Description
Apple bread pudding brings together crusty bread and tender apples in a warm dessert that gets better as your oven does the work, creating something comforting you can share with family or enjoy quietly with coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
Base ingredients:
- 4 cups cubed brioche or French bread
- 3 large eggs
- 1.5 cups milk
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
Apples and spices:
- 3 medium apples, peeled and sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Toppings:
- Powdered sugar
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 350°F and coat a baking dish with butter or cooking spray so nothing sticks.
- Cut your 4 cups of brioche or French bread into cubes about 1 inch across.
- Peel and slice your 3 medium apples into thin, even pieces.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat and add your apple slices with a pinch of cinnamon, cooking for 5 minutes until they soften slightly.
- Crack 3 large eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk them together with 1 1/2 cups milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Spread half of your bread cubes across the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
- Layer your sautéed apples over the bread, then top with the remaining bread cubes.
- Pour your custard mixture slowly over everything in the dish, pressing gently with a spatula so the bread absorbs the liquid evenly.
- Let your dish sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes, or cover and refrigerate it overnight if that works better for your schedule.
- Transfer your baking dish to the 350°F oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the center feels set when you gently shake the dish.
- Remove from the oven and let your bread pudding cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Dust the top with powdered sugar and drizzle with caramel sauce if that sounds good to you.
Notes
- Letting the bread soak in the custard for 15-20 minutes (or overnight) makes each bite tender and prevents a dry, dense pudding.
- Sautéing the apples first with cinnamon softens them and deepens their flavor, though raw apple slices work fine if pressed for time.
- Use day-old or slightly stale bread since fresh bread absorbs the custard better and holds its shape during baking.
- Check that the center is set by inserting a knife; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, not wet custard.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Mousses & Puddings
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg