Using a paper towel or pastry brush, grease the inside of a 6-quart or larger crock pot with butter.
Next, grab your cinnamon rolls and cut each one into four pieces. Don't forget to set aside the frosting packets for later.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, salt, and maple syrup. This will be the base for your custard mixture.
Add the chopped-up cinnamon rolls to the egg batter and gently fold to make sure each piece is fully coated.
Carefully pour the mixture and cinnamon rolls into the prepared crock pot. Keeping them in a single layer as much as possible.
Combine brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans in a small bowl, sprinkle evenly over the top of the casserole, if using.
Place a clean tea towel between the lid and the cinnamon rolls, nice and taut, then place the lid tightly on top.
Bake cinnamon roll casserole on LOW for 2 hours- 2 hours 45 minutes. If you know for sure your crockpot has hot spots, then rotate the crock every 30 minutes, careful not to disturb the contents.
Check rolls at the 2-hour mark, most likely your cinnamon rolls will still be gooey in the middle, if you are okay with that, go with it, if would like them more cooked, rotate the crock pot 180° and continue baking up to another 45 minutes.
Notes
Best Canned Cinnamon Rolls to Use for Casserole
Recipe tested using Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, and honestly, our family didn't like it. Burnt on the outside and raw inside, with little to no taste. Be aware, your cinnamon roll breakfast casserole may not turn out like you think if you use them.
I also tested using Grands Cinnamon Rolls, Annie’s Organic Cinnamon rolls, Simple Truth Organic Jumbo Cinnamon rolls, and Trader Joe’s organic cinnamon rolls. My taste testers didn’t care for the Grand’s cinnamon rolls but loved the other three organic brands. I suggest spending the extra money on a higher-quality canned cinnamon roll; you're welcome!
While I haven't tried using frozen cinnamon roll dough (such as Rhodes), I'm pretty sure it would work the same; similar to when making monkey bread if you cut them into quarters the night before when making the custard, they will thaw overnight in the custard sauce.
Top Tips for the best Cinnamon Roll Casserole
To get the best texture and flavor, use higher-end canned cinnamon rolls. See above or the post for more details.
Grease your crockpot with butter for the most tender and delicious cinnamon rolls. I also found that butter helped prevent burning and added a richer flavor and texture.
If you’re unsure if your crockpot has hot spots, rotate it 180° every 30 minutes to ensure even baking.
Place a tea towel between the lid and the cinnamon rolls to collect condensation and prevent it from pooling on top of the casserole, like my crockpot peanut clusters.
Check your rolls at the 2-hour mark, but don’t worry if they’re still a bit gooey in the middle. If you want them more cooked, rotate the crockpot and continue baking for up to 45 additional minutes.
Whatever you do, do not bake on HIGH! It will burn your cinnamon rolls. If you want faster rolls, try my oven-baked recipe instead.
I baked mine for about 2 hours and 45 minutes, rotating every 30 minutes because my crockpot is older. The center was still a bit gooey, but my family didn’t mind – it was delicious! So go ahead and give it a try, and don’t be afraid to experiment with your own twists and tweaks.
Oven-baked Cinnamon Roll Casserole | Make recipe as directed above, preheat your oven to 350°F/177°C and make sure to generously grease or butter a 9x13 inch baking dish, or split it into two smaller 9x9 baking dishes. Check out my Breakfast Cinnamon Roll Casserole baked in the oven! Place your dish on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. You'll want to keep an eye on it after about 20 minutes, and if the cinnamon rolls are browning too quickly, cover the dish lightly with a sheet of aluminum foil.Once the rolls have sprung back lightly and the custard is cooked in the middle, remove the dish from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before glazing.