Our Best Bread Pudding Recipes (2024)

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Hazel WheatonUpdated: Feb. 28, 2024

From new bread pudding flavors to the classics, these bread pudding recipes are beautiful takes on the comforting Old World dessert.

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Bread Pudding with Nutmeg

I always make this bread pudding recipe for my dad on his birthday and on holidays. He says it tastes exactly like the bread pudding with nutmeg he enjoyed as a child. —Donna Powell, Montgomery City, Missouri

Also, if you’re using pudding mix, learn how to makeinstant pudding better and homemade.

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Best Ever Bread Pudding

The secret to incredible bread pudding with a soft middle and crisp edges starts with leftover dinner rolls. I picked up the rich brown sugar sauce recipe from my friend Kathryn Gartmann. A big drizzle of it takes this dessert over the top and really makes it the best bread pudding ever. —Maria Petrella, Taste of Home Prep Cook

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Lemon Bread Pudding

Sweet raisins and a smooth hot lemon sauce make this bread pudding extra special. Even today, I get requests for the recipe from people who tasted this traditional dessert years ago. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

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TMB Studio

Over-the-Top Blueberry Bread Pudding

This delicious southern blueberry bread pudding boasts out-of-this-world flavor and eye appeal. You just may want to skip the main course and go straight to dessert. It’s a favorite for our summer celebrations. —Marilyn Haynes, Sylacauga, Alabama

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Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

This apple bread pudding with caramel sauce has been in my life for a long time. It’s a family fave and always on my buffet when I put together a brunch. It’s also special enough for dinner dessert. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California

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Taste of Home

Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Pudding

This rich bread pudding recipe goes together in minutes. There’s plenty of old-fashioned flavor, so it’s sure to become a favorite! —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana

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Slow-Cooked Bread Pudding

This warm and hearty dessert is perfect on any cold, blustery winter evening. And the slow cooker fills your kitchen with an amazing aroma. My stomach is growling just thinking about it! —Maiah Albi, Carlsbad, California

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Taste of Home

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Old-fashioned but never out of style, I got this favorite pumpkin recipe from an elderly aunt. —Lois Fetting, Nelson, Wisconsin

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Cherry Upside-Down Bread Pudding

I've always loved bread pudding, and I enjoy fixing this for my family on a chilly day. You could use a different flavor of pie filling and omit the chocolate chips to make a completely different dessert. It's always delicious! —Ronna Farley, Rockville, Maryland

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Ultimate Chocolate Bread Pudding

When I really want to impress guests, I serve this decadent bread pudding. With just a few staple ingredients—bread, eggs, sugar and chocolate—I'm able to turn out this masterpiece in no time! —Erin Chilcoat, Smithtown, New York

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Chai-Spiced Bread Pudding

Nothing says the holidays to me more than the warming spices of chai. This bread pudding incorporates those flavors to make a dessert that everyone raves about. —Jessie Apfe, Berkeley, California

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Banana Bread Pudding

When I visited my grandmother in summer, I always looked forward to the comforting banana bread pudding she'd make. With its crusty golden top, custard-like inside and smooth vanilla sauce, this pudding is a real homespun dessert. Now I make it for my grandchildren. —Mary Detweiler, Middlefield, Ohio

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Sweet Orange Croissant Pudding

Time-crunched cooks are sure to appreciate the make-ahead convenience of this delightful dish. Feel free to replace the orange marmalade with any jam or jelly that suits your taste.—Mary L. Gabriel, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Black Forest Panettone Pudding

My chocolate-cherry bread pudding uses Panettone, the holiday bread people often receive but aren't sure how to use. I make a glorious sauce for it using ice cream. —Devon Delaney, Westport, Connecticut

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Taste of Home

Coconut Mango Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

All the fun flavors of Puerto Rico come together in a dessert that's both exotic and familiar. Topped with a brown sugar rum sauce, it's even better with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. —Jennifer Jackson, Keller, Texas

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Chocolate Croissant Pudding

This new twist on traditional bread pudding is a decadent and delicious family favorite! —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

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Taste of Home

Apple-Nut Bread Pudding

Traditional bread pudding gives way to autumn's influences in this comforting dessert. I add apples and pecans to this slow-cooked version, then top warm servings with ice cream. —Lori Fox, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

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Taste of Home

Caribbean Bread Pudding

A completely unexpected dessert from the slow cooker, my bread pudding is loaded with wonderful tropical flavors. I like to garnish it with a slice of fresh pineapple, whipped cream and a cherry—just like a pina colada! —Elizabeth Doss, California City, California

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Eggnog Bread Pudding with Cranberries

My parents love this bread pudding loaded with cranberries and pecans – and it uses up leftover dinner rolls. For eggnog lovers, it makes a divine dessert. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri

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Taste of Home

Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

There's nothing better than this comforting bread pudding recipe on a cold, wintry day. The bourbon sauce makes the dessert taste special, but it's so easy to prepare—the slow cooker does most of the work! —Hope Johnson, Youngwood, Pennsylvania

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Butterscotch-Pecan Bread Pudding

Bread pudding fans just might hoard this yummy butterscotch version. Toppings like whipped cream and a butterscotch drizzle make this dessert absolutely irresistible. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

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Taste of Home

Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Pudding

A slow cooker turns day-old cinnamon rolls into a comforting, old-fashioned dessert. It tastes wonderful topped with lemon or vanilla sauce or whipped cream. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana

