Bread Pudding (Easy Homemade Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (2024)

For this classic Bread Pudding, challah bread is soaked in a rich custard spiked with spiced rum and vanilla, and baked until golden. It’s a great make-ahead dessert, and wonderful with ice cream!

Bread pudding is proof that some of the most delicious things are also the easiest.

Bread Pudding (Easy Homemade Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (1)

Like Creme Brulee, bread pudding is a dessert that anyone can pull off. Heck, my toddler could probably make it.

Because it’s so easy and so deliciously comforting, it’s a good option to make for many occasions, whether it’s the holidays, or a special weekend dinner.

My little brother is obsessed with bread pudding, and has requested we make it for every holiday and any other excuse that could possibly suffice.

In other words: we’ve tried bread puddings of all kinds. It’s a family favorite and a beloved dish.

I’ve made chocolate bread pudding, fruity bread puddings, and have experimented with various breads and flavorings in the custard.

Bread Pudding (Easy Homemade Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (2)

But this is my favorite version of all for this classic dessert.

It’s a pretty classic rendition, and is flavored with a subtle spiced rum and raisin combination. It has simple ingredients but delivers fantastic results.

What Kind of Bread to Use

I like challah here since it’s easy to find, has a slightly sweet flavor, and a light and fluffy texture. However, you could also use brioche or cinnamon bread.

I do not recommend french bread or anything really crusty. Think soft and buttery type white bread, with a rich crumb.

Step by Step Overview:

Prep the Bread:

For a proper bread pudding, you need to stale the bread first, so the bread can absorb the custard.

For best results, I do this by cutting fresh bread into cubes, then leaving it out overnight, uncovered.

Bread Pudding (Easy Homemade Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (3)

If you’re in a hurry, you can also bake the bread in a 300F oven for about 10 minutes, to dry out the bread. Be careful you don’t brown it. You’re only looking for stale bread where there’s less moisture than usual.

Prepare the Custard:

To make the custard mixture, whisk to combine large eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and spiced rum in a large bowl:

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Toss the bread into the egg milk mixture, and also add some dried raisins:

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Let the Bread Soak:

Let the bread sit in the creamy custard for 15 minutes, to gently absorb the liquid, and toss very gently when redistributing the bread.

Get Ready to Bake:

Pour the bread mixture from the large mixing bowl into a baking dish of your choice, set on a large baking sheet for easy oven transfer:

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I’m technically using a 10″ diameter quiche dish(affiliate) because I think it’s pretty, but pretty much any baking vessel can be used.

You can bake in individual ramekins for single-serving portions, or bake it all in an 8×8 dish. Just make sure you keep your eye on it, and bake for less time in the single serving dishes.

Bake the bread pudding in a 350 F oven for just under an hour, until it still glistens in the center, but has crusty, golden brown edges on top.

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If at any point the bread is browning too quickly, move the baking tray down a shelf in the oven, or cover loosely with aluminum foil.

Once baking is done, as the dish cools, it will “deflate” slightly and settle down further:

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The raisins should now be juicy and plump, and the bread and custard will have combined into a new texture that’s creamy and rich. That’s the perfect bread pudding!

Serving Suggestions

Warm bread pudding is best, so try to serve promptly out of the oven. Room temperature is okay too. I do not recommend serving cold.

It’s great as is, but you can also add a Caramel Sauce, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a vanilla sauce to make it extra special.

Baklava and Peanut Butter Pie are some of my favorite make-ahead desserts for special occasions. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and FAQ

How do you store leftover bread pudding?

This keeps best in the fridge for up to 5 days, but it can also be frozen. Store in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out.

Can you freeze bread pudding?

Yes, for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container.

Can you add fresh fruit?

Because it tends to be watery, I don’t recommend it. It’s better to add something like a raspberry sauce or dried fruit where the flavor is more concentrated.

Recipe Variations

This is an easy bread pudding recipe to change the ingredients up. I recommend trying it as written at least once, but feel free to experiment with mix-ins and flavors.

Chocolate chips – Change the raisins for semisweet chocolate chips or the chocolate of your choice.

Dried fruit – While raisins are classic, you may use your favorite dried fruit in its place. Try dried cherries or dried blueberries.

Extracts and Zest – You may add other flavor extracts or citrus zests like orange or lemon to the egg mixture. I recommend no more than two teaspoons total.

Maple syrup – Swap the rum for pure maple syrup for a different flavor and kind of sweetness.

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Or, follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!

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Easy Bread Pudding

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 55 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Sweet bread is cubed and soaked in a rich custard spiked with spiced rum and vanilla, and baked until golden. It’s a great make-ahead dessert!

