If you’ve never had really good bread pudding, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. The sad truth is, most recipes you’ll find are barely passable and most restaurant bread puddings are better suited as door stops then the rich creamy dessert it should be.
What do I need to make the Best Bread Pudding?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make the best bread pudding. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into Everything in its Place.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speeds up the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
How do I make the Best Bread Pudding?
The first step is prepping, cutting the bread into bread cubes. I always use potato bread as I find it has a better natural flavor and makes great bread pudding. This is also when I add the raisins, so I don’t forget.
That being said, bread pudding is usually made with leftover stale bread and can be made with any type of leftover bread, french bread, brioche, or rolls.
I tend to stay away from rye bread or anything bread with a deep flavor.
I made my bread pudding in a springform pan to see how it would hold up. Normally I use a 9 x 9 glass baking dish. It came out well in the springform pan but I prefer the glass baking dish.
Do I have to use raisins in my bread pudding?
No, you don’t. I like the occasional bite of raisin in my version of this classic dessert but that doesn’t mean you have to. Feel free to leave out the raisins or replace them with some of my other favorite add-ins.
- chocolate chips
- craisins
- blueberries
- sugared cranberries
How do I make custard ?
Start by whisking the eggs.
Next, add in the sugar and whisk it in well. I use white sugar but you can also use brown sugar in the egg mixture.
*The sugar may take a little work to get it completely blended in.
The last step is adding in the milk and vanilla, whisking to blend everything together.
When the custard is ready, pour it over the bread cubes, making sure that all the bread is soaked. This batch could have taken more custard. Don’t be afraid to cover the bread.
Since I used a springform pan I wrapped foil around the bottom of the pan so the custard wouldn’t leak.
*Make sure all the bread gets soaked by the custard.
Chef Dennis Tip:
If you need more custard to come to the top of the bread, make additional. Use the formula 1 egg, 1 cup milk, one third cup sugar for any additional custard.
**This is where most bread pudding recipes fail. You need to completely cover the bread with the custard mixture. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a brick instead of delicious moist bread pudding.
Secret Ingredients for the Best Bread Pudding.
Before I cover the bread pudding to let it rest before baking, I add heavy cream and drizzle melted butter over the top of the mixture.
You don’t have to use these ingredients to make this dessert, but if you want to make a dessert that people will rave about, these two ingredients will make Legendary Bread Pudding.
Cover with Non-Stick Foil and allow the bread pudding to rest for at least 15-30 minutes before baking.
*You can even make it the night before you bake it.
After the resting time, place the covered dish in a preheated 350-degree oven and bake for one hour.
At the one-hour mark, carefully remove the foil and continue to bake for 15 minutes longer until the top gets golden brown. I love how I don’t have to worry about the foil sticking to the pudding!
While the bread pudding is baking, make the cream cheese frosting that will top this comforting dessert. It’s just like the cream cheese frosting I use on my Carrot Cake and Hummingbird Cake.
When the bread pudding is fully baked (its okay for it to be a little jiggly) carefully remove it from the oven and allow to cool just a little before frosting.
You want the bread pudding to be warm when you serve it to get the full effect of the melting oozing cream cheese frosting.
Slather the cream cheese frosting on top of the bread pudding….sigh. It’s a wonderful thing!
It’s funny how many have turned noses up when I told them I was serving bread pudding, only to come back for seconds proclaiming this isn’t what they expected!
Your friends and family are going to love this bread pudding. You can slice it or cut it into squares.
Or scoop it out of the pan. I think that’s why I prefer the 9 x 9 glass baking dish to make this dessert. I like letting everyone scoop out their own portion!
More Dessert Recipes You’ll Love!
The Best Bread Pudding with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Bread Pudding
- 1 loaf potato bread cut into cubes, (more if you need it, the bread should mound high above your casserole dish.)
- 3 cups whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla
- ⅓ cup raisins optional
- 2 tablespoons butter optional
- ¼ cup heavy cream optional
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened not whipped
- 1 cup confectioners sugar more if you like it sweeter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Bread Pudding
- The first thing you want to do is find a proper baking dish or casserole to bake this in, a 9×9 inch or 8×8 inch pan will do nicely. I used a springform pan for this version, but I prefer a casserole dish.
- In a bowl cream the sugar and eggs till creamy. Add the milk and vanilla mixing until fully blended.
- Place the bread cubes and raisins (mixed together) in your baking dish.
