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Lightened-Up Christmas Morning Cinnamon Roll Casserole

lightened-up cinnamon roll casserole - featured image
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A quick and easy 30-minute cinnamon roll casserole made with canned cinnamon rolls, Greek yogurt, and a few simple swaps. It’s warm, sweet, and secretly a little better for you—perfect for a busy holiday morning.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (12.4 oz each) canned cinnamon rolls (with cream cheese icing)
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup milk (2% or any kind)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (plus extra for sprinkling)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • Reserved icing from cinnamon rolls (both packets)
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • ¼ cup fresh cranberries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with cooking spray or butter.
  2. Open both cans of cinnamon rolls. Set the icing packets aside. Cut each roll into quarters.
  3. Arrange the quartered rolls evenly in the prepared dish. They can be touching.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and brown sugar until smooth.
  5. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the cinnamon roll pieces. Gently press down with a spatula so the liquid soaks in. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
  6. Sprinkle the top with extra cinnamon and, if using, chopped nuts and cranberries.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. The center should be set but slightly jiggly. If browning too fast, tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Microwave the reserved icing packets for about 10 seconds to loosen, then drizzle over the warm casserole.
  9. Let it rest for another 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the 5-minute resting time after pouring the egg mixture—it allows the rolls to absorb the liquid for a custard-like texture. Use room-temperature eggs to prevent the yogurt from seizing. For a make-ahead option, assemble through step 5, refrigerate overnight, and add 5 minutes to the bake time. The casserole tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: cinnamon roll casserole, Christmas breakfast, lightened-up, easy breakfast, holiday breakfast, 30-minute recipe

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/lightened-up-christmas-morning-cinnamon-roll-casserole-easy-30-minute-recipe/