Trust me when I say that this Cinnamon Roll Casserole will have everyone jumping out of bed in the morning! With a soft base of cinnamon roll dough and a spiced custard-like topping, all finished with crunchy nuts and sweet maple syrup, this casserole is as delicious as it is easy.
Ingredients
Using store-bought cinnamon rolls makes this cinnamon roll casserole recipe incredibly easy to put together.
- Unsalted Butter – Use unsalted butter so that you can season the casserole with sea salt, instead.
- Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls With Icing – This is the secret to making this dish super simple.
- Pecans Or Walnuts – Coarsely chop the nuts so that they are easy to spread across the top.
- Eggs – Use large, room-temperature eggs.
- Heavy Cream – Heavy cream makes the egg mixture silky smooth.
- Ground Cinnamon – Who doesn’t like waking up to the warm smell of cinnamon in the house, right?
- Vanilla Extract – This also gives the casserole a warm aroma and balances out the casserole.
- Coarse Sea Salt – Sea salt makes all of the other flavors pop.
- Ground Nutmeg – This spice adds nuttiness and warmth.
- Maple Syrup – A drizzle of pure maple syrup sweetens the casserole.
- Cinnamon Sugar – Use this mixture as a finishing touch.
Variations
It’s super easy to put your own spin on this easy cinnamon roll casserole! Here are a few suggestions.
- Fruit – Dice up pears or apples and sprinkle them over the top before baking. Or, add blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries.
- Topping – Swap out the maple syrup for caramel or peanut butter sauce.
- Nuts – Omit the nuts or substitute your own favorite variety.
- Spices – Use a spice blend like pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.
- Extract – Swap out the vanilla extract for another flavor like almond or coffee.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Casserole
With minimal prep time, this casserole is a breeze to make!
- Prep the casserole dish. Add the melted butter to the baking dish.
- Prep the rolls. Slice or cut the rolls into quarters. Lay them out flat in an even single layer over top of the butter in the baking dish. Then, top them with nuts.
- Make the egg mixture. Add the eggs, heavy cream, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt to a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the egg mixture. Transfer the egg mixture to the pan over top of the rolls. Finish with maple syrup over the eggs.
- Bake. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake until golden brown. The eggs should be completely set.
- Cool. Take the baking dish out of the oven and allow the rolls to cool.
- Warm the icing. Place the packaged icing cups in a microwave-safe bowl and heat briefly until the icing is liquid.
- Top the casserole. Add the icing to the casserole before topping with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Casserole
This sweet start to the day needs no accompaniments! But, of course, a steamy cup of coffee with vanilla creamer or a vanilla sweet cream cold brew will pair perfectly.
You can also serve the casserole alongside other breakfast and brunch favorites like a hash brown sausage casserole, lemon dill vegetable breakfast pizza, or eggs Benedict casserole.
Storage and Freezing
This cinnamon roll casserole is best eaten fresh or within a day or two, though you can store it longer.
Can I Make This Make Ahead of Time?
Prepare the rolls in the pan the night before then simply add the egg mixture and topping when you’re ready to bake.
How to Store Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Store leftovers in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can wrap the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer individual servings to an airtight container.
Can I Freeze This Casserole?
Yes, you can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container or resealable freezer bags.
Common Questions about Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Heavy cream gives cinnamon rolls an unmatched moistness!
Cinnamon buns are, indeed, a breakfast food, but you can eat them for dessert, too.
The key to reheating the rolls without having them turn out dry is to add a little moisture. A little bit of butter or water will help them to have just the right texture.
More Sweet Morning Treats
If you like to start your day by satisfying your sweet tooth, these recipes are bound to hit the spot!
Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter , melted
- 2 12.4 ounce cans refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
- ¾ cup pecans or walnuts , coarsely chopped
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon sugar , for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Pour the melted butter into a 9×13 baking dish. Set aside.
- Using kitchen shears, cut each packaged cinnamon roll into quarters and spread them into a single layer in the bottom of the dish. Evenly sprinkle the nuts over the roll pieces. Reserve the icing. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowls, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and salt.
- Pour the egg mixture over the cinnamon rolls. Drizzle the maple syrup over the eggs.
- Bake, uncovered, for 35-37 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown.
- Remove and allow to cool for 15-20 minutes.
- Transfer the icing cups into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 10-15 seconds, until it becomes drizzle-able.
- Drizzle over the top of the casserole. It will not be “fully frosted”. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the drizzled icing and serve.
Nutrition
Absolutely delicious.