together in a bowl until nice and blended This makes sure every bite tastes like a bakery treat
- Prepare the rolls:
- Pop open the dough tube Save that icing for later Cut your rolls into chunky bits kind of like big marbles Try to get them all about the same size so they cook right
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I always reach for cinnamon — it just screams comfort to me. It takes me back to making treats with my sister on cold mornings. These little bites feel like a bite of those memories.
Leftover Help
Stash extra bites in a tight container and park them in the fridge. They’re best right after cooking, but you can warm them up in a skillet or microwave to bring back that soft inside and a little crunch. If prepping ahead, keep the icing separate and only drizzle when you’re ready to eat.
Swap Ideas
Need dairy free? Try almond milk and any plant-based butter. Want something zesty? Grate in some orange peel or use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon in your custard. If you’re feeling ambitious homemade dough works, but store-bought keeps things super simple!
Best Ways to Eat
Set these out for brunch and watch everyone dig in. Pile them in a big bowl with fresh berries and serve with eggs for a big breakfast. Turn them into dessert by topping warm bites with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a heavy pour of icing or syrup.
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Common Questions
- → Can I use homemade cinnamon rolls?
Go for it! Baked homemade cinnamon rolls work great. Just slice them and follow the rest of the steps the same way.
- → How can I make this dairy-free?
Use almond milk instead of regular milk, and stick with plant butter. That'll keep it completely dairy-free.
- → What toppings go well with these bites?
Top them with maple syrup, any extra icing, or just sprinkle on powdered sugar. All of them make things even tastier.
- → How do I prevent the bites from sticking?
Spread melted butter over your skillet well first, and give those bites enough space so they don't stick together while cooking.
- → Can these be prepared in advance?
You can keep finished bites warm in a low oven for a bit, but honestly, they taste best when they're freshly cooked.
- → What is the best bread substitute if I don’t have cinnamon rolls?
Try cubes of sweet bread like brioche or challah, dusted with cinnamon sugar. Super close in texture and flavor.