Pumpkin Hawaiian Roll French Toast

This Pumpkin Hawaiian Roll French Toast is an easy fall breakfast made with sweet Hawaiian rolls dipped in a creamy pumpkin French toast batter and cooked until golden brown. Finished with powdered sugar and warm maple syrup, these little French toast bites are soft and fluffy on the inside, slightly crisp around the edges, and filled with pumpkin spice flavor.

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If you’ve never made French toast with Hawaiian rolls before, this is such a fun way to switch up traditional French toast. The rolls are already slightly sweet and incredibly soft, so they soak up the pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice mixture SO well.

I also love that using Hawaiian rolls turns regular French toast into smaller, almost bite-sized pieces. They’re perfect for piling onto a big platter for a weekend breakfast or brunch, but they’re easy enough to make when you just want something a little more special in the morning.

And once pumpkin season starts, I’m always looking for easy ways to add those cozy flavors to our favorite recipes. This one has all the pumpkin spice flavor without requiring you to make anything completely from scratch. Add powdered sugar and plenty of maple syrup right before serving, and these disappear FAST!

If you love easy, cozy breakfast recipes like this one, you’ll also want to try my Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls, Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole, and Pumpkin Roll Cinnamon Hack.

Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Hawaiian Roll French Toast

This easy pumpkin French toast is one of my favorite ways to turn a package of Hawaiian rolls into a cozy breakfast everyone can grab and enjoy.

• Easy to make: The French toast batter comes together in minutes with simple ingredients.
• Perfect for pumpkin season: Pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice give every bite plenty of warm fall flavor.
• Soft and fluffy: Hawaiian rolls make the inside of the French toast incredibly soft while the outside gets golden brown.
• Kid-friendly: The smaller pieces are easy for little hands to pick up and dip into maple syrup.
• Great for brunch: Pile the French toast onto a large platter, dust it with powdered sugar, and let everyone help themselves.
• Easy to customize: Add different toppings, flavored syrups, nuts, whipped cream, or even chocolate chips.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Hawaiian Roll French Toast

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this easy Hawaiian roll French toast recipe.

• Hawaiian rolls: Sweet Hawaiian rolls are the base of the recipe. Their slightly sweet flavor and soft, fluffy texture make them perfect for French toast.
• Eggs: Eggs create the base of the custard mixture and help the French toast cook up golden brown on the outside.
• Milk: Milk thins out the egg mixture and helps create that soft, custardy French toast center. Whole, 2%, or your preferred milk will work.
• Pumpkin puree: Make sure you’re using pure pumpkin puree rather than pumpkin pie filling. This adds real pumpkin flavor and gives the custard its beautiful color.
• Vanilla extract: A little vanilla adds sweetness and brings out the warm pumpkin spice flavors.
• Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon gives the French toast that classic cozy flavor.
• Pumpkin pie spice: This adds a blend of warm spices without requiring you to measure several individual spices.
• Butter: Use butter to grease the skillet or griddle and give the outside of the French toast a rich, golden finish.
• Powdered sugar: Optional, but I love dusting it over the finished French toast before serving.
• Maple syrup: Warm maple syrup is the perfect finishing touch.

How to Make Pumpkin Hawaiian Roll French Toast

This pumpkin French toast comes together quickly, so I recommend having your ingredients measured and ready before you start cooking.

1. Slice the Hawaiian Rolls

Slice each Hawaiian rolls vertically into three equal pieces.

Keeping the rolls connected in small pieces makes them easier to dip into the pumpkin mixture without falling apart.

2. Lightly Toast the Rolls

Preheat the oven to 250°F.

Place the sliced Hawaiian rolls onto a baking sheet and warm them in the oven for about 3–5 minutes.

Lightly drying out the rolls helps them absorb the pumpkin French toast mixture without becoming overly soggy.

3. Make the Pumpkin French Toast Batter

In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined.

Make sure the pumpkin is completely incorporated into the egg mixture.

4. Heat the Skillet

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat.

Add butter and allow it to melt, coating the cooking surface.

5. Dip the Hawaiian Rolls

Working in batches, dip the Hawaiian roll pieces into the pumpkin egg mixture.

Coat both sides, but don’t leave the bread sitting in the mixture for too long. Hawaiian rolls are very soft and can quickly absorb too much liquid.

Allow any excess mixture to drip back into the bowl before transferring the rolls to the skillet.