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Ingredients

  • 8 cups cubed challah bread* slightly stale
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 eggs**
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp dark spiced rum
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • In a large bowl, whisk to combine the heavy cream, milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and rum. It should be a gorgeous mocha color.

  • Add the stale bread cubes and raisins, toss gently, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Toss the bread halfway through so the cubes can evenly soak up the liquid.

  • Pour all of the liquid and bread cubes into an 8×8 baking dish***, keeping in mind it will look like too much liquid, but it’s not. It will absorb during baking.

  • Bake for 50-60 minutes, until it has set and soaked up the liquid. It should be golden on the edges, but still glisten a bit in the center.

  • Serve as is, or with ice cream, a dusting of powdered sugar, or chocolate sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

*This is about half of a 20-ounce loaf. I buy mine at TJ’s. You can also use brioche.

**Large and extra large both work.

***You can also bake in individual ramekins, but reduce baking time drastically, and start checking after 30 minutes. You can also do a 10″ quiche dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 387kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 127mg, Sodium: 222mg, Potassium: 275mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 670IU, Vitamin C: 0.8mg, Calcium: 156mg, Iron: 1.9mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Fifteen Spatulas

Post updated in December 2020. Originally published inJanuary 2012.

Bread Pudding (Easy Homemade Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (2024)

FAQs

Why do you use stale bread for bread pudding? ›

In olden days when bread pudding first became a thing, it was a way to use up the old bread without it going to waste. But even today, you'll see how fresh and moist stale bread becomes in this recipe.

Why does my bread pudding deflate? ›

Not allowing it to rest after baking

It is usual for bread pudding to somewhat collapse when it goes from the oven to the room temperature air, but you surely don't want to further contribute to it becoming flat. Therefore, don't dish it out too quickly.

Can bread pudding be reheated? ›

You can slice it and freeze it as well. To reheat it, you can reheat it in the microwave which is easier. But it might be a little soggy. But if you want the top to be a little crisp, then you can heat it in the oven or toaster oven.

What is pudding in bakery? ›

pudding, any of several foods whose common characteristic is a relatively soft, spongy, and thick texture. In the United States, puddings are nearly always sweet desserts of milk or fruit juice variously flavoured and thickened with cornstarch, arrowroot, flour, tapioca, rice, bread, or eggs.

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.

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.

How wet should my bread pudding be? ›

Let's get one thing straight right from the start though: bread pudding shouldn't be soggy. The top should be golden and firm (mine has a nice slightly crunchy texture from turbinado sugar) and the remainder should be moist, soft, and slightly springy.

How are you supposed to eat bread pudding? ›

Made with basic pantry ingredients and some day-old bread (try a rich egg bread or a moist white loaf), this easy recipe can be served for breakfast or dessert with milk poured over top or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Can you freeze homemade bread pudding? ›

The pudding can be assembled a day ahead and then stored in the fridge until needed. It is possible to freeze assembled but unbaked bread and butter puddings. Wrap the dish tightly in a double layer of clingfilm (plastic wrap) and a layer of foil and freeze for up to 3 months.

Is bread pudding supposed to be soggy? ›

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 -- it is made from custard, after all -- but it should not be anywhere close to runny.

What is an Irish pudding? ›

This humble pudding made from pork fat and blood and sometimes oatmeal or barley were originally made to sell at local markets, to supplement the income of the farm. It also fed the family as part of a traditional breakfast with home-produced rashers and sausages. Ireland has raised black pudding to culinary heights.

What are the 3 types of pudding? ›

Baked, steamed, and boiled puddings

These puddings are baked, steamed, or boiled. Depending on its ingredients, such a pudding may be served as a part of the main course or as a dessert. Steamed pies consisting of a filling completely enclosed by suet pastry are also known as puddings.

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.

What does stale bread do? ›

Staling, or "going stale", is a chemical and physical process in bread and similar foods that reduces their palatability. Stale bread is dry and hard, making it suitable for different culinary uses than fresh bread. Countermeasures and destaling techniques may reduce staling.

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.

Why is stale bread better? ›

Then they tested ground-up samples and found the stale crumbs had higher levels of resistant starch than fresh bread. When gut bacteria feed off these starches, researchers said, they convert them to fatty acids, which protect against bowel cancer.

Why does my bread pudding curdle? ›

Why does my Bread and Butter pudding curdle? - Quora. It sounds like it was cooked too fast at too high a temperature. Custard needs to be heated slowly, or it will curdle.

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