About This Recipe

Hawaiian roll French toast is the 15-minute breakfast that went viral for a reason: King's Hawaiian rolls are already sweet, pillowy, and buttery — they're basically made for French toast. Dip them in vanilla custard, cook in butter until golden, and what comes out is impossibly soft inside with a caramelized crust. Served with maple syrup and berries, this is the breakfast everyone in your house will request every weekend.

Nutrition estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. Values are per serving and may vary.

Why You'll Love It

  • Ready in 15 minutes — the fastest impressive breakfast you can make
  • The sweetness of Hawaiian rolls means less sugar needed
  • Kids absolutely love these — the ultimate family breakfast
  • One package feeds 4 people with zero leftover effort

Hawaiian Roll French Toast (Viral Breakfast)

Hawaiian Roll French Toast (Viral Breakfast)
5 min
Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
4
Servings
⭐ 4.8
Rating
320
Calories

Ingredients

  • 1 package (12 rolls) King's Hawaiian sweet rolls
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter for cooking
  • Maple syrup, powdered sugar, fresh berries to serve
  • Optional: whipped cream, Nutella, strawberry jam

Instructions

  1. 1Make custard Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar together in a wide shallow bowl until fully combined....
  2. 2Slice rolls Cut Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the entire slab intact (don't separate individual rolls yet). This make...
  3. 3Soak Dip each half-slab into the egg mixture, pressing gently to absorb custard, about 10-15 seconds per side....
  4. 4Cook Melt 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook rolls cut-side down first until golden brown, about 2-3 min...
  5. 5Separate and serve Separate into individual rolls. Serve immediately with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries. They should be go...

Ingredients

1 package (12 rolls) King's Hawaiian sweet rolls 3 large eggs 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk or heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp cinnamon 2 tbsp granulated sugar 2 tbsp butter for cooking Maple syrup, powdered sugar, fresh berries to serve Optional: whipped cream, Nutella, strawberry jam

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Make custard

    Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar together in a wide shallow bowl until fully combined.

  2. 2

    Slice rolls

    Cut Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the entire slab intact (don't separate individual rolls yet). This makes flipping easier.

  3. 3

    Soak

    Dip each half-slab into the egg mixture, pressing gently to absorb custard, about 10-15 seconds per side.

  4. 4

    Cook

    Melt 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook rolls cut-side down first until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side another 2 minutes.

  5. 5

    Separate and serve

    Separate into individual rolls. Serve immediately with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries. They should be golden outside and soft inside.

Pro Tips

🏆 Chef Tips
  • Don't oversoak — Hawaiian rolls are small and absorb custard fast. 15 seconds per side is enough.
  • Medium heat is key. Too high burns the outside before the custard cooks through.
  • Keep the slab intact while cooking — much easier to flip than individual rolls.
  • Serve immediately — these are best right off the pan when the exterior is still crisp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but King's Hawaiian rolls are slightly sweet and pillowy, which makes them perfect for French toast. Any soft, slightly sweet roll works.
Best eaten fresh. You can make the custard the night before, but cook the rolls right before serving.
Don't oversoak and make sure the pan is fully hot before adding the rolls. A hot pan creates a crisp exterior quickly.
Maple syrup and powdered sugar are classic. Fresh strawberries, Nutella, coconut whipped cream, or a drizzle of honey all work beautifully with the sweet rolls.

Nutrition Per Serving

320
Calories
9g
Protein
42g
Carbs
13g
Fat
1g
Fiber
16g
Sugar
290mg
Sodium
6g
Sat. Fat