6. Cook Until Golden Brown

Place the dipped Hawaiian rolls onto the hot skillet.

Cook for approximately 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Add additional butter to the skillet between batches as needed.

7. Serve

Transfer the cooked French toast to a serving platter.

Dust generously with powdered sugar and serve warm with maple syrup.

Watch How to Make It

Expert Tips for the Best Hawaiian Roll French Toast

Hawaiian rolls make French toast incredibly soft and fluffy, but these simple tips will help you get the perfect golden exterior without ending up with soggy centers.

• Lightly toast the rolls first. A few minutes in a low oven helps dry the surface of the bread so it can absorb the pumpkin custard without immediately becoming soggy.
• Don’t soak the bread too long. Hawaiian rolls are much softer than traditional French toast bread. A quick dip on each side is all you need.
• Use pure pumpkin puree. Pumpkin pie filling already contains sugar and spices and can make the batter overly sweet. Look for a can labeled 100% pure pumpkin.
• Cook over medium heat. If the skillet is too hot, the outside can brown before the egg mixture in the center has time to cook.
• Whisk the batter really well. Pumpkin puree is thick, so make sure it’s fully incorporated into the eggs and milk before dipping the bread.
• Butter the skillet between batches. Adding a little fresh butter as needed helps each batch get those delicious golden edges.
• Serve immediately. French toast is always best hot off the griddle, when the outside is golden and the center is still warm and fluffy.

Recipe Variations

The pumpkin version is perfect for fall, but there are plenty of ways to change this Hawaiian roll French toast recipe.

• Apple Pumpkin French Toast: Serve with warm cinnamon apples or apple butter for even more fall flavor.
• Classic Hawaiian Roll French Toast: Leave out the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice and make a traditional cinnamon-vanilla French toast batter.
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the French toast right before serving.
• Caramel Pumpkin French Toast: Drizzle the finished French toast with warm caramel sauce along with the maple syrup.
• Pecan Pumpkin French Toast: Top with toasted chopped pecans for extra crunch.
• Cinnamon Sugar: Skip the powdered sugar and sprinkle the warm French toast with cinnamon sugar.

What to Serve With Pumpkin French Toast

This Hawaiian roll pumpkin French toast is sweet enough to be the star of breakfast, so I like pairing it with a few savory or fresh sides to balance everything out.

Serve it with:

• Scrambled eggs
• Crispy bacon
• Breakfast sausage
• Fresh berries
• Sliced fruit
• Yogurt
• Hash browns
• Breakfast potatoes

For brunch, arrange the French toast on a large platter and serve the toppings and breakfast sides separately so everyone can build their own plate.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Pumpkin Hawaiian Roll French Toast tastes best fresh from the skillet, but there are a few things you can do ahead of time to make breakfast easier.

Make Ahead

You can slice the Hawaiian rolls up to one day ahead of time and keep them covered at room temperature.

You can also whisk together the pumpkin French toast mixture the night before. Cover it tightly and refrigerate overnight, then whisk it again before using.

For the best texture, wait to dip and cook the Hawaiian rolls until shortly before serving.

How to Store Leftover Pumpkin French Toast

Allow leftover French toast to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container.

Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Place parchment paper between layers if you’re stacking the pieces to help prevent them from sticking together.

How to Reheat Hawaiian Roll French Toast

For the best texture, reheat the French toast in a skillet over low to medium heat or place it in a 350°F oven until warmed through.

You can also microwave individual servings in approximately 20–30 second intervals, although the French toast will be softer when reheated this way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few common questions about making pumpkin French toast with Hawaiian rolls.

Can you use Hawaiian rolls for French toast?

Yes! Hawaiian rolls are delicious for French toast because they’re naturally soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet. Since they’re softer than traditional French toast bread, avoid soaking them in the egg mixture for too long.

How do you keep Hawaiian roll French toast from getting soggy?

Lightly drying the rolls in the oven before dipping them helps prevent soggy French toast. You should also dip each piece quickly rather than allowing it to soak in the pumpkin custard.

Can I make pumpkin French toast without pumpkin pie spice?

Yes. If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can use additional cinnamon along with small pinches of nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.

You’ll Also Love

If you love easy, cozy breakfast recipes like this Pumpkin Hawaiian Roll French Toast, here are a few more recipes to try next:

• Croissant Breakfast Casserole
• Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole
• French Toast Muffins
• French Toast Casserole