If you've never had Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast before, you are missing out!! Sweet thick slices of Hawaiian bread are battered in a delicious custard before being pan fried until golden brown.
It is a great recipe to make for a brunch party like a bridal or baby shower, since it holds up well in chafing dishes. I use King's Hawaiian sweet rolls for this recipe because it is easy to find but you can use any sweet bread you have.
If you love french toast, you need to try my Cinnamon Sugar Brioche French Toast Bites! (They're made with Cinnamon Toast Crunch!)
I am happy to share that I partnered with Dairy Council of Florida to bring you this delicious breakfast treat!
My kids LOVE french toast in the morning especially when it's made with a SWEET bread like Hawaiian rolls.
This recipe is something I make very often for them because it is both delicious AND a good source of protein, calcium and vitamin D.
If you love sweet breakfast recipes, try my Baked Strawberry Donuts or savory, try my muffin tin egg bites recipe!
🍞 How Is Hawaiian Bread Different?
Hawaiian bread is sweeter, flakier and fluffy on the inside. It resembles brioche bread in flavor and textue. Hawaiian bread can come in a few different forms such as rolls, sliced or a larger loaf.
Many people wonder, what IS the best type of bread for French Toast?
Brioche and Hawaiian bread are in my opinion, the best kind to use.
BOTH are naturally sweeter than your classic white bread which allows me to leave out the sugar that most french toast recipes use.
For THIS french toast recipe, I used King's Hawaiian mini slider rolls. King's Hawaiian also has sliced bread and a loaf although I often have a tougher time finding those varieties in my grocery store.
I love how much THICKER and fluffier the Hawaiian buns are as opposed to the classic sliced white bread.
If you love their Hawaiian rolls, try my Pull Apart Cheesesteak Sliders. (I use the same rolls!)
🛒 Ingredients
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls- You can use Kings Hawaiian's mini buns or another brand.
- Milk- I recommend using whole milk, buttermilk, or cream. It offers a more rich french toast as opposed to 2% or fat free milk.
- Eggs- Eggs are a staple ingredient in french toast and are what create the custard consistency and delicious flavor.
- Vanilla Extract- Vanilla adds yummy flavor to your custard but it but is not a must ingredient.
- Cinnamon- I like to add a touch of cinnamon to my french toast but this is also optional.
📝 How To Make Hawaiian Bread French Toast
Step 1: If using Hawaiian rolls, tear them apart and allow them to sit out for an hour or two if possible. This prevents soggy french toast!
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, add your eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Whisk well.
Step 3: Toss in your semi-stale bread and allow it to soak in the custard mixture for a few minutes or until it is soaked but not overly saurated.
Step 4: Add 2-3 tablespoons of butter to a skillet set over medium heat and add your soaked hawaiian bread one at a time.
Step 5: Saute the bread on both sides until golden brown a slightly crispy.
📃 NOTE: Recipe card with exact quantities and detailed instructions are below! Print it out for later!
📌 Aleka's Tips
- Keep your heat LOWER than normal and turn it up as needed. If the outside burns quickly, the inside will not cook.
- Feel free to add other spices or extracts to your custard mixture if desired.
- Using cream in your custard will give your french toast a richer flavor profile.
- Allowing the bread to dry out a bit will prevent it from getting too soggy in the custard and prevent it from falling apart.
🍓Topping Ideas
- Brandy butter
- Maple Syrup
- Whipped Cream (Pumpkin or Bourbon!)
- Brown Sugar Syrup
- Blackberry Simple Syrup
- Strawberry Simple Syrup
- Fresh berries
- Granola
⏰ Can I Make This In Advance? In Bulk?
Yes and yes! I do recommend if you are serving this french toast to a larger crowd or do not have much time in the morning, to make it ahead of time. The best way to do this is to fry up your french toast according to the instructions. Once cooled, add it to a tupperware container with a lid and store in the fridge.
Reheat the french toast within 3 days in the oven at 350 degrees. The french toast is ready when it is warmed through. No need to cover it.
Keep warm in the oven at a warm setting or 200 degrees F if you are expecting company. (You may want to cover it at this point to prevent it from drying out.)
Freeze the french toast in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 8 weeks. Reheat in the oven at 325 F until fully thawed and warmed through.
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❓FAQ's
It's important to use a good amount of fat in the pan. The fat is what will crisp up the exterior of your french toast. Then, allow your french toast to cool on a wire rack to maintain its crispy texture.
Yes! Use whatever you can find. Just make sure it about ¾-1" in thickness.
Yes! Just make sure you allow any excess egg mixture to drip off before adding. You want a high temperature so the exterior browns nicely.
The fat in the milk helps to brown the french toast nicely and loosen the eggs a bit to help the custard soak into the bread better.
Other Breakfast Recipes You Will Love:
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📖 Recipe
Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 package Hawaiian bread (*see note below)
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk or cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 6-8 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- If not using pre-sliced bread, slice your Hawaiian rolls in half (if using the mini sliders) or in ¾-1" thick slices (is using a loaf).
- If possible, allow your bread to dry out a bit. Using semi-stale bread will crisp up better preventing a soggy french toast.
- Add your eggs, vanilla, milk, cinnamon and salt to a large mixing bowl. Whisk well.
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of butter to a skillet set over medium heat.
- Toss a few slices of bread into your custard mixture and coat thoroughly making sure not to tear it.Tip* Add your bread to the mixture as you fry. Letting it sit in the custard mixture too far in advance will make it soggy.
- Fry the bread in 2-3 batches in your skillet keeping an eye on the heat.
- After a few minutes, flip your slices. You are looking for the bottom to turn golden brown and crispy. If the bread is browning too quickly, turn down your heat!
- Allow french toast to drain on a wire rack and serve hot! You can also keep your bread warm in the oven at 200°F until ready to serve.
Tried the recipe? I'd love to hear your thoughts below!