What is apple bread pudding?

At its heart, apple bread pudding is a wonderfully comforting dessert that takes humble stale bread and transforms it into something truly special. It features tender cubes of bread soaked in a rich, sweet custard, generously layered with sweet and spiced apple chunks. When baked, it becomes a golden, custardy treat with a delightful texture and the warm, familiar flavors of baked apples and cinnamon. It's the ultimate warm dessert, perfect for any occasion that calls for coziness.

What exactly is bread pudding?

Bread pudding is a traditional dessert dish made from stale bread – often day-old or dried out – that’s soaked in a creamy mixture. This mixture usually includes eggs, milk or cream, sugar, and various seasonings like vanilla or cinnamon. Then, it's baked until it’s set and golden brown. It’s a fantastic, economical way to repurpose leftover bread into a delicious, moist, and satisfying sweet treat. The texture can be soft and custardy, or sometimes a bit more cake-like, depending on the specific recipe and type of bread used.

What country is known for bread pudding?

While delicious bread pudding variations pop up in many cuisines around the world – often as a clever way to use up stale bread – it's particularly well-known and loved in British and Irish cuisine. It's a classic comfort food there. It’s also a deeply ingrained favorite in the southern United States, where recipes often feature local ingredients and distinct flavor profiles. So, while it's a global delight, it definitely has a strong cultural presence in these regions. To dive deeper into the world of bread puddings, you can find more inspiration and techniques at The Kitchn's Apple Bread Pudding Guide .

Can you put apples in bread and butter pudding?

Absolutely, yes! Adding apples is a fantastic way to elevate a classic bread and butter pudding. The sweet and slightly tart flavor of the baked apples, especially when warmly spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar, complements the rich, creamy custard and soft bread beautifully. It turns a traditional dish into a more autumnal, fruit-forward dessert. This delicious variation is often simply referred to as apple bread pudding or apple bread and butter pudding.

Apple Bread Pudding Recipe: The Ultimate Comfort Food

Name: Apple Bread Pudding Recipe
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 thick-cut slices brioche bread, 1″ cubes; Optional: turbinado sugar; 1 3/4 lb apples of choice, peeled and diced; 4 tbsp salted butter; 2 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 tsp apple pie spice; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup water; 1 cup milk of choice; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 1/2 tbsp salted butter; 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp granulated sugar; Pinch salt; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp cinnamon; Optional: 1/2 tsp apple pie spice; 4 eggs, at room temperature

Description

Indulge in this Heavenly Apple Bread Pudding! Soft, custardy bread layers with tender, spiced apples create the ultimate comforting dessert, perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

12 thick-cut slices brioche bread, 1″ cubes

Optional: turbinado sugar

1 3/4 lb apples of choice, peeled and diced

4 tbsp salted butter

2 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tsp apple pie spice

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1 cup milk of choice

1 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 tbsp salted butter

1/4 cup + 3 tbsp granulated sugar

Pinch salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

Optional: 1/2 tsp apple pie spice

4 eggs, at room temperature

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9” round (or 8” or 9” square) baking pan with cooking spray, then line with a sheet of parchment paper that covers the bottom and sides. Place onto a baking sheet; set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and apple pie spice, and stir well. Then, add the brown sugar and stir.

3. Add the diced apples and water, stir and cover. Cook over medium heat until the apples are soft, stirring occasionally (10-15 minutes).

4. Remove from the heat and strain the juices, saving them to top the bread pudding later.

5. Combine all of the ingredients for the custard, except for the eggs, in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk to combine until the butter is melted. Remove from the heat, add the eggs one at a time, and whisk in between each addition. DO NOT cook any longer. Set aside.

6. Cut the bread into 1” cubes.

7. Place 1/3 of the bread cubes into the bottom of the prepared pan. Press down to compress.

8. Spread about 1/3 of the apple pie filling on top of the bread cubes. Place another 1/3 of the bread cubes on top, press down, and spread another 1/3 of the apple pie filling. Finish by topping with the last 1/3 of bread cubes, and the rest of the apple pie filling.

9. Pour the custard all over the bread, making sure all of the pieces are well-soaked. Gently press down on the bread to make sure there are no dry parts. Then, sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar if desired.

10. Bake 350F for 35-40 minutes on a baking sheet, until the top is golden and set, but still slightly wobbly when shaken. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan.

11. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the juices from the apple pie filling. Enjoy!

Notes

Chef’s Tips: Use stale or lightly toasted brioche for better custard absorption. Don’t overcook apples; they will finish cooking in the oven. Temper eggs into the warm custard slowly to prevent scrambling. Gently press down on bread layers to ensure even soaking. Turbinado sugar adds a crunchy, caramelized crust.
Variations: Experiment with nutmeg, cardamom, or cloves. Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or candied almonds for crunch. Introduce a splash of bourbon, rum, or apple brandy for a boozy twist. Try challah, French bread, or cinnamon swirl bread. Drizzle with caramel sauce instead of apple juices.

Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American