Apple Cider Donut French Toast (Printer-Friendly)

Warm, spiced apple cider donut casserole with cinnamon streusel and maple syrup finish.

# What You Need:

→ Casserole

01 - 10 to 12 apple cider donuts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 5 large eggs
03 - 1 1/2 cups whole milk
04 - 1 cup apple cider
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Streusel Topping

11 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
12 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed

→ For Serving (Optional)

16 - Powdered sugar
17 - Warm maple syrup
18 - Sliced fresh apples

# Directions:

01 - Set the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Place the bite-sized donut pieces evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Whisk together eggs, whole milk, apple cider, heavy cream, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl until fully blended.
04 - Pour the egg mixture evenly over the donuts, gently pressing to ensure full absorption. Let rest for 10 minutes.
05 - Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter or fingers until crumbly.
06 - Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the soaked donut mixture. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden on top and set in the center.
07 - Allow to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar. Serve with warm maple syrup and fresh apple slices if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • This dish tastes just like biting into a warm apple cider donut, but with the ease of a bake-and-serve casserole secret worth keeping.
  • Leftover donuts finally get their time to shine and nobody suspects how simple it is—my go-to for cozy gatherings when I want fuss-free magic.
02 -
  • If you rush the soak, the donuts won't fully absorb the custard and the center comes out dry – trust me, I learned this the hard way.
  • Switching up the donut flavors (like cinnamon sugar or plain) gave me delicious surprises I wouldn't have guessed.
03 -
  • Using cold, cubed butter for the streusel keeps the texture delightfully crumbly every time.
  • A splash of apple brandy in the custard (for grown-up versions) adds subtle warmth and complexity that gets oohs and aahs at brunch.
Go Back