Cinnamon Roll French Toast Roll Ups (Printable)
Handheld cinnamon-sugar roll-ups filled with sweet cream cheese, pan-fried until golden and ideal for brunch.
# 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 milk
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Cooking
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for frying
# How To Make It:
01 - Blend the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until creamy and homogenous.
02 - On a clean work surface, use a rolling pin to gently flatten each slice of sandwich bread for even rolling.
03 - Spread a narrow strip of cream cheese filling along one short edge of each flattened bread slice. Roll each slice tightly from the filled edge to form cylinders.
04 - In a shallow dish, whisk the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until well combined.
05 - Combine granulated sugar with ground cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside for coating.
06 - Dip each bread roll into the egg mixture, ensuring all sides are fully coated without oversaturating.
07 - Heat 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches as needed, cook the roll ups until golden brown and crisp on all sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
08 - Immediately after frying, brush or gently roll the warm roll ups in the prepared cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.
09 - Arrange roll ups on a serving platter and serve warm. Optional: drizzle with maple syrup or dust with additional powdered sugar before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cream cheese filling melts into the bread for a gooey surprise in every bite—trust me, don’t skip it.
- It’s as quick as a pancake but feels like a bakery treat, making it great when you want to impress without stress.
02 -
- If you overstuff the bread or fail to roll tightly, the filling will leak and burn in the pan—that lesson took a couple of tries.
- Coating while warm lets the sugar mixture cling better and gives each bite that distinct crunch.
03 -
- Use day-old bread if you can—it's less likely to rip and soaks up just enough egg mixture.
- If you’re short on time, mix the cinnamon and sugar the night before to save steps in the morning.