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    Home » Dessert Recipes

    Bread Pudding Recipe

    Modified: Jul 26, 2022 · Published: Oct 12, 2020 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    287 shares
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    Bread pudding is traditionally considered to be one of those easy desserts everyone loves, but it is so filling and delicious that I often will have it for breakfast. This Bread Pudding Recipe is a great way to use any leftover bread that is getting stale.

    I used dried cranberries to give it a little extra punch of flavor, but raisins work well too. You can even try it with chocolate chips! Top it with some caramel sauce and you are ready for a party in your mouth.

    Bread pudding is traditionally considered to be a dessert, but it is so filling and delicious, you can have it for breakfast. This bread pudding recipe from Mess for Less is super easy and is a great way to use any leftover bread.

    Why this easy bread pudding recipe is awesome

    • Great way to use leftover bread
    • Can be a breakfast or dessert
    • Easy to personalize just by swapping out ingredients
    bread pudding with caramel sauce

    Ingredients

    • French bread
    • melted butter
    • dried cranberries
    • eggs
    • milk
    • white sugar
    • vanilla
    • cinnamon
    • brown sugar
    • caramel sauce (this one from Ghirardelli is AMAZING!)

    How to make easy bread pudding

    You'll want to preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

    Spray an 8x8 pan with cooking spray.

    Tear bread into bite sized pieces and place in the pan, filling it up. This is a great job for kids and a great way to work off stress. There is something so stress relieving about ripping up chunks of bread!

    You may end up using the whole loaf or just a portion of it depending on the size of the loaf. I usually use ¾ of a loaf of French bread.

    torn bread in a pan

    Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl and drizzle over the bread in the pan, trying to cover as much of the bread as possible.

    pouring butter on torn bread in a pan

    Sprinkle the bread with the dried cranberries. You can also use raisins or chocolate chips. Chopped nuts add a nice texture as well.

    bread pudding with dried cranberries

    Add eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon to a medium mixing bowl. Beat together until the eggs have been fully incorporated.

    bread pudding batter in a bowl

    Pour the egg mixture over the bread, making sure to cover all the bread evenly.

    pouring egg mixture over bread pudding

    Sprinkle the brown sugar on top. This adds a delightful crunch and sweetness to the bread pudding.

    bread pudding with brown sugar

    Bake in a 350 degree oven preheated oven for 45 minutes.

    bread pudding with cranberries

    If the top gets too browned, you can add some foil to the top for the remainder of the cook time. I like a little crunch on the top, so I don't cover it.

    bread pudding with cranberries

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you serve bread pudding?

    This bread pudding is best served warm with a a drizzle of caramel sauce. I like to put the caramel sauce on after the pudding is on the plate and when it is ready to be served. About ¼ cup of caramel sauce should work for 12 servings of bread pudding.

    You can also serve bread pudding cold or at room temperature.

    How long does bread pudding last?

    In the refrigerator, bread pudding will last for 1-2 days. I wouldn't push it past that, as the bread tends to get hard and dry even when heated up.

    What kind of bread should I use for bread pudding?

    I like a French bread, but have used a brioche in the past and that works well too. If you are planning to make bread pudding, I've found that it works best with bread that is a day or two old.

    bread pudding with caramel sauce

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    📖 Recipe

    Bread Pudding

    Vicky
    Bread pudding is traditionally considered to be a dessert, but it is so filling and delicious I often will have it for breakfast. It just depends on your taste. The bread pudding recipe I'm going to share today is super easy and is a great way to use any leftover bread that is getting stale.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine English
    Servings 12
    Calories 261 kcal

    Video

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 loaf French bread
    • 2 tablespoons melted butter
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • 3 eggs
    • 3 cups milk
    • ¾ cup white sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup caramel sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Spray and 8x8 pan with cooking spray.
    • Tear bread into bite sized pieces and place in the pan, filling it up. You may end up using the whole loaf or just a portion of it depending on the size of the loaf.
    • Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl and drizzle over bread in the pan.
    • Sprinkle the bread with the dried cranberries.
    • Add eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon to a medium mixing bowl. Beat together.
    • Pour the egg mixture over the bread making sure to cover all the bread evenly.
    • Sprinkle the brown sugar on top.
    • Bake in a 350 degree oven preheated oven for 45 minutes. If the top gets too browned, you can add some foil to the top for the remainder of the cook time.

    Notes

    This nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using online calculators. Your nutritional information may vary depending on numerous factors.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 261kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 7gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 248mgPotassium: 148mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 221IUCalcium: 98mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword bread pudding
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Liz says

      October 12, 2020 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      what a great recipe! I haven't made bread pudding in years so this makes me want to make it right away! Bookmarking this and making soon!

      Reply
    2. Andrea Metlika says

      October 12, 2020 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      This is a totally drool worthy bread pudding. Really like the addition of cranberries too.

      Reply
    3. Nart at Cooking with Nart says

      October 12, 2020 at 8:17 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so delicous and easy to make. Count me in for anything with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar!

      Reply
    4. Sharon says

      October 12, 2020 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      I love how easy this bread pudding is to make! I also love the addition of the dried cranberries which makes this dish great for the holidays.

      Reply
    5. Elaine says

      October 12, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      This bread pudding is just what I have been looking for to make over the weekend. It looks absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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