Crunchy French Toast – Crushed cereal–coated Hawaiian dinner rolls make great use of leftovers and add a fun twist to classic French toast.
When I was growing up, French toast was a special-occasion breakfast — usually on Christmas. Nowadays it’s a regular request at my house. My son loves it, and whenever there’s bread on hand, he asks for French toast.
For this recipe I used leftover Hawaiian dinner rolls, but you can use regular sandwich bread, brioche, Texas toast, or any dinner rolls you have on hand.
I first learned about crunchy French toast from a friend about ten years ago. The idea is simple: after dipping the bread in the egg mixture, press it into crushed cereal. The cereal adds a wonderful crunchy texture and makes the dish feel special.
What You’ll Need
- Bread or dinner rolls
- Eggs
- Milk
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Sugar
- Crushed cereal
- Butter or non-stick spray
It’s basically standard French toast ingredients plus a crunchy cereal coating. Finish with your favorite toppings.
How To Make Crunchy French Toast
- Beat the eggs, milk, cinnamon, salt, and sugar together in a bowl until well combined.
- Roughly crush your cereal and place it in a separate shallow bowl.
- Slice dinner rolls in half if using rolls. Dip each piece of bread in the egg mixture, then press it into the crushed cereal to coat evenly.
- Heat a skillet or griddle to medium. Add butter or spray with non-stick spray.
- Cook the coated bread about 3 minutes per side, until golden and crisp. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Topping Ideas
Top crunchy French toast the same way you would traditional French toast. Popular options include:
- Maple syrup
- Fresh fruit or berries
- Whipped cream
- Fruit syrups such as strawberry
What Bread To Use
Leftover King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls are perfect for this recipe, especially after holidays when you have a few left. Slice them in half and use them as you would sliced bread. You can also use brioche, white sandwich bread, Texas toast, or any sturdy bread you prefer—each will yield slightly different texture and flavor.
Which Cereal Works Best
Choose a cereal with flavor and crunch that you enjoy. Some favorites:
- Cap’n Crunch (roughly crushed)
- Corn Flakes
- Frosted Flakes
- Rice Krispies
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes
- Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Cinnamon Scones
- Lemon Pancakes
- Breakfast Tacos
- Double Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Nutella Crepes
Crunchy Hawaiian French Toast
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Ingredients
French Toast
- 4 King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 cup roughly crushed cereal (eg. Cap’n Crunch)
- Butter or non-stick spray
Toppings
- Fresh fruit
- Whipped cream
- Maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet or griddle to medium heat.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk, cinnamon, salt, and sugar until combined.
- Place crushed cereal in another shallow bowl.
- Slice dinner rolls in half. Dip each piece into the egg mixture, then press into the cereal to coat well.
- Melt butter in the hot pan or spray with non-stick spray. Cook coated rolls about 3 minutes per side until golden and crisp.
- Remove from pan and top as desired before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Author: Erin Sellin
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 15 minutes
Course: Breakfast | Cuisine: American | Servings: 2 | Calories: 453
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of King’s Hawaiian®. The opinions and text are my own.