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Cinnamon Roll French Toast Pinwheels

Enjoy these quick and fun cinnamon roll pinwheels, perfect for a special breakfast or brunch, made from store-bought cinnamon rolls.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 220

Ingredients
  

For the Pinwheels
  • 1 can refrigerated cinnamon rolls with filling and icing (8-count) (8–10 oz)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk (whole or 2% recommended)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (plus extra for dusting)
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional, for a deeper caramel flavor)
  • 2–3 tbsp unsalted butter (for the skillet)
For Serving
  • Maple syrup, fresh berries, or warmed icing for serving
Optional Add-ins
  • 4 oz cream cheese (softened, for a richer filling; mix with 1–2 tbsp powdered sugar)
  • a pinch nutmeg (in the batter)
  • Chopped pecans (for garnish)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Open the can of cinnamon rolls and place the icing in a small bowl. Add a splash of milk (1–2 teaspoons) and stir to make it pourable for drizzling later.
  2. If you want a creamier filling, mix softened cream cheese with a tablespoon of powdered sugar and spread a thin layer on each unrolled dough piece.
Create the Pinwheel Sheet
  1. Unroll the cinnamon roll dough pieces onto a clean surface. Gently press the edges together so they form a single rectangular sheet.
  2. Roll the sheet tightly from the short side into a log.
Slice the Log into Pinwheels
  1. Using a sharp knife or pastry cutter, slice the log into 8–10 even pinwheels.
  2. Gently reshape each slice if needed so it sits flat.
Make the Custard
  1. In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar until smooth.
Cook the Pinwheels
  1. Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Quickly dip each pinwheel into the custard, turning to coat both sides, and let excess drip off.
  3. Place seam-side down in the skillet. Cook about 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
Serve
  1. Transfer cooked pinwheels to a baking sheet in a warm oven while you finish the rest.
  2. Drizzle warm icing or maple syrup on top, add a dusting of extra cinnamon, and serve with fresh berries if desired.

Notes

Keep finished pinwheels warm in the oven while cooking. Can prepare pinwheels the night before and refrigerate.