5 cups large-diced cake doughnuts
3 cups large-diced French bread
Unsalted butter, for the baking dish
3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
8 large eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Maple syrup, for serving
Berries, for serving
Arrange the doughnuts and bread in the bottom of a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish.
Beat the milk, cream and eggs in a large bowl until well blended. Add the sugar, orange zest, cinnamon and vanilla. Whisk until homogenous.
Pour the liquid mixture over the bread cubes in the baking dish and let stand until the liquid is absorbed, about 1 hour. (You can freeze the casserole at this stage for up to 1 month. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before baking, or cook directly from the freezer in a 325-degree oven, covered with aluminum foil, for 65 to 75 minutes.)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake until the center is just set, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool slightly before serving. Top with maple syrup and fresh berries.
Total: 2 hours 15 min (includes standing time)
Active: 20 min
Yield: 6 to 8 servings