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Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding

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  • Prep 15 min
  • Total 60 min
  • Servings 8
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Our bread pudding recipe is the ultimate comfort food, loved for generations! Buttery cinnamon custard sauce is baked with bread cubes and plump, juicy raisins, for an easy and satisfying end to any meal.
Updated Nov 30, 2023
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What Is Bread Pudding?

Our best bread pudding recipe gets a 5-star rating from our fans! It’s a great way to use up leftover bread and is a budget-friendly, comforting dessert. A simple cinnamon custard mixture is baked with bread cubes and raisins into a dessert casserole with both toasted edges and soft, custardy parts. No wonder it’s a beloved classic!

How Do You Serve Bread Pudding?

Traditionally, our best bread pudding is served with heavy whipping cream poured over the top. The rich, dairy flavor brings out the flavor of the cinnamon and raisins. You could also top servings with sweetened whipped cream or ice cream.

What Kind of Bread is Best for Bread Pudding?

Soft breads such as Italian, baguette or sourdough or croissants are the best choices for bread pudding, as they are sturdy enough to not break apart when tossed with the other ingredients and baked. Day-old sandwich bread, either plain, whole wheat, or cinnamon raisin bread could also be used. If fresh, they would fall apart, but being a day old, some of the moisture from them evaporates—making them perfect for the bread pudding. It’s a great way to use up old bread and not let bread go to waste!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups soft bread cubes (about 6 slices bread)
  • 1/2 cup raisins, if desired
  • Whipping (heavy) cream, if desired

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 350°F. In 2-quart saucepan, heat milk and butter over medium heat until butter is melted and milk is hot.
  • 2
    In large bowl, mix eggs, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Stir in bread cubes and raisins. Stir in milk mixture. Pour into ungreased 1 1/2-quart casserole.
  • 3
    Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from edge comes out clean. Serve warm with whipping cream.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    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.
  • tip 2
    Add a layer of flavor by adding 1/2 cup dried fruit such as dried cherries, sweetened dried cranberries, chopped figs or apricots with the raisins. The chewy texture will add a flavor and texture contrast to the tender, soft texture of the bread pudding.
  • tip 3
    Play with how you season the custard in this bread pudding recipe. Sweet spices are traditional, but you could take a savory turn with a few dashes of ground coriander, crushed fennel or anise seed. In combination with some cinnamon, they make for an intriguing dessert.
  • tip 4
    For an indulgent treat, skip the raisins and substitute chunks of dark chocolate or white baking chips with the bread cubes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the milk heated before adding to the bread cubes?

Heating the milk not only melts the butter at the same time, but begins to soak into the bread, from the moment it touches it, for the best bread pudding texture once baked.

Why do I test the bread pudding near the edge?

If you waited until the knife came out clean in the center of this traditional bread pudding recipe, it would be overdone. Testing 1 inch from the edge will mean the center isn’t quite set, but the casserole is done without being too dry.

Nutrition

200 Calories, 9g Total Fat, 5g Protein, 25g Total Carbohydrate

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
200
Calories from Fat
80
Total Fat
9g
Saturated Fat
3g
Cholesterol
60mg
Sodium
280mg
Total Carbohydrate
25g
Dietary Fiber
0g
Protein
5g
% Daily Value*:
Iron
4%
4%
Exchanges:
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Back in 13th century England, bread pudding was called “poor man’s pudding,” since it was made from stale or leftover pieces of bread. How times have changed! Now, smart home cooks who want to reduce food waste rely on this bread pudding recipe to help them create a delicious dish from scraps and just a few other simple ingredients. Check out the tips section for more tips and suggestions for making it your own. Try our Classic Desserts Made Modern for even more amazing desserts that have stood the test of time!
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