Bread pudding is a simple, easy dessert made with fluffy white bread and simple, everyday ingredients. It’s an old-fashioned recipe that your whole family will love.
Ooey, gooey warm bread pudding is a classic dessert recipe! Just like our famous peach cobbler, this recipe is served warm and is especially delicious with ice cream and caramel syrup
Easy Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is such a comforting, cozy dessert. It has a delicious hint of cinnamon and creamy flavor. You can add in raisins or chopped pecans – but I like it best served with a drizzle of caramel sauce and ice cream.
It’s similar to French toast casserole, only it’s creamier, sweeter, and a little gooier – which makes it perfect for dessert.
What is bread pudding? Bread pudding is an old-fashioned dessert made from cubes of day-old bread. The bread gets soaked in a simple custard mixture made from eggs, milk, sugar, and a little cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s then baked in a big roasting pan until the top is golden and the middle is still slightly gooey.
It tastes warm, cozy, and completely addicting. And it’s definitely proof that you don’t need fancy ingredients or equipment to make a super tasty dessert.
How to Make Bread Pudding
This recipe seriously couldn’t be easier to make.
- I like to start with slightly stale, white fluffy bread. When the bread is a little stale I find it holds up to an extra soaking of the custard mixture. Any kind of thick cut, white bread works well – I typically opt for brioche or challah bread. Slice the bread into cubes, then place in a greased 9×13 inch casserole pan.
- To make the custard-like sauce, whisk 6 large eggs. Then whisk in 1 cup sugar, 4 cups whole milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and ½ teaspoon nutmeg. I like to use whole milk because it makes it extra creamy & delicious.
- Then pour the egg mixture over top of the bread, giving it a stir as necessary so that all bread is coated. At this point, you can also toss in ½ cup raisins or ½ cup chopped pecans.
- Let the pudding sit for 20 minutes before baking. This allows the bread to soak up all the milk.
- Then bake the mixture in your preheated oven at 350F for 40-45 minutes. I like to bake it for the first 20 minutes with the pan covered with aluminum foil, then uncovered for the last 20 minutes so that the top doesn’t get too brown.
Can you make bread pudding ahead of time? You can prepare the pudding in advance (up to 12 hours before enjoying). Cover the pan with aluminum foil, and place in the fridge. Then when you’re ready to enjoy – pop it in the preheated oven.
How to make THE sauce:
To make things easier, we typically serve bread pudding with caramel syrup and ice cream, but you can also make a homemade bread pudding sauce.
Our favorite is a vanilla sauce that is made by whisking together ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 ¼ cups milk, and 1 tablespoon vanilla in a pot. You will cook this for about 10 minutes, whisking the whole time.
The sauce will thicken up and be delicious poured over this bread pudding.
STORING, REHEATING + FREEZING
How to store/reheat bread pudding? Place in an air-tight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. Be sure to cover well since it’s typically already dry and you don’t want it to dry out even more.
You can reheat in the oven or microwave, but be sure it reaches an internal temp of 165. If you want the top crisp, we recommend broiling for the last minute.
How to freeze bread pudding? Cover tightly and place in fridge for 3-4 months. Be sure to let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. If it’s lost too much moisture we recommend adding a bit of caramel sauce or heavy cream before reheating.
This bread pudding is so delicious as a simple dessert recipe, or an extra decadent breakfast. It proves that you only need a few everyday ingredients to make a delicious treat, and everyone always wants a second helping!
For more yummy recipes, check out:
Bread Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large loaf white bread I typically use an 18 oz loaf
- 6 large eggs
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- butter for greasing the pan
Instructions
- Grease a 3-quart (9x13 inch) casserole pan.
- Cut the bread into cubes and place in the greased pan.
- In a very large bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Then whisk in the sugar, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, & nutmeg.
- Pour the egg mixture over top of the bread, tossing the bread as necessary so that it's all covered in the egg mixture.
- Allow the pudding to sit for 20 minutes so that the bread soaks up the egg mixture. As you wait, preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Let it cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing into pieces and serving.
So delicious- especially served warm!
I love Bread Pudding! Especially with Vanilla Ice Cream!!
Nothing better than homemade bread pudding. So taSty and not hard to put together. Its one of my husbands favorite desserts.
I did not know how much I would like this, but I’ve got to say..it was so good!! I loved the flavor & it wasn’t hard to make!
I have never made bread pudding before. This was super easy and really good! i will be making it again!
I have to admit the name “bread pudding” never appealed to me, but once i actually gave your recipe a try (the Photos looked delicious) i was glad i did!
This is delicious. i think in days long past, women invented this recipe to use up stale bread that they had no matter what kind. i’ve made bread pudding with every kind of bread thrown in you can think of and it has always come out great. i’ve eve thrown in dried out donuts and cinnamon rolls. they only enhance the flavor. bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts. marie
Thank you for sharing that! And, you are probably right 🙂
I used to make bread pudding when I was a teenager. I remember baking it inside a larger dish with water so it would steam. I can not find a recipe like that. I’ll try yours though because your recipes never fail to be delicious. 😁
Thanks so much for trying it out! 🙂
This is a terrific recipe for a great classic!
I know what I will be making for dessert tonight! This looks amazing!
This is my mother in law’s favorite dessert. I can’t wait to impress her with this the next time she comes over for dinner. Thank you!!
Amazing bread pudding recipe! Thank you for this delicious dessert!
Such a droolworthy, perfect dessert!~
I purchased Cinnabon Bread Pudding in Emporium Mall lahore and really enjoyed them. These Bread Pudding are quite delicious and very unique in flavor.
That sounds yum! I hope you give this one a try!
ALmost every RESTAURANT my father goes to he orders their bread pudding. This is his favorite dessert. As he is eating it, he will rate the taste. Most times, he is not happy. When i made this bread pudding, all he could do is rave over how DELICIOUS it was as he ate it, “saying, this is one of the best puddings i have ever eaten!”
What a nice compliment!! Please, tell him Thank you!
Cant get any better the this! Nice and simple oh an delicious.
So happy you think so 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
Making this recipe has saved my sanity …. Thank you!!!
LOL..glad it has!! Thank you!
This is now my “go to” comfort food recipe – easy and delicious! Thank you so much!!!
You are so welcome! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
Trying this recipe for the first time tomorrow, but I’d love to hear from someone who has made it already…how does the vanilla topping sauce compare to caramel? Thanks for your help!
I made this for my husband, I will try it for the first time and let you know he loves it…..❤️
Yes, please do! We’d love to hear how he liked the recipe.
Could this be made ahead and kept in fridge to bake later so I can serve warm?
You bet! You can prepare the pudding in advance (up to 12 hours before enjoying). Cover the pan with aluminum foil, and place in the fridge. Then when you’re ready to enjoy – pop it in the preheated oven.