French toast you can eat with your hands and taste like ham and cheese toasties! Fast to make, these Ham and Cheese French Toast Roll Ups are great for feeding an army AND you can even make them ahead. Win, win, win!
“When you Google “ham cheese french toast roll up”, there are zero search results. When I hit “publish”, there will be 1 result!”
I didn’t expect to post this recipe. I’ve seen countless french toast roll ups on the internet so I thought there was little point in adding mine into the mix. But the other day, I realised that all those french toast roll ups I’d seen were sweet ones, usually filled with cream cheese and berries, then coated in sugar. Whereas mine are savoury.
A quick google confirmed that french toast roll ups with ham and cheese inside them certainly aren’t a dime a dozen. In fact, when I Googled “ham cheese french toast roll up”, it return zero results. Lots of french toast roll ups (sweet), and ham and cheese french toast (sandwich style), but zero ham and cheese french toast roll ups.
“These french toast roll ups taste just like ham and cheese toasties!”
I have to admit, I was a touch hesitant posting this recipe. Wondering whether the reason why no one else has published a recipe list this (that I can find!) is because this is just weird. Is it??? For me, it ticks all my boxes for a great breakfast:
1. You can eat it with your fingers. Because we all know that everything tastes better when you can use your hands!
2. Fast to make and you can cook as many as you can fit in your pan in one go (unlike usual pan fried french toast which you have to cook in batches);
3. Fabulous “morning after” recovery food. Butter, cheese, salt, bread. Hits my sweet spot every time; and
4. You can make it ahead. Which I don’t bother doing if I’m only making one batch because these are so fast to make, but is really convenient if I’m cooking for a crowd.
Now I really should keep writing and give you the “story” behind these and share some witty anecdotes, but I’m hungry so please excuse me. I want to get stuck into my breakfast!
PS I will share one thing though. I’ve shared in previous posts my embarrassment about the abnormally small size and pudginess of my hands. “Baby Hands”, my friends call them. Well, sometimes I send photos to my family for feedback before selecting the ones to include in a post. When I sent a photo featuring my hands, I asked “Are my hands too pudgy in this shot? Are they ruining the photo of the food?”
My brother’s response – “No. It gives you credibility. Never trust a skinny chef.”
SO RUDE!!!
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Ham and Cheese French Toast Roll Ups
Ingredients
- 6 slices fresh sandwich bread (I used white, but you could use wholemeal, wholegrain etc) (see notes)
- 3 slices of melting cheese , each cut into 4 strips (I used Jarlsberg. Tasty, cheddar, gruyere and mozzarella are also great), or 3/4 cup grated melting cheese (see notes)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 egg (large)
- 2 tbsp milk (full cream or low fat)
- 2 small slices of ham (around 50g / 1.5 oz)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Optional - cut the crusts off the bread.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the bread.
- Divide the ham between the bread and lay it out in a strip about 1cm / 1/3" wide along the bottom edge of the bread. Cut to fit neatly if necessary - that's what I did.
- Top each with 2 slices of cheese, or scatter grated cheese along the ham.
- Starting from the bottom, roll the bread up and finish with the seam side down.
- Place the egg, milk and salt in a flat dish and use a fork to whisk.
- Heat butter in a large fry pan over medium high heat.
- Dip the roll ups in the egg, rolling to coat all over. Then place in the fry pan. Place all roll ups in the same pan.
- Cook the roll ups for 45 seconds to 1 minute, then turn 90 degrees. Repeat again 2 more times (so 4 sides of each roll up is browned).
- Remove from pan and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
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Nagi, I attempted this for the first time this morning…lip smacks all around! And it was so easy to make. Thank you!!
I might actually get the hang of this cooking thing after all 🙂
I’m so glad! And of COURSE you will get the hang of this “cooking thing”! There’s lots of easy recipes on my blog so hopefully you will find some more you are comfortable trying! Let me know if you want some ideas, just tell me what kind you are after! 🙂
OMG these look absolutely fantastic! I’m going to treat my fiancée to breakfast in bed with these, she’ll love them!
She WILL love them!! And YES, they are PERFECT breakfast in bed recipes!!
I saw these and since I can’t compete with hubby’s kitchen skills I look to online for assistance. Our little girl helped me in the kitchen and was easy, fast, delicious and fun. Thanks for posting. It will definately be used and experimented with. Since I can only try what I find instead of coming up with these great recipes I can only send my comments to send my THANKS.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! So cute that you had a little helper 🙂 I am glad you enjoyed it!
So where have I been, under what rock have I been living, that I have never heard of a French Toast Rollup? Or a toastie? Or whatever these amazing little delights are? I’m with you 10000% though, savory is the way to go. Sure I love fruit and whipped cream and sugar as much as the next food nut, but give me ham and cheese every day of the week. Sooooo good Nagi!
