Turn Hawaiian Rolls Into The Tastiest Breakfast With Just 10 Minutes Of Prep

Who doesn't love French toast? A perfect blend of hearty and sweet, the dish beats pancakes every time. But dipping and cooking a stack of slices takes some time at the stove. Time you could be spending with friends or family. Instead, there's a simple French toast casserole that takes about 10 minutes to prep, allowing the oven to do the rest of the work. This bread pudding-style dish is made even more delicious and fun by tearing apart a package of Hawaiian rolls in place of standard sliced breads.

Hawaiian rolls are already a great solution for French toast, thanks to their compact, slider size, the hint of built-in sweetness, and a closed crumb bake that prevents the eggs from over-soaking the bread. King's Hawaiian even offers a classic French toast recipe on its website using its Original Sweet Rolls. But this version takes out a lot of the effort of cooking, and results in a tasty baked treat that's easy to dish up to a hungry group. It's also a great way to use that package of Hawaiian rolls that may have gotten a little stale.

To start, cut a 12-pack of Hawaiian sweet rolls so that each piece is sliced half in both directions. Add those rolls to a greased baking dish and pour your favorite French toast dip on top — eggs, milk or cream, a dash of vanilla and cinnamon, maybe brown sugar, orange zest, or other flavorings. Let it sit on the counter for a few minutes so the rolls can really absorb that custard all the way through, then pop the dish in the oven (pre-heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit) and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes. Allow the dish to cool for a few minutes before serving so that custard can set.

While it's perfectly fine to whip this recipe up the morning of, it can also be made in advance to chill overnight in the fridge. This has the dual advantage of blending flavors and preventing your baked French toast from getting soggy, as the moisture gets fully integrated into the bread. You want enough liquid to reach the bread but not smother it — about six to eight eggs and one-and-a-half to two cups of milk or cream for a 12-pack of rolls.

To make these baked French toast rolls even more indulgent, you can blend melted butter, brown sugar, and chopped pecans to create a sticky bun-like base, pouring it into the pan before adding the chopped rolls. Alternatively, make a crumble topping from chilled butter, flour, sugar, and cinnamon (or other spices). Spread this across the top of the rolls, covering the pan with foil for the first half of the bake, and uncovering it for the second so the crumble crisps up without burning. If your store carries King's Hawaiian maple brown sugar rolls or ube coconut rolls, those will also add to the flavor and complexity of the dish.

Experimenting with toppings is another way to upgrade this French toast. Treats like caramelized bananas, sugared walnuts, or fried apples will bring additional flavor and texture. You can add an adult touch with a hint of booze, too. Include about ¼ cup of orange liqueur in your egg custard, or make a sweet maple-bourbon sauce by adding a couple of tablespoons of bourbon and a dash of vanilla to a cup of maple syrup and heating it on low. Pour that over the Hawaiian French rolls just before serving and dig in.