Don't throw out those day-old donuts! Turn them into this indulgent Slow Cooker Donut Bread Pudding instead. This easy recipe soaks your leftover donuts in a simple custard and then slow-bakes them into a sweet treat that everyone will devour!
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📝Ingredient shopping list
To make this indulgent slow cooker dessert, you will need these ingredients. For quantities and full preparation instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Bakery
- Glazed or iced donuts - day-old or older
Refrdigerated
- Eggs
- Milk - both dairy and non-dairy milk will work. I use almond milk.
Pantry
- Light brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Vanilla bean paste - I love vanilla bean paste, but vanilla extract can be used in its place in equal amounts.
Toppings (optional)
- Powdered sugar
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate chips
Why you will 💜 your slow cooker for this recipe
- It is a hands-free way to turn extra donuts into a crave-worthy dessert.
- The slow cooker creates a soft, custardy bread pudding with no fear of drying it out. Plus, you can serve it warm right out of the slow cooker.
- You can prep it the night before and just pop it into your slow cooker when you are ready to cook.
- Just like my sticky bun casserole, this dish is perfect for days when oven space is at a premium.
Preparing your slow cooker
- Coat your slow cooker with a non-stick spray or oil before cooking
- Oil works better than spray for some non-stick surfaces (check your slow cooker's manual)
- Avocado oil is my go-to coating for this recipe.
You can also use a slow cooker liner for even easier clean-up. But, it is not as pretty if you are serving this to guests.
Get Cooking
Custard
In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Prep Donuts
Cut stale donuts into quarters
Assemble
Place the donut pieces into a greased slow cooker. Top with custard mix and use a whisk to push the pieces fully into the mix. Allow the mixture to sit until the donut pieces are fully saturated.
Note
To let the uncooked mixture set for a longer period of time, mix the donuts and custard in a bag and store them in the refrigerator. When you are ready to cook, dump the mixture into your greased slow cooker.
Cook
Cover slow cooker with a clean kitchen towel under the lid to help absorb some extra liquid. Cook on high for about 2 hours, until fully set. Remove the lid and towel. Top and serve!
🍽Serving suggestions
- Top with a dusting of powdered sugar for a simple but beautiful finish.
- Add a handful of fresh berries to balance out the sweetness.
- Top with whipped cream for an easy dessert presentation.
- Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce for an even more indulgent dish.
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Storing and leftovers
- Refrigerate leftover donut bread pudding in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- For best texture, reheat gently in the microwave. Do not overheat.
- This dish is not recommended for freezing.
😉Hints & hacks
- Place a tea towel under the lid of your slow cooker to absorb extra moisture.
- This recipe works best with stale donuts. The drier texture will allow them to more easily soak up the custard.
- Short on time? Cut the donuts into smaller pieces and poke with a fork to speed up the absorption process.
- Although I am a big fan of slow cooker liners, I often forgo them when making this leftover donut recipe. When serving to guests directly from the slow cooker vessel, it looks much nicer without a liner. Regardless of which method you use, spray either your slow cooker pot or liner with a non-stick spray.
- If your slow cooker cooks unevenly (as some of mine do), try rotating the pot halfway through cooking. Just lift the pot out of the cooking element and turn it 180 degrees before placing it back in. This will help even things out.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Don't forget to turn on (and plug in!) your slow cooker!
More great slow cooker sweet treats
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Donut Bread Pudding
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- 3.5 quart slow cooker or larger
- cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 10-12 glazed or glazed and iced donuts cut into quarters
- 6 eggs beaten
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- powdered sugar, berries, whipped cream, chocolate chips optional toppings
Instructions
- Whisk together 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, ½ cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste and set aside
- Cut 10-12 glazed or glazed and iced donuts into quarters and place into a well-greased slow cooker
- Pour egg mixture over donuts and use a whisk to press the donuts down into the liquid.
- Allow the mixture to sit for anywhere frome 2-8 hours so that the donuts can soak up some of the liquid.* They will become a bit mushy.
- Cook on high for 2 hours until liquid mixture is fully set
- top with powdered sugar, berries, whipped cream, chocolate chips, or your favorite toppings and serve.
Final Step
If you love this recipe, please let everyone know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment. This will help my business to grow and allow me to keep on testing and sharing free recipes with you.😊
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Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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