Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake

Some mornings call for cereal, and some mornings call for a pan of warm cinnamon roll french toast bake that makes the whole house smell like a bakery. This is firmly a second kind of morning recipe, and honestly those are the ones worth getting out of bed for. It is everything I love about a gooey cinnamon roll, but in a form that feeds my whole family at once without me piping a single thing.

I make this for slow holiday mornings, for weekends when we have people staying over, and sometimes just because it is Saturday and I deserve it. You do all the work the night before, it sits in the fridge soaking up cinnamon custard, and in the morning you just bake it and pour the glaze over the top. That is the entire job.

Why this beats individual french toast

Listen, I love a good slice of french toast, but standing at the stove flipping pieces one at a time while everyone eats in shifts is not my idea of a relaxing morning. A bake solves that completely. Everyone sits down together, everyone eats while it is hot, and I get to actually drink my coffee at temperature, which during this pregnancy feels like a genuine luxury.

The overnight soak is the real secret. Brioche or challah is sturdy enough to hold its shape but soaks up that cinnamon custard like a dream, so every bite is soft and custardy in the middle with golden crispy edges on top. It is the texture that makes people close their eyes on the first bite.

The glaze is not optional

I know it is tempting to skip the glaze and just use syrup, and you absolutely can. But that simple powdered sugar glaze is what makes this taste like an actual cinnamon roll instead of just nice french toast. Drizzle it on while the bake is still warm so it melts down into all the cracks and pools in the corners. That is the cinnamon roll moment right there.

If you want to gild the lily, a handful of fresh berries on top cuts the sweetness and makes it look like you tried way harder than you did. I am always in favor of looking like I tried harder than I did.

Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake

All the gooey cinnamon roll magic in an easy overnight french toast bake. Tastes like a special occasion, takes barely any effort.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Dessert

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the bake

• 1 loaf brioche or challah cut into 1 inch cubes
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

For the glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk plus more as needed
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method

 

1. Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish and add the cubed bread in an even layer.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Pour the custard evenly over the bread, pressing the cubes down so they soak it up. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
4. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 40 to 50 minutes until puffed and golden and set in the middle.
5. While it bakes, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla into a smooth glaze. Add a little more milk if needed to make it drizzleable.
6. Drizzle the glaze over the warm bake and serve right away.

Notes

This is best assembled the night before so the bread soaks up all the custard. If you are short on time, even an hour in the fridge helps. Drizzle with the glaze while it is still warm so it melts into all the nooks.

Save this one for a slow morning

This is the recipe I pull out when I want a morning to feel special, and it never misses. Make it once and I promise it earns a permanent spot in your holiday rotation. Leftovers, if you somehow have any, reheat beautifully in the microwave for about thirty seconds.

So glad you are here.
xo, Pam