Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (2024)

Butternut Squash Bread Pudding with Tres Leches Sauce

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (1)

Credit: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Indulge in one of these top-rated bread pudding recipes when you need a luscious dessert that’s easy to make. (First, learn how to make the best bread pudding with our helpful guide.) Don't let stale baked goods go to waste—they can be rejuvenated into tasty bread pudding desserts that are perfect for a weekend brunch or potluck.

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Blueberry Bread Pudding With Lemon Hard Sauce image

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (2)

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

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Stale Doughnut Bread Pudding Muffins

Stale Doughnut Bread Pudding Muffins with White Chocolate and Raspberry Sauces image

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (3)

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Mark Driskill, Deb Wise, Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck

Stale Doughnut Bread Pudding Muffins Recipe

Trends come and go, but this recipe is proof that doughnuts are eternal. Even that box of Krispy Kremes that you picked up at midnight last night. Stale doughnuts need love, too. Which is why we’re recycling them in a warm, custardy bread pudding disguised as the greatest brunch dish of all time. As if the doughnuts weren’t enough, we add an extra layer of decadence in the form of white chocolate and raspberry sauces. Drizzle them on the bread pudding or directly into your mouth. We won’t judge.

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Classic Bread Pudding

Classic Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (4)

Credit: Bradford Thomason; Styling: Katherine Tucker

Classic Bread Pudding Recipe

You can't go wrong with a classic bread pudding made with simple ingredients and flavored with vanilla and nutmeg. Learn the best tricks and techniques for making perfect bread pudding with this helpful how-to guide.

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King Cake Bread Pudding with Chicory Ice Cream

Chicory Ice Cream

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (5)

Credit: Jennifer Causey

King Cake Bread Pudding with Chicory Ice Cream Recipe

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Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

Photographer Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist Mindi Shapiro; Food Stylist Torie C

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (6)

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Recipe

A spiked caramel sauce makes this bread pudding truly spectacular. Resist the urge to stir the caramel as it cooks, and watch it closely. Once it starts to brown, it can easily turn too dark and become bitter.

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Praline Bread Pudding

Praline Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (7)

Credit: Hector Sanchez Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Praline Bread Pudding Recipe

Keep leftover French bread from going stale by re-purposing your loaf into a decadent praline pecan bread pudding. Finish with a drizzle of praline sauce and a dollop of whipped cream.

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Banana Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Banana Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (8)

Credit: Rachel Johnson

Banana Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe

Try this recipe the next time you have a leftover French loaf; the texture of bread pudding is better with day-old bread. You can also use fat-free fudge topping in place of the caramel topping.

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Spring Vegetable Bread Pudding Muffins

Spring Vegetable Bread Pudding Muffins image

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (9)

Credit: Kelsey Hansen;Prop Styling:Audrey Davis;Food Styling:Mark Driskill

Spring Vegetable Bread Pudding Muffins Recipe

These individual savory bread puddings are an amazing addition to any spring brunch menu. Bread pudding’s rich, comfort food quality is balanced here with vibrant spring flavors contributed by fresh mint, fresh dill, green peas, and baby spinach. We love the savory-salty goodness that pancetta delivers to this delicious side dish, but if you would prefer to keep these bread pudding muffins vegetarian-friendly, you can leave this ingredient out and cook the spinach and peas in olive oil. Preparing the bread pudding in muffin tins allows for easily-served individual portions, as well as loads of potential for creating a really pretty display. You can prepare these bread pudding muffins up to a day in advance—simply keep the muffins in the pan and wrap the pan in plastic wrap once it’s completely cool. Store them in the fridge until you’re ready to reheat and serve.

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Spinach, Cheese, and Bacon Bread Puddings

Spinach, Cheese, and Bacon Bread Puddings

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (10)

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Spinach, Cheese, and Bacon Bread Puddings Recipe

You just can’t go wrong with a savory bread pudding—think of it as a cross between holiday stuffing and a cheesy breakfast casserole. If you don’t have individual ramekins, place the bread mixture in an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. For a vegetarian spin, skip the bacon, sub vegetable stock for chicken stock, and add shiitake or cremini mushrooms to the onion mixture. Fontina cheese has a nutty depth that stands out in the bread mixture. Use any cheese you like—a similar cheese like Gruyère works beautifully.

