Tres Leches Coconut Ube Hawaiian Roll French Toast is what happens when your favorite brunch meets your favorite dessert. It's rich, coconutty, perfectly sweet, and made with pillowy ube rolls that soak up every drop of that dreamy tres leches mixture.
Why You'll Love It
Tres Leches Coconut Ube French Toast is the ultimate brunch dish that feels fancy but is secretly so easy. We're talking soft, fluffy King's Hawaiian ube coconut rolls that get dunked into a creamy tres leches mixture made with sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and coconut milk. Every bite is custardy on the inside with golden brown edges on the outside-and then you roll it in raw sugar for that crunchy, sparkly finish.
The coconut milk adds a subtle tropical vibe that pairs perfectly with the earthy sweetness of ube. It's giving vacation brunch energy without leaving your kitchen. And because the rolls are already soft and slightly sweet, they soak up the batter beautifully without falling apart.
This recipe is also perfect for feeding a crowd. You can cook it in batches, keep it warm, and serve it with extra tres leches on the side for dipping (which is honestly the best part). It's indulgent, nostalgic, and just the right amount of over-the-top in the best way possible.
Whether you're making it for a holiday brunch, a birthday breakfast, or just because you deserve something fun, this one's guaranteed to steal the show.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This ingredient list is full of simple, store-bought staples that come together to make something seriously special. You can also tweak a few things depending on what you have on hand.
- King's Hawaiian Ube Coconut Rolls: These soft, slightly sweet rolls are the base of the recipe and soak up all that creamy goodness perfectly. Regular hawaiian rolls also work perfectly if you don't have these specialty ones.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Adds rich sweetness and helps create that classic tres leches flavor.
- Evaporated milk: Balances the sweetness and gives the mixture a silky texture.
- Coconut milk: Brings a tropical twist that pairs beautifully with the ube flavor. Regular milk can work in its place if you can't do coconut.
- Eggs: Help create that classic French toast custard texture.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth to the batter.
- Salted butter: Gives you those golden brown, crispy edges while cooking.
- Raw sugar: Adds a crunchy, sparkly coating that takes this over the top.
How to Make It
This recipe comes together quickly and feels a little extra in the best way possible. You'll soak, fry, and finish with sugar before serving with that dreamy tres leches drizzle.
- MAKE THE TRES LECHES MIXTURE: In a bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and coconut milk until fully combined. Set half aside for dipping and serving later.
- MAKE THE BATTER: Pour the remaining tres leches mixture into a shallow bowl. Add eggs and cinnamon, then whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
- HEAT THE PAN: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and let it melt, swirling to coat the pan evenly.
- DUNK AND COOK (BATCH 1): Working in batches, dunk half the rolls into the batter. Let them soak for about 5-7 seconds per roll until saturated but still holding their shape. Add to the skillet and cook, turning as needed, until all sides are deep golden brown.
- DUNK AND COOK (BATCH 2): Repeat with the remaining rolls, adding more butter if needed.
- COAT IN SUGAR: While still warm, toss the French toast bites in raw sugar until fully coated on all sides.
- SERVE: Drizzle with the reserved tres leches mixture and serve the rest on the side for dipping.
What to Serve It With
This dish is rich, so pairing it with something savory or fresh balances everything out perfectly.
- Crispy bacon or breakfast sausage
- Fresh tropical fruit like pineapple or mango
- Coconut whipped cream
- Iced coffee or a strong cold brew
Or try some of these related recipes:
- Shortcut Strawberry Tres Leches Cake - Using Boxed Cake Mix!
- Hawaiian Roll French Toast with Cinnamon Sugar
- Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread Recipe with Cheesy Dip
- Curried Coconut Cauliflower Soup
- Easy Coconut Rice Recipe (Made In The Rice Cooker)
Recipe
Tres Leches Coconut Ube Hawaiian Roll French Toast
Equipment
- Large Cast Iron
Ingredients
- 1 12 pack King's Hawaiian Ube Coconut Rolls
- 1 14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 12 oz can Evaporated Milk
- 1 13.5 oz can Coconut Milk
- 2 large Eggs
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons Salted Butter
- 0.5 cup Raw Sugar
Instructions
- Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and coconut milk in a bowl until fully combined. Set half aside for dipping and serving later.
- Pour the remaining tres leches mixture into a shallow bowl. Add eggs and cinnamon and whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and let it melt, swirling to coat the pan.
- Working in two batches, dunk half the sweet rolls into the batter and turn to coat, about 5-7 seconds per roll - you want them soaked but not falling apart. Add to the hot skillet and cook, turning as needed, until all sides are deep golden brown.
- Repeat with the remaining rolls, adding more butter if needed.
- While still warm, toss all the bites in raw sugar, making sure every side gets coated.
- Drizzle with some of the reserved tres leches mixture and serve the rest alongside for dipping. Eat immediately.
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