Cinnamon French Toast Roll Ups Recipe

There’s something magical about taking ordinary bread and turning it into something extraordinary. These Cinnamon French Toast Roll Ups are exactly that kind of kitchen magic – simple ingredients transformed into pure comfort food gold. Picture this: soft sandwich bread wrapped around a creamy, sweet filling, then kissed with butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar before getting that perfect golden crisp in the oven.

What makes these roll ups so special isn’t just their incredible taste, but how wonderfully approachable they are. You don’t need fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients. Just grab what’s probably already sitting in your pantry and fridge, and in less than an hour, you’ll have a treat that rivals anything from a fancy bakery. The best part? Watching everyone’s face light up when they take that first bite.

What Makes This Recipe So Irresistible?

The genius of these roll ups lies in their perfect balance of textures and flavors. The cream cheese filling brings a tangy richness that cuts through the sweetness, while the cinnamon sugar coating creates this amazing contrast – crispy on the outside, tender and creamy on the inside. It’s like french toast and cinnamon rolls had a beautiful baby.

Plus, they’re incredibly versatile. Serve them warm for breakfast with a cup of coffee, or let them cool slightly for an afternoon snack. They’re fancy enough for guests but simple enough for a Tuesday morning when you just want something special. And here’s a secret: they taste even better than they look, which is saying something because they’re absolutely gorgeous.

Ingredients Needed for the Recipe

Let’s talk about what you’ll need to create these little bundles of joy:

• Sandwich Bread (10 slices): Choose the softest white bread you can find. Day-old bread actually works better here because it’s less likely to tear when you roll it up. Think of bread that feels like a pillow – that’s your winner.
• Cream Cheese (4 oz., softened): This needs to be really soft for easy spreading. Take it out of the fridge about an hour before you start, or give it a quick 15-second zap in the microwave if you’re in a hurry.
• Powdered Sugar (3 tablespoons): Much smoother than regular sugar in the filling – it dissolves beautifully into the cream cheese without any grittiness.
• Sugar (1/2 cup): For that gorgeous outer coating that caramelizes slightly in the oven.
• Cinnamon (1 1/2 teaspoons): Use the good stuff if you have it. Ceylon cinnamon is milder and sweeter than regular cassia cinnamon.
• Butter (1/2 cup, melted): Real butter, please – it makes all the difference in flavor and helps that cinnamon sugar stick like a dream.

How to make Cinnamon French Toast Roll Ups?

Getting Started: Prep Your Oven and Workspace

First things first – preheat your oven to 350°F. While it’s warming up, clear yourself some counter space because you’re about to get a little messy, and that’s half the fun. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to make cleanup easier later.

Preparing the Bread: The Foundation of Success

Take your bread slices and carefully trim off all the crusts using a sharp knife. Don’t worry about being perfect – just get rid of those tough edges that would interfere with rolling. Save those crusts! They make excellent breadcrumbs for another day.

Now comes the satisfying part: grab your rolling pin and gently flatten each slice of bread. You want to roll it thin enough that it’s pliable but not so thin that it tears. Think of it like you’re making the bread more cooperative for rolling up.

Creating the Creamy Filling

In a medium bowl, combine your softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Mix them together until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. If your cream cheese was properly softened, this should take just a minute or two with a fork. The mixture should be spreadable but not runny.

Setting Up Your Coating Stations

Get two shallow dishes ready – think pie plates or wide bowls. In the first one, whisk together the regular sugar and cinnamon until they’re evenly combined. In the second dish, pour your melted butter. These are your assembly line stations that’ll make the final coating process smooth and efficient.

Assembly Time: Spreading and Rolling

Take each flattened bread slice and spread about a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture evenly across the surface, leaving a small border around the edges. Don’t overfill – you want enough filling to taste in every bite, but not so much that it squeezes out when you roll.

Starting from one end, carefully roll up each bread slice as tightly as you can without tearing the bread. The cream cheese mixture will help hold everything together, so don’t worry if it feels a bit loose at first.

The Magic Coating Process

Here’s where things get really fun. Take each roll and first dip it completely in the melted butter, making sure all sides are coated. Then immediately roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture, pressing gently to help the coating stick. The butter acts like glue for all that sweet, spicy goodness.

Final Baking Step

Place your coated rolls seam-side down on your prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one. Slide them into your preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and the coating looks slightly caramelized.

The smell alone will tell you when they’re ready – your kitchen will smell like a bakery, and you might have neighbors knocking on your door asking what smells so amazing.

How Do You Know When They’re Perfect?

Perfect Cinnamon French Toast Roll Ups have a golden-brown exterior that’s slightly crispy to the touch, but not hard. When you gently press on one, it should give just slightly – that tells you the bread inside is warmed through and the filling is perfectly melty.

The cinnamon sugar coating should look caramelized in spots, creating this beautiful marbled appearance. If they’re getting too dark on top but still need more time, you can tent them with foil for the last few minutes of baking.

Tips

Want to make these even better? Here are some insider secrets that’ll take your roll ups from good to absolutely incredible:

Temperature matters: Serve these warm, but not piping hot. Let them cool for about 5 minutes after baking – this gives the filling time to set up slightly so it won’t be molten lava hot, but they’ll still be wonderfully warm and gooey.

Make them ahead: You can actually assemble these the night before and store them covered in the refrigerator. Just add an extra 5 minutes to the baking time if you’re starting from cold.

Storage success: Leftover roll ups can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes to crisp up that coating again.

Portion control: These are rich and sweet, so consider cutting larger roll ups in half for serving. They’re quite satisfying, and smaller portions let people enjoy them without feeling too full.

Can You Make Variations of This Recipe?

Absolutely! Once you master the basic technique, the world of variations opens up beautifully. Try adding a thin layer of your favorite jam or preserves along with the cream cheese – strawberry and cinnamon is a match made in heaven.

For chocolate lovers, mix a tablespoon of cocoa powder into the cream cheese filling, or add mini chocolate chips. You could even substitute some of the cinnamon in the coating with unsweetened cocoa powder for a mocha twist.

Feeling festive? Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon sugar mixture. During fall, try mixing in some pumpkin pie spice instead of plain cinnamon. The possibilities are truly endless, and each variation brings its own special charm to the table.

What’s the Best Way to Serve These?

These roll ups are stars on their own, but they play well with others too. A light dusting of powdered sugar right before serving makes them look bakery-perfect. Fresh berries on the side add a lovely tartness that balances the sweetness.

For a more indulgent treat, serve them with a small bowl of maple syrup for dipping, or even a dollop of whipped cream. Coffee pairs beautifully – the slight bitterness complements the sweet, spicy flavors perfectly.

They’re also wonderful as part of a brunch spread alongside fresh fruit and maybe some crispy bacon. The contrast of sweet and savory makes for a memorable meal that guests will be talking about long after they leave.

These Cinnamon French Toast Roll Ups prove that sometimes the most impressive treats come from the simplest ingredients. With just a few pantry staples and a little bit of love, you can create something that feels both comforting and special. Whether you’re making them for a weekend family breakfast or surprising guests with an unexpected dessert, these little rolls of joy are guaranteed to bring smiles and maybe even a few happy sighs around your table.