Apple Cider French Toast Bake

Ingredients

- 8 servings +

• 1 loaf (16 oz) challah or brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 6 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 ½ cups whole milk, or half-and-half
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream, for rich custard
• ¾ cup pure apple cider, unfiltered, simmered 5 mins and cooled
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract, high quality
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon, divided
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, freshly grated
• ½ tsp fine sea salt, balances sweetness
• 2 medium Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/4-inch crescents
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, for sautéing apples
• ½ cup all-purpose flour, for streusel
• ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, for streusel
• ⅓ cup dark brown sugar, for streusel
• 4 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed for streusel
• ½ cup pure maple syrup, warm, for serving