A delightful twist on classic French toast, these Sausage French Toast Roll-Ups combine savory breakfast sausage with sweet, cinnamon-spiced French toast for a satisfying and fun morning meal. Easy to prepare and perfect for kids and adults alike, these roll-ups are sure to become a weekend brunch favorite.
Ingredients:
- 8 slices of bread (white or whole wheat)
- 8 breakfast sausage links
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter (for cooking)
- Maple syrup (for serving)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Preparation:
Step 1: Cook the Sausage: Begin by thoroughly cooking the breakfast sausage links. Follow the package instructions for cooking method and time. Whether you choose to pan-fry, bake, or microwave them, ensure they are cooked through completely and reach a safe internal temperature. Once cooked, set them aside to cool slightly before handling. Cooling the sausage slightly prevents it from making the bread soggy when you roll it up.
Step 2: Prepare the Bread: While the sausages are cooking, prepare the bread. This is a crucial step in creating the perfect roll-up. Start by removing the crusts from all 8 slices of bread. Removing the crusts ensures a smoother roll and prevents the roll-ups from unraveling during cooking. After removing the crusts, use a rolling pin to flatten each slice of bread. Rolling the bread thins it out, making it more pliable and easier to roll tightly around the sausage. This also creates a more uniform texture and allows the bread to absorb the egg mixture evenly.
Step 3: Prepare the Egg Mixture: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until well combined. This egg mixture is the foundation of your French toast flavor. Ensure the mixture is thoroughly combined to create a smooth and consistent batter. The vanilla extract adds a touch of sweetness and enhances the overall flavor, while the cinnamon provides a warm and comforting spice. Adjust the amount of cinnamon to your preference for a more or less pronounced cinnamon flavor.
Step 4: Assemble the Roll-Ups: Take one slice of flattened bread and place a cooked sausage link at one end. Roll the bread up tightly around the sausage, ensuring a snug fit. If necessary, secure the roll-up with a toothpick to prevent it from unraveling during cooking. Repeat this process with the remaining bread and sausages. Securing the roll-ups with toothpicks is particularly helpful if you find the bread is not holding its shape well. Remember to remove the toothpicks before serving.
Step 5: Cook the Roll-Ups: In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will add richness and flavor to the roll-ups while preventing them from sticking to the pan. Ensure the skillet is heated evenly before adding the roll-ups. Dip each rolled-up sausage in the egg mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated on all sides. A thorough coating ensures that the roll-ups will achieve a golden brown color and a delicious French toast flavor.
Step 6: Fry to Perfection: Place the egg-coated roll-ups in the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes per side. Monitor the heat carefully to prevent the roll-ups from burning. Turn the roll-ups frequently to ensure even browning. Once cooked, remove the toothpicks (if used) before serving.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Sausage French Toast Roll-Ups warm. Drizzle generously with maple syrup and dust with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
Why You Will Love This Recipe:
This Sausage French Toast Roll-Ups recipe is a winner for several reasons:
- It’s Fun and Kid-Friendly: The roll-up format is appealing to children, making breakfast more exciting and engaging.
- It’s Customizable: You can easily adapt the recipe to suit your preferences by using different types of bread, sausage, or toppings.
- It’s a Delicious Combination of Flavors: The savory sausage perfectly complements the sweet and spiced French toast, creating a balanced and satisfying flavor profile.
- It’s Relatively Quick and Easy: The recipe requires minimal prep time and can be cooked in just a few minutes, making it perfect for busy mornings.
- It’s a crowd-pleaser: Adults and children will love this, and it can be made in bulk.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve with a side of fresh fruit, such as berries, sliced bananas, or melon, for a balanced meal.
- Offer a variety of dipping sauces, such as chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, or whipped cream, for added fun.
- Serve alongside scrambled eggs or a vegetable omelet for a more substantial breakfast.
- Sprinkle with chopped nuts or shredded coconut for added texture and flavor.
- A simple side of yogurt or a smoothie complements the richness of the roll-ups.
Tips:
- For best results, use slightly stale bread. Stale bread absorbs the egg mixture more effectively, preventing the roll-ups from becoming soggy.
- Don’t oversoak the bread in the egg mixture, or it will become too soft and difficult to handle.
- Ensure the skillet is heated evenly before adding the roll-ups to prevent uneven cooking.
- Monitor the heat carefully while cooking to prevent the roll-ups from burning.
- If you don’t have breakfast sausage links, you can use ground sausage or even vegetarian sausage substitutes.
- Experiment with different spices, such as nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice, to create unique flavor variations.
- You can prepare the roll-ups ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutritional Information: (Estimates may vary depending on specific ingredients used)
- Calories: Approximately 250-300 per roll-up
- Protein: Approximately 10-15 grams per roll-up
- Sodium: Approximately 300-400 mg per roll-up
Conclusion:
These Sausage French Toast Roll-Ups are a delightful and easy way to elevate your breakfast or brunch. With their perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors, they are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Give this recipe a try and experience the joy of a fun and delicious morning meal. If you are a person who loves breakfast, then this recipe will make you excited to make this every morning.
5 Questions and Answers About This Recipe:
Q1: Can I make these roll-ups ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can definitely prepare the Sausage French Toast Roll-Ups ahead of time! After assembling the roll-ups (rolling the sausage in the bread and securing with toothpicks if needed), you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to cook them, simply dip them in the egg mixture and follow the cooking instructions. This is a great way to save time on busy mornings.
Q2: What if I don’t have breakfast sausage links? Can I use something else?
A: Absolutely! If you don’t have breakfast sausage links on hand, you can easily substitute them with ground sausage. Just cook the ground sausage thoroughly, crumble it, and then use it as a filling for the roll-ups. You can also use other types of sausage, such as Italian sausage or chorizo, for a different flavor profile. For a vegetarian option, consider using plant-based sausage crumbles or vegetarian sausage links. Tofu is also an excellent option
Q3: Can I freeze these roll-ups for later?
A: Yes, you can freeze these roll-ups for longer storage. The best way to do this is to cook them first, let them cool completely, and then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent them from sticking together. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready to eat them, you can reheat them in the oven, microwave, or skillet until warmed through. Freezing is an excellent option, especially if you want to meal prep and make a huge batch.
Q4: What kind of bread works best for this recipe?
A: While you can use various types of bread for this recipe, white bread or whole wheat bread are generally the most popular and readily available options. Slightly stale bread works best because it absorbs the egg mixture better and prevents the roll-ups from becoming too soggy. Other options include brioche or challah bread, which will add a richer flavor and texture to the roll-ups.
Q5: Can I add other spices to the egg mixture?
A: Definitely! Feel free to experiment with different spices to customize the flavor of the egg mixture to your liking. Nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice would be delicious additions. You could also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a hint of spice. Get creative and try different combinations to find your perfect blend of flavors! Cinnamon is a good base to work from.