You cannot be serious, you’ve never seen french toast roll ups? Jeez, you HAVE been living under a rock!!
Hi Nagi! I have been racking my brain, trying to find foods that my two “picky eater” boys will eat and I think I just hit the jackpot! I am grateful! Thank you so much for sharing… Diane
Ooh, I feel the pressure of approval from your boys!! Love to hear what they think!! 🙂
Ahhhhh you beat me to the punch. I should have published mine. Lol
I make these in my cafe, except I deep fry them. Yours is healthier. Lol
I also do a philly cheese steak version with steak cheese and onions. It’s delicious. Try it and let me know what you think. 🙂
Oh wow, a philly steak version? Deep fried? You made my heart flutter (and my arteries tighten!) I would love to see yours. Do you have a website??
These look scrumptious! My boys will love these – can’t wait to give them a try.
Thanks Tara! Love to hear what your boys think 🙂
Pls which type of cheese did you use? Very creative recipes you’ve got!!
Hi Meena! I used Jarslberg because that is sold pre sliced at my deli and it was on sale 🙂 But you can use any melting cheese at all – cheddar, tasty, gruyere, mozzarella. I often use tasty cheese because I always have a block of it in the fridge, I just cut up thick slices. You can really use any cheese you want, so long as it is a melting cheese (ie. not goat cheese, feta, ricotta). Just use any cheese you would ordinarily use for a ham and cheese toastie!!
Pls which type of cheese did you use? Great blog
Hi Mira! I used Jarslberg because that is sold pre sliced at my deli and it was on sale 🙂 But you can use any melting cheese at all – cheddar, tasty, gruyere, mozzarella. Just think of any cheese you would use for a ham and cheese toast!
Definitely craving some of these french toastie roll ups right now.. they look seriously cheesy, flavour filled and of course delicious! Great recipe Nagi, I have given the recipe to my partner so I can wake up to these for breakfast tomorrow!
Ha ha!! Hope your partner delivers!!
Made these this morning for Sunday brunch. Easy to prepare; came out just like your photos. I did add a little oil to the butter in the pan to keep it from keeping too dark. Served them with maple syrup on the side. My husband, who’s a picky eater, said they were good without my even asking. Score! Thanks for a great recipe.
Oh wow Gloria, thanks so much for your feedback!! I am so glad even your hubbie enjoyed them – that’s a good bar!!
Correction: “keep them from GETTING too dark”
Ha ha!! I figured that 🙂
So clever and looks so delicious! Love how you make such wonderful/appetising dishes look so easy to do. Looking forward to trying this. 🙂
Thank you for your kind words Padaek!!
How thin do you roll the bread?
Hi Jeff! You just need to roll it 3 or 4 times in each direction to flatten it out as thin as you can so it makes it easier to roll up and stay rolled up. The bread also becomes a bit “sticky” when it is thin enough which is what helps keep it rolled. Then when you are cooking it, it will puff back up a bit. Hope that helps!
What a cool idea Nagi! I almost thought you used some kind of puff pastry before I read the post and recipe. These look cute and delicious, easy to make, very creative and perfect for a weekend breakfast or just a snack!
Thanks Mira!! Flattered that you thought these were made with puff pastry instead of ordinary sandwich bread!!
Love this one! and had to laugh at your brother’s comment! Thanks Nagi
Thanks Kathy!! Yes, I was laughing too! If you can’t laugh at your own flaws, life would be pretty miserable!
This recipe could be modified or tweaked to make ‘Monte Christos’ or ‘Reubens’…. will try when I get home from vacation. Enjoy your site.
Thanks Carole! Love to hear how it turns out 🙂
This is SUCH a good idea!!!!!!! I think it’ll be an internet hit 🙂 YUM. I am trying this – pinned!
Thanks so much Sarah! You’re such a sweetie!
Wohoo! Nagi… ‘the inventor of new foods’! Seriously, this looks so amazing, I want to drop an f-bomb in there somewhere – but I will remain composed 😉 I am definitely a savory foods girl – and I love that you’ve taken a traditionally sweet breakfast item, and turned it into these savory little bundles of joy! Your stretchy cheese shot – total food porn! Another amazing creation, I don’t know how you do it! 🙂
Btw, we should start a hand support group 🙂
Ha ha ha! Support group? Stuff that! What about our cooking show – In The Kitchen With Man Hands and Baby Hands??
There is nothing I don’t love about this recipe. What is better than a posh ham and melted cheese?
Thanks so much for your kind words Janette!
My sons would go crazy for these. So would I!
Good to hear! And no waffle iron required…..!! He he he!