Recipe Details
Community Pick: French Toast Roll-Ups
Photograph by Swirling F.
⏱️ Total Prep & Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 6
📝 Total Ingredients: 8
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 large egg yolk
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
24 slices white sandwich bread
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter, melted
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, egg yolk, and ¼ cup of sugar until completely smooth. Set the filling aside.
Trim the crust off every slice of bread, then flatten each slice evenly with a rolling pin.
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over every flattened bread slice.
Roll each slice tightly jelly-roll style, then arrange all rolls seam-side down on a baking sheet.
In a shallow dish, mix the remaining ¾ cup sugar and ground cinnamon to make your coating.
Brush melted butter all over each roll-up, then roll each one in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully coated. Place coated rolls back on the baking sheet.
Cover the baking sheet tightly and freeze the roll-ups for at least 2 hours (they can be stored frozen for up to 2 months for later baking).
Right before serving, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Bake the roll-ups for 10 to 12 minutes, until the outside is golden brown and crispy.
Reader Reviews
I tested this recipe today to see if I’d want to make a big batch for my 13-year-old son. I used fat-free cream cheese and they turned out perfectly! I tested two types of bread: white and potato. Potato bread came out a bit firmer, so I preferred the texture of white bread. I skipped the freezing step, so I’m curious how they taste after freezing, but I can confirm fresh out of the oven they are absolutely divine! These are so simple to make — a definite must-save for any recipe book!
I made these on Christmas morning. I spread a thin layer of cream cheese, brushed it with butter, then sprinkled on the cinnamon sugar instead of rolling the whole roll in the mixture. I froze them overnight and baked as directed, then drizzled homemade strawberry syrup on top. They were crunchy, cozy and sweet, and all four of my kids plus my husband gave them a full thumbs up.
My daughter has been making these for years, since she was in junior high! She cuts hers into bite-sized pieces to serve as little dessert bites. So delicious!
My family didn’t really love these. They liked them much better without the cream cheese filling.
I used this recipe as inspiration to make a slightly healthier version. For 5 rolls, I made filling with two overripe bananas, one teaspoon of vanilla, and one tablespoon of sugar. I also used wheat bread, left the crusts on, and swapped in a butter substitute. A previous reviewer didn’t freeze theirs and had no issues, so I skipped freezing too. I’m sure the original version is much better than this modified one, and next time I’ll trim the crusts and use a sugary fruit sauce for filling. This was pretty good, just not as good as our usual french toast or waffles.
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Popular Reader Tweaks
After rolling, arrange roll-ups directly in a 9x12 pyrex baking dish. Brush the tops generously with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, instead of rolling each roll in the mixture. They come out perfectly sweet and crunchy this way!
(Healthier modification): I used this recipe as inspiration for a slightly lighter take. For 5 rolls, I made filling with two overripe bananas, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 tablespoon sugar. I used whole wheat bread, kept the crusts on, and used a butter alternative. I skipped freezing since another home cook had good results that way. I’m sure the original is far more delicious, and I’ll trim the crusts and use a sweet fruit filling next time. This version was pretty good, just not as tasty as our usual french toast or waffles.
About This Recipe
Submitted by Mary:
Greetings everyone! My name is Mary, and I’m a native Floridian. I live in Central Florida with my wonderful husband, who I’ve been married to for over 13 years. I love cooking simple, approachable dishes with everyday, easy-to-find ingredients.