Description
Hawaiʻi’s classic rolls turn into a delightful French toast casserole that makes weekend mornings special. Saturated with vanilla custard and sprinkled with cinnamon, this bake delivers pure comfort straight from your oven to the breakfast table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls
- 6 large eggs
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
Spices and Extracts:
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- Powdered sugar, for garnish
- Maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Slice 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls into 1-inch cubes, distributing them evenly across the prepared baking dish.
- Whisk 6 large eggs, 1½ cups whole milk, ½ cup heavy cream, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg in a large mixing bowl until completely smooth.
- Pour the custard mixture over the roll cubes, ensuring each piece gets thoroughly saturated. Press gently with a spatula to help bread absorb liquid.
- Allow the bread to soak for 15 minutes at room temperature, letting the cubes fully absorb the custard mixture.
- Mix ½ cup melted unsalted butter with ½ cup brown sugar until well combined. Drizzle evenly across the soaked bread cubes.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35 minutes, until the top turns golden brown and the center sets but remains slightly soft.
- Remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with maple syrup alongside.
Notes
- Soften cream cheese completely at room temperature to ensure smooth, lump-free mixing with the egg mixture.
- Select very fresh Hawaiian rolls for the best texture and absorbing capacity of the custard base.
- Consider preparing the bake the night before and refrigerating, which allows rolls to soak up more flavor and makes morning preparation easier.
- Swap regular milk for almond or oat milk to make the recipe dairy-free, keeping the creamy consistency intact.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 482 kcal
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 164 mg