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Taste of Home

Cranberry Bread Pudding

This down-home dessert takes on a touch of elegance when I serve it warm and drizzled with a thin orange custard sauce. It's so pretty that I often make it for dinner guests using either fresh or frozen cranberries. —Margery Richmond, Fort Collins, Colorado

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Taste of Home

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread Pudding

Savor your favorite fall flavors with this scrumptious bread pudding, served warm with a sweet vanilla sauce. Yum! —Judith Bucciarelli, Johnson, New York

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Toffee-Pear Crisp Bread Pudding

My son loves pear crisp, but one night I was making bread pudding. He asked if I could make both. I compromised by combining two desserts into this one dish. It's absolutely fantastic! —Kurt Wait, Redwood City, California

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Bagel Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

I worked in a health club where bagels arrived daily, so I experimented with leftovers. I wasn’t a bread pudding fan until I tried it with bagels. —Kathy Hawkins, Gurnee, Illinois

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Taste of Home

Croissant Pudding with Chocolate Kahlua Sauce

These custards puff up slightly while baking, creating beautiful, golden crowns. Kahlua brings a mild coffee flavor to the heavenly chocolate sauce.—Cheryl Tucker, Houston, Texas

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Taste of Home

French Toast Casserole

Topped with cinnamon and sugar, this overnight French toast casserole is my favorite way to make this breakfast favorite. Since you assemble this baked French toast the night before, you save time in the morning, and if you have an extra hungry crowd, it's easy to bake up a few batches. —Sharyn Adams, Crawfordsville, Indiana

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TMB studio

Raisin Date Bread Pudding

All my leftover bread ends (raisin bread is a favorite in this house) and buns go in the freezer. Then, when I've stashed away enough, I whip up a batch of this pudding. It's an all-occasion dish—I've made it for holidays, potlucks, picnics...for any occasion or no occasion! —Dawn Green, Hopkins, Michigan

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Taste of Home

Dark Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

Croissants make an incredible base for this rich, chocolaty bread pudding. I prefer dark chocolate, but semisweet or white chocolate work too. Garnish with your favorite nuts. —Jennifer Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California

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Banana Bread Pudding

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Taste of Home

Maple French Toast Bake

This yummy French toast casserole is a breeze to whip up the night before a busy morning. My family loves the richness it gets from cream cheese and maple syrup. —Cindy Steffen, Cedarburg, Wisconsin

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Taste of Home

Spiced Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

What a sweet way to start your morning! It’s perfect for the holidays, but we enjoy it year-round. Prep the evening before, and in the morning you can pop this in the oven and have a delicious breakfast in no time! —Joanne Wessel, Greenwood, Indiana

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Originally Published: November 01, 2021

Hazel Wheaton

Hazel is a writer and editor who has worked in the publishing industry for over 25 years in the fields of travel, jewelry arts and food. As the editor of the Taste of Home Christmas Annual (among other titles), she's in the holiday spirit all year round. An enthusiastic baker, she's known for her cookies, cakes and other baked goods. And she still wishes she could cook like her mother.

FAQs

Why is my bread pudding soggy in the middle? ›

Temperature Is Key

Finally, to avoid overcooking it, it's important to know when it's done. To check the inside to see if all the liquid has been absorbed, insert a knife into the middle of the pudding and create a small hole by pushing the bread to the side: If liquid begins oozing into the hole, it's not yet ready.

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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.

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

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

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

Whether you've got a whole bread pudding in the freezer or a piece leftover in the fridge, when it comes to reheating there are two options: microwave or oven. In either situation, what's most important is warming the dessert without drying it out. You also have the option of eating it cold ...

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How do you 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.

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How do you keep pudding moist? ›

Cooking and storing

After you have steamed and cooled your pudding, replace the foil with a freshly buttered piece to keep it moist and store in a cool, dark place, or the fridge, until you are ready to reheat it on Christmas day.

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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.

Why did my bread pudding come out 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.

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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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Are you supposed to refrigerate bread pudding? ›

Bread pudding is best served right away after it's finished baking. However, leftovers can be kept for up to 5 days refrigerated and can be reheated in the microwave. To reheat, warm individual portions in 1-minute bursts in the microwave until warmed through.

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Can you leave bread pudding on the counter? ›

Milk and eggs spoil quickly at room temperature, so bread pudding should be refrigerated after it's done baking.

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.

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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.

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How long is bread pudding good in the fridge? ›

Store leftover bread pudding in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bread pudding can also be frozen for up to three months. Store leftover bread pudding in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days for the best results.

Why should you let bread cool? ›

While that might be great for preventing a burnt mouth, your bread loses moisture when all that steam rushes out at once, per Food 52. Letting the steam seep out naturally, over a greater length of time (aka letting it cool down) helps you avoid ending up with a dry loaf tomorrow.

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Why is my homemade bread gooey in the middle? ›

Air circulating around the loaf allows the steam built up inside the bread to evaporate. If the bread is kept in its baking pan, it will become soggy and look and taste doughy. If the bread has not finished baking by the maximum time indicated in the recipe, the oven thermostat may be off.

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Should bread pudding be jiggly? ›

When prepared properly, this bread pudding should not be soggy. Yes, it is technically a custard, so it will have some jiggle when it's warm, but it should not be wet or soggy. The key is to make sure your bread is nice and stale.

Why is my bread dipping in the middle? ›

Some ovens run hotter than its settings, some cooler. If the oven is too hot the loaf will be brown and crispy on the outside but doughy in the middle and may collapse as it cools. When bread is baked at too low a temperature it will not rise enough in the oven resulting in a dense and sunken loaf.