- Pour the egg mixture over the cut bread, mixing it well so that all of the bread has absorbed some of the milk. **You can mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and transfer to the baking dish. That is sometimes easier.
- If you've decided to go the decadent route with your bread pudding, drizzle the bread pudding with the heavy cream and melted butter. These are my secret ingredients.
- Cover the prepared bread pudding loosely with foil and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before baking. This gives the bread time to soak up the custard.*Overnight in the fridge is even better.
- Bake the bread pudding for one hour at 350 degrees F.
- Uncover and continue to bake for 15-20 minutes or until the center is fully set and the color is golden brown.**Don't overcook the bread pudding. It's okay for it to be a little loose and jiggly.
- The bread pudding will rise quite a bit, but sadly it will fall. This won't affect the flavor.
- Allow the bread pudding to cool for 15 minutes before adding the cream cheese frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Whip the butter and cream cheese in your mixture at high speed to get some air into it.
- Turn the mixer down all the way and add your confectioners sugar gradually increasing the speed
- Add the vanilla and mix well
Camryn
Chef Dennis, you are on to something! This was amazing! And I have had multiple bread puddings and this was the best! Hats off to you, Sir.
Becky
This is the best bread pudding I have ever made. It is moist, not too sweet and easy to prepare. Thankfully I took your advice and added the heavy cream and butter. I didn’t add raisins instead I used blueberry craisins and pecans. The cream cheese frosting made it over the top with goodness. Could this recipe be doubled for a 9″x13″ pan? Also, do you advise freezing this bread pudding? Thank you for sharing this delicious bread pudding.
Patti Schowalter
Find this by accident and decided to make it! OMGoodness it was amazing! Thank you for sharing
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the bread pudding. It really is a delicious surprise!
Catherine
I can’t wait to try it. I’ve been making bread pudding and it never seems to come out right. I am hoping this one will be the bomb! Sure sounds like it will be. Thank you
Kate
Many thanks for sharing your Bread Pudding Recipe. The combination with cream cheese sounds delicious. I will try it very soon. 🙂
Cathy
I’m going to try it with added cinnamon
Gail Montero
Such a deliciously perfect holiday option for breakfast or brunch, This is loaded with chocolate deliciousness!
Alexis
This bread pudding is absolutely amazing! Covering with additional custard is the key to moist pudding for sure. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Ramona
Yummm, I’ve never made bread pudding before, and I’ve never heard of it before, but now I’m excited because I get to try out a new recipe! I cant wait to make this for me and my family, thank you for sharing.
Sylvia
good i like it n i will try
Julie
What a great bread pudding. I was looking for a good one for the holiday and this one is it. Will make it again.
Jill
That looks delicious. I cannot wait to make it!
Kel
This is a GREAT recipe. I changed a few things slightly. Used some white bread and some Italian pannetone (is sweet and has dried fruits). I dried the cubes in the oven a bit, cut out a little of the sugar and used the overnight in the fridge suggestion. I also did the optiinal drizzle of cream and butter. Best pudding I’ve ever made!
Kechi
This post is like taking a bread pudding (recipe) class from Harvard. Thank you so much, Chef Dennis! I am making this recipe on Thanksgiving morning!
Amy Liu Dong
Wow, this pudding cake with cream cheese makes my mouthwatering. I will definitely save this and I am so excited to make this for my family.
Lesli Schwartz
Wow! This bread pudding looks absolutely delicious! I’ve never made bread pudding from scratch but I am going to add this to the top of the list! Can’t wait to taste it!
Jere Cassidy
I haven’t had a good bread pudding for ages. My grandma made the best and I have never been able to duplicate hers. Of course, there was no recipe. I most definitely am going to make yours and I love you added a cream cheese frosting. Is that traditional for you?
Natalie
Oh, that cream cheese frosting! What a great idea! Sounds absolutely perfect on that soft fluffy bread pudding. I need to make this asap.
Leslie
I can barely even look at this recipe without drooling all over myself! Cream cheese frosting on bread pudding is beyond genius!
Marie Gizelle
“better suited as door stops” hahaha. This looks so good! I’m not a bread person, my daughter is – she will surely love this because she also loves pudding.
Angie Rose
This looks so good! I love how easy it seems to make. Definitely going to give it a try during the holiday season.
Stine Mari
Great idea to make it in a spring form pan! I love how tall the slices are. This bread pudding is incredible, so moist and flavorful.