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Start your morning on a sweet note with this Weight Watchers Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole! At just 3 WW points per slice, this delightful dish is a guilt-free way to satisfy your cinnamon roll cravings. It’s an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing casserole that pairs perfectly with fresh fruit or a hot cup of coffee. Whether you’re hosting a special brunch or just treating yourself, this recipe is sure to become a favorite. Plus, with the convenience of pre-made bread, you’ll have it ready to bake in no time!
Ingredients in Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole
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- 16 slices of your favorite low-point bread (I used Franz Keto)
Custard Mixture
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 4 Eggs
- 1 ¼ cup Fat-free milk
- 3 tbsp Swerve brown sugar replacement
Cheesecake Frosting
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- 1 cup Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 small Box Jello sugar-free, low-calorie cheesecake flavor pudding mix
- ½ cup Fat-free milk
- ½ tsp Ground cinnamon
Instructions for Making Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole
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Start your day with a cozy treat using these instructions for making Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole. Layer soft cinnamon rolls with a creamy egg mixture and bake to golden perfection, creating a warm, sweet casserole that’s perfect for breakfast or brunch.
Prepare the Baking Dish and Custard
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Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine all custard ingredients until smooth, then set aside. For the cinnamon roll filling, soften the butter substitute in the microwave and mix it with 1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon and ¾ cup of brown sugar replacement.
Flatten the Bread Slices
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Use a rolling pin to roll out the bread slices to make them thinner and easier to roll. Arrange three bread slices in slightly overlapping rows. You will need five rows total, with one extra slice reserved for later.
Spread the Filling and Roll
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Evenly spread the cinnamon filling over the flattened bread slices. Start with one row of three slices, and carefully roll them up as if you were making a cinnamon roll.
Cut and Soak the Rolls
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Cut the roll in half widthwise, dunk each half into the custard mixture, and place them facing up in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining rows, ensuring all rolls are soaked and arranged in the pan. Pour any extra custard mixture over the rolls, focusing on the corners and edges to keep them moist.
Chill and Preheat
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Allow the casserole to sit in the fridge for at least 15 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C). After resting, press down on the rolls to minimize gaps. Break the reserved bread slice into small pieces, fill any gaps, and soak them with the remaining custard.
Bake the Casserole
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Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and continue baking for 25-30 minutes until the custard is set and the top is golden brown.
Prepare and Apply the Frosting
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Use the frosting recipe as a base. If you prefer thinner icing, add more yogurt or milk; for thicker frosting, keep it as is or add less liquid. Either pipe the frosting onto the casserole, reserving some for serving, or spread it evenly over the entire surface.
Variations and Substitutions
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- Cinnamon Roll Casserole with Fruit: Enhance your casserole by adding fresh fruit. You can either top the cinnamon bake with fruit after baking or layer the fruit at the bottom of the pan before adding the cinnamon roll-ups. Great options include strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, or apples, which will create a delicious fruity layer beneath the cinnamon rolls.
- Other Mix-In Ideas: For added texture and flavor, consider mixing in chopped nuts before baking. Pecans, walnuts, or almonds make excellent additions, especially if you have extra WW points to spare.
- Frosting: Adjust the frosting to your desired thickness. For a different flavor profile, you could use a classic powdered sugar icing made with milk, which would taste delightful drizzled over the top.
- Milk Type: Feel free to substitute almond milk, oat milk, or whole milk in the custard base, depending on your preference. Remember to adjust the recipe in the WW recipe builder to reflect the change in points.
- Brown Sugar vs. Zero-Calorie Replacement: While Swerve or another zero-calorie brown sugar replacement keeps the points low, using regular brown sugar will increase the points to 7 WW points per serving. Choose based on your dietary needs and taste preferences.
Tips and Tricks for Making Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole
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- Fill the Gaps: Use pieces of the extra bread slice to fill any gaps in the baking dish after assembling the roll-ups. This helps soak up any extra liquid and improves the casserole’s presentation.
- Double the Recipe: If you’re serving a larger group, double the recipe and use a 9 x 13 pan. The larger size accommodates more servings without altering the delicious outcome.
- Overnight Prep: For easy morning prep, roll the cinnamon roll-ups and place them in the baking dish the night before. Cover and refrigerate them. Prepare the custard batter and frosting separately, storing them covered in the fridge. The next morning, pour the custard over the roll-ups and bake.
- Storing Leftovers: Store any leftovers directly in the baking dish, covered, in the refrigerator. Reheat portions in the microwave or oven at a lower temperature to avoid drying out the casserole.