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Orange Bread Pudding

Orange Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (11)

Orange Bread Pudding Recipe

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Chocolate Chunk Bread Puddings

Chocolate Chunk Bread Puddings

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (12)

Credit: Rachel Johnson

Chocolate Chunk Bread Puddings Recipe

Sweet Hawaiian bread, semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa , and Kahlúa give this bread pudding it’s sweetness and rich chocolate flavor.

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Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (13)

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce Recipe

Use Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Breadto make this flavorfull fall dessert.

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Irish Bread Pudding with Caramel-Whiskey Sauce

Irish Bread Pudding with Caramel-Whiskey Sauce

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (14)

Credit: Oxmoor House

Irish Bread Pudding with Caramel-Whiskey Sauce Recipe

Bread pudding with whiskey sauce is a delicious dessert inspired by the flavors of the Emerald Isle. Serve for St. Patrick’s Day or any other day you want to get in touch with your inner leprechaun.

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Apple Bread Pudding

Apple Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (15)

Credit: Helen Norman

Apple Bread Pudding Recipe

Serve this bread pudding family-style from a baking dish, or divide with a 3-inch round cutter for an elegant presentation.

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Peanut Butter-Banana Sandwich Bread Puddings With Dark Caramel Sauce

Peanut Butter-Banana Sandwich Bread Puddings With Dark Caramel Sauce

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (16)

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Peanut Butter-Banana Sandwich Bread Puddings With Dark Caramel Sauce Recipe

Peanut butter and bananas are natural dessert partners and even better when accompanied by caramel. Not only do you use peanut butter in the bread pudding mixture, but also in the sweet and crunchy streusel topping.

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Tiramisu Bread Pudding

Tiramisu Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (17)

Credit: Oxmoor House

Tiramisu Bread Pudding Recipe

Drizzled with a rich mascarpone sauce, this moist, coffee and Kahlúa-flavored bread pudding features the flavors of tiramisu, a favorite Italian dessert.

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Cinnamon Apple Raisin Bread Pudding

Cinnamon Apple Raisin Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (18)

Credit: Randy Mayor

Cinnamon Apple Raisin Bread Pudding Recipe

Make bread pudding even more special by using cinnamon bread and adding raisins and dried apple.

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Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (19)

Credit: Jim Franco; Styling: Lynda White

Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings Recipe

Combine canned pumpkin with bread cubes and a rich mixture of milk, sugar and cream to make a holiday-style bread pudding. Top it with a luscious nutty caramel sauce for even more decadence.

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Mango-Coconut Bread Pudding

Mango-Coconut Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (20)

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Mango-Coconut Bread Pudding Tout

Bread pudding goes tropical with this version featuring fresh mango, coconut and coconut milk. Add a splash of rum to the sauce if you dare.

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Blueberry Bread Pudding

Blueberry Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (21)

Blueberry Bread Pudding Recipe

This easy make-ahead dessert is a great way to use up your buckets of blueberries.

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Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce

Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (22)

Credit: Oxmoor House

Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

The layer of caramel sauce with just a touch of kosher salt is the secret to the velvety-rich interior of this pudding.

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Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)

Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (23)

Credit: Karry Hosford

Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding) Recipe

This Mexican bread pudding features layers of nuts, cheese, dried fruit, and bread drizzled with cinnamon-infused sugar syrup.

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Peach Bread Pudding

Peach Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (24)

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Peach Bread Pudding Recipe

Juicy, ripe peaches at the height of stone-fruit season shine in this great summer dessert. The brandy sauce makes it special, but it's also good for breakfast without the sauce.

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Chocolate and Caramel Bread Pudding

Chocolate and Caramel Bread Pudding

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (25)

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chocolate and Caramel Bread Pudding Recipe

We updated classic bread pudding by baking the bread in a chocolate-pudding mixture topped with chocolate-covered caramel candies.

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New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

mr - New Orleans Bread Pudding With Bourbon Sauce Reshoot

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (26)

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce Recipe

Enjoy the best of the Big Easy with this traditional New Orleans-style bread pudding. It tastes so decadent, no one will believe it's been lightened!

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Butternut Squash Bread Pudding with Tres Leches Sauce

Butternut Squash Bread Pudding with Tres Leches Sauce

Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (27)

Credit: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Butternut Squash Bread Pudding with Tres Leches Sauce Recipe

Feature fall favorite butternut squash in a rich bread pudding topped with a rich sauce made with sweetened milk and sugar.

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Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is my bread pudding so watery? ›

Not allowing it to rest after baking

Since bread pudding contains delicate ingredients like a custard base, the eggy mixture needs time to set after you remove it from the heat source; it is much looser in consistency while it is hot.

Do you eat bread pudding with a spoon or fork? ›

Advice: Ditch the fork – it's completely superfluous – and dig in with the spoon!

Do you heat up bread pudding or eat it cold? ›

Making Bread Pudding

It can be enjoyed straight out of the oven or cooled from the refrigerator (although I promise you, warmed-up is way better). I have also heard of a lot of people eating it as a breakfast dish, and I bet it is incredible with maple syrup and berries.

What is the best way to eat bread pudding? ›

Bread pudding makes a great brunch dish, served with fresh fruit compote. Or add a handful of chocolate chips before baking for a decidedly more decadent outcome.

How do I know when bread pudding is done? ›

Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Another way to judge whether the pudding is fully baked, is to gently press down on the center of the pudding. If any custard comes up to the top, the pudding needs to be baked a little longer.

How do you keep homemade pudding from getting watery? ›

Don't cover when it's still hot. Do not cover when the pudding is still hot, but should be covered when the pudding has cooled. This is to avoid the presence of steam which makes the pudding runny.

Should you refrigerate bread pudding? ›

Yes - it's basically a milk, egg, and sugar custard with bread (and possibly butter and flavorings) added. Milk and eggs spoil quickly at room temperature, so bread pudding should be refrigerated after it's done baking.

Is bread pudding supposed to be soggy? ›

Making perfect bread pudding

Since this is a custard dish, we need to treat it as such, thermally. We want bread that is moist throughout, not chewy and dry. And what we don't want from our custard is something that is either undercooked and runny (soggy milk bread anyone?) or overcooked and scrambled-eggy.

Is bread pudding made from old bread? ›

Bread pudding is indeed an old-fashioned dessert, a comforting way to use up stale bread. Any type of bread makes a neutral base for a flavorful custard; use day-old sliced whole-wheat, raisin or sourdough.

Is it OK to leave bread pudding out overnight? ›

Can bread pudding sit out overnight? Do not let your bread pudding sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours after it has been baked. You should make sure you eat it within 4 days.

Why do you use stale bread for bread pudding? ›

This stems from the fact that bread pudding was originally intended to be a way to give new life to bread that was a little stale, soaking it in a flavorful custard and baking it until it was moist and tender. French toast is the same idea, actually.

What can I do with stale bread? ›

There are many ways to use stale bread in recipes, including French onion soup or grinding stale bread into savory breadcrumbs for venison meatballs or stuffed bell peppers. Satisfy a sweet tooth with French toast with apples and pecan or a dessert like bread pudding and Apple Brown Betty.

Why does my bread pudding taste eggy? ›

You are probably cooking your egg dishes too hot for too long. Eggs contain a lot of water and also chains of proteins; if you could see them, the proteins would be coiled like little springs.

How to make pudding better? ›

Add more flavor

A teaspoon of vanilla extract can add richness to any pudding. A bit of espresso powder can make chocolate puddings taste more chocolaty—add more for a mocha flavor. You can stir in a bit of your favorite liqueur too.

Why do the English call bread pudding? ›

Bread pudding originated with 11th-century English cooks who repurposed leftover stale bread. In the following centuries, the dish became known as "poor man's pudding" because of the scarcity of food at the time, with the pudding being made only with boiling water, sugar, and spices.

Is bread pudding supposed to be runny? ›

So, suffice to say, we understand the importance of getting your bread pudding just right. One major problem that you may have come across is bread pudding that is just too wet. A good bread pudding needs to be moist with a custardy-like texture, but it should not be anywhere close to runny.

Will my pudding thicken when it cools? ›

Remove from heat. The pudding will thicken more as it cools.

Which ingredient causes the pudding to thicken? ›

A key ingredient in instant pudding is gelatinized starch, a dried instant starch that readily absorbs liquids, which causes the pudding to gel when mixed with milk. Additional ingredients sometimes used as a thickener include gums that are soluble in cold water, such as carrageenans and alginates.

What is the best thickener for pudding? ›

Measure an alternative starch-based thickener, such as arrowroot powder, tapioca powder or rice starch, and combine it with the sugar called for in your pudding recipe. These alternative starches are comparable to cornstarch in thickening power, and twice as potent as wheat flour, so measure accordingly.

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