Home > Desserts > BEST Bread Pudding BEST Bread Pudding December 16, 2023 | 4 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. This classic Bread Pudding recipe transforms leftover bread and basic pantry staples into an incredible dessert, complete with rich caramel sauce and a scoop of whipped cream. Or try our incredible Raspberry Bread Pudding! What Is Bread Pudding? Bread pudding is made by combining bread with a mixture of cream, sugar, and eggs, then baking it to achieve a texture similar to the creamy centers of French toast. The Best Bread Pudding Recipe Inspired by a bakery-famous recipe, this bread pudding recipe is our absolute favorite! My sister, who worked at this bakery, always raved about their bread pudding – a dessert known for its exceptionally sweet, caramel-infused flavor with hints of vanilla. This recipe delivers a delicious blend of creamy, custardy texture (like crème brûlée!) with a slightly crispy top. It’s a twist on the traditional British recipe, Americanized to be extra sweet. QUICK TIP Explore our other bakery-inspired recipes, like this Banana Pudding Recipe, adapted from the famous Magnolia Bakery or these Salted Caramel Cookies inspired by a local cookie shop. Ingredients in Bread Pudding Brioche Bread: Best when day-old for optimal custard absorption. Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and aids in caramelizing the top Egg Yolk: Creates a richer custard than whole eggs. Vanilla: Use extract for a classic flavor or vanilla bean paste for intensity. Salt: Enhances flavors, balances sweetness. Cinnamon: Optional for a hint of spice. Heavy Cream: Full-fat for creamy texture. Brown Sugar: Dark for deeper sweetness, light for milder. White Sugar: Sweetens and aids in caramelizing the top. How To Make Bread Pudding Preheat Oven: Set to 375°F (190°C). Prepare Bread: Quarter brioche slices. Make Custard: Whisk egg yolk, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, cream, and sugars in a bowl. Add melted butter. Combine: Soak bread in custard for 3 minutes. Assemble: Transfer to an 8×8-inch baking dish, press evenly. Bake: 40-45 minutes until golden and set. Serve: Rest briefly, then serve with your choice of toppings like powdered sugar, caramel sauce, whipped cream, or melted ice cream. Best Bread For Bread Pudding After testing just about every type of bread, brioche has remained our top choice. Grab quality bakery brioche for the best possible flavor. Is Bread Pudding good the next day? Yes, it can be quite delicious the next day. The flavors often meld and develop more fully. It’s best to reheat it gently, either in the oven or microwave, being careful to not dry it out. You may even enjoy it cold, straight from the refrigerator. What To Serve With Bread Pudding Powdered Sugar: Add a light dusting on top, using a fine mesh sieve. Caramel-Vanilla Sauce: A quick, stovetop sauce with rich vanilla and caramel flavors. Whipped Cream: Easily prepare homemade whipped cream for a light and fluffy topping. Creme Anglaise: A simple alternative is to use melted vanilla ice cream — its remarkably similar to traditional Creme Anglaise. Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Adds a cold, creamy contrast to the warm pudding. Recipe Tips Soak bread, making sure a slight pool of custard remains at the bowl’s bottom (this ensures the pudding won’t be dry). Bake until set but with a slight wobble to maintain moisture. Let the pudding rest before serving to achieve clean slices. STORAGE Storing Leftovers Cool completely after baking. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freezing Bread Pudding For freezing, bake in a foil pan. Cool, then wrap tightly with storage wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Freeze extra sauce separately. More Delicious Desserts: Apple Cobbler Cinnamon Bread Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Churros Mini Muffins (4 Different Ways!) FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Bread Pudding 5 from 5 votes - Review this recipe This classic Bread Pudding recipe transforms leftover bread and basic pantry staples into an incredible dessert, complete with rich caramel sauce and a scoop of whipped cream. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Bread Pudding 5 from 5 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe This classic Bread Pudding recipe transforms leftover bread and basic pantry staples into an incredible dessert, complete with rich caramel sauce and a scoop of whipped cream. Course Dessert, treat Cuisine American, Vegetarian Keyword bread pudding Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Cook Time 40 minutes minutes Total Time 55 minutes minutes Servings 12 servings Chelsea Lords Calories 620kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $8.24 Equipment8x8-inch pan (2-quart) IngredientsBread▢ 13 slices brioche bread, cut into quarters (Note 1)▢ 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted & cooledCustard▢ 1 large egg yolk (discard or save the whites)▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or 2 tsp vanilla bean paste)▢ 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional▢ 2 cups heavy cream▢ 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed (or use light)▢ 1/2 cup white sugarServing Options:▢ Sprinkle of powdered sugar▢ Caramel sauce (1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla)▢ Whipped Cream (1 cup heavy cream, 2-4 tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, tiny pinch of salt)▢ 1-ingredient "Creme Anglaise" (just grab 1 pint vanilla bean ice cream and melt it!)▢ Vanilla bean ice cream (we love Tillamook)US - Metric USMetric InstructionsPREP: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Set out an 8x8-inch (2-quart) baking dish.BREAD: Quarter the brioche slices. CUSTARD: In a large bowl, combine all custard ingredients. Whisk until smooth. Gradually drizzle in 3 tablespoons of the melted butter, whisking continuously. It's okay if the butter clumps slightly. COAT BREAD: Add the bread quarters to the custard. Gently fold to ensure each piece is coated. Let it stand for 3 minutes.BAKE: Transfer the bread and all the custard mixture into the baking dish. Press into an even layer. Use a pastry brush to brush (or drizzle it on) the remaining 2 tbsp. of melted butter evenly on top. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top is lightly golden and the center is set but slightly wobbly. Be careful not to over-bake. SERVE: Rest for a few minutes then serve with one of the below options (our fave is option 2!):Optional 1: Sprinkle powdered sugar on top and enjoy as isOption 2: Prepare caramel sauce (add everything to a small pot over medium-low heat and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and whisk). Prepare whipped cream (combine everything in a stand mixer and whisk until soft peaks form). Spoon whipped cream over warm bread pudding then drizzle caramel sauce on top.Option 3: Creme anglaise: when starting to prepare the dessert, set out pint of ice cream and allow to fully melt. Stir then drizzle over bread pudding.Option 4: Serve with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Recipe NotesNote 1: Opt for bakery-quality brioche bread for the best results – the quality of bread enhances the pudding! Use approximately 15-1/2 ounces or 13 slices, each cut about 3/4 inch thick, amounting to about 10 cups when gently packed. Nutrition FactsServing: 1serving | Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 103.4g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 50.7mg | Sodium: 961.9mg | Fiber: 3.4g | Sugar: 32g We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I like this recipe with all types of bread. Each kind of bread creates a slightly different taste. Reply
