Apple Bread Pudding
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Sep. 22, 2024
This Apple Bread Pudding is perfect for breakfast or dessert. It’s made with fluffy bread, apples, and an applesauce custard for an utterly delicious bread pudding.
In This Article
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1-Minute Video: Apple Bread Pudding
Why This Recipe Stands Out
This Hawaiian Apple Bread Pudding is the ultimate comfort food and one of our all-time favorite apple recipes. Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Pillow Soft: We love using King’s Hawaiian Bread because it’s incredibly soft and slightly sweet, making it the perfect base for bread pudding.
- Super Easy: Like our Easy Apple Coffee Cake, this recipe is incredibly easy to make. You’ll simply tear or cut the bread into pieces, let it soak up the lusciously easy custard, and then bake.
- Sweet, Tart Flavors: The combination of the slightly sweet Hawaiian bread, the tart apples, and the plump raisins is absolutely heavenly. It reminds us of our Cinnamon Apple Baked Donuts!
- Doubles as Breakfast or Dessert: Serve it up with maple syrup, whipped cream, powdered sugar, or ice cream for the perfect breakfast, dessert, or snack. We do the same with this Pumpkin Bread Pudding.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- King’s Original Hawaiian Bread – The star of our recipe, this lightly sweet bread adds a rich, buttery flavor and a soft, tender texture to our bread pudding. You can also use brioche bread, which is mildly sweet and also has a soft yet rich texture.
- Granny Smith Apples – We love the tartness and firmer texture of granny smith apples in this recipe. They hold up well during baking and add a refreshing contrast to the sweet bread pudding.
- Nutmeg and Cinnamon – A hint of these spices adds a warm, aromatic note to the bread pudding, complementing the flavors of the apples and cinnamon.
- Applesauce – We use 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce to add moisture to the bread pudding for the perfect texture and consistency, while adding apple flavor.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite variations and substitution ideas:
- The Bread: We love King’s Original Hawaiian Bread here, but you can substitute it with sweet brioche for similar results. You can also try big buttery croissants, as we do with our Nutella Bread Pudding.
- Dried Fruit: If you’re not a fan of raisins, try using dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries, or chopped apricots instead.
- Sauce: If you’re feeling extra decadent, try serving it with our 4-Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce. We love the combo of apples and caramel, like in our Apple Cake with Caramel and Apple Cookies with Caramel.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Cut bread into bite-sized pieces and place in a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle raisins and apples over the bread.
- In a saucepan, melt butter, sugar, milk, and salt over low heat. Let it cool slightly. Then, add applesauce and stir. Add eggs and stir well.
- Stir in vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour this mixture over the bread and fruit in the pan.
- Bake at 350F for 45-55 minutes or just until the middle is set and the top is golden brown and puffy.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our favorite prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Prep the Ingredients: You can dice the apples and cut the bread into bite-sized pieces ahead of time. Store prepped ingredients in airtight containers in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
- Make Entirely Ahead: This bread pudding can be made entirely in advance. Simply let it cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the oven before serving.
Commonly Asked Questions
What type of bread is best for apple bread pudding?
For this apple bread pudding, we recommend using 16 oz King’s Original Hawaiian Bread or any sweet brioche. These types of bread are slightly sweet and have a soft, tender crumb that makes for a deliciously rich and luxurious bread pudding.
Can I use any type of apple?
Yes, you can use any type of apple for this recipe. However, we recommend using a firm apple variety such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braebrun. These apples hold their shape well when baked and provide a nice tart contrast to the sweet bread pudding.
How do I know when the bread pudding is done?
The bread pudding is done when the middle is set and the top is golden brown and puffy. This usually takes about 45-55 minutes.
How long does apple bread pudding keep?
Apple bread pudding can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to cover it with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Apple Bread Pudding
This Hawaiian Apple Bread Pudding is over the top scrumptious! Made with King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread, apples, and an applesauce custard, this bread pudding is the perfect breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
- 16 oz King's Original Hawaiian Bread
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 large granny apple, peeled and diced
- ½ cup salted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups milk
- pinch table salt
- 1 cup applesauce
- 9 large eggs, beaten
- 1 TB vanilla extract
- 1 TB cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F with rack on lower middle position.
- Cut bread into bite size pieces and place in a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle raisins and apples over the bread and gently toss the top half just a bit so the fruit is slightly mixed in. Set aside.
- Melt butter, sugar, milk, and salt together in a saucepan over low heat. Let mixture cool to just warm.
- Add applesauce and stir. Stir in eggs – be sure mixture isn't too hot, or eggs will cook. Stir in vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Evenly spoon mixture over the bread in pan.
- Bake 45-55 min or just until middle is set and top is golden brown and puffy. Keep watch after about 35 minutes – if it's browning too quickly, lightly tent with foil for the remaining bake time.
Notes
- If you cannot find King’s Original Hawaiian Bread, use a sweet brioche that has a fluffy yet thicker texture than regular bread.
- Peel and dice your apples into small, even pieces. This will ensure that they cook evenly and blend nicely into the pudding.
- When melting the butter, sugar, milk, and salt, make sure to do so over low heat. This will prevent the mixture from scorch and also allow it to cool down more quickly.
- Always add your applesauce after the butter and milk mixture has cooled. This will prevent the applesauce from cooking and maintain a smoother texture.
- When adding the eggs, make sure the butter and milk mixture is just warm. If it’s too hot, the eggs will cook and you’ll end up with a lumpy mixture.
- Feel free to customize your bread pudding by adding chopped nuts or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Serve your apple bread pudding with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a deliciously comforting dessert.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 324IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg
More to Bake And Eat
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip – This Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip is the perfect easy appetizer for fall parties. Be sure to have plenty of sliced apples, as everyone will go back for more.
- Apple Texas French Toast Bake – Thick, dense Texas toast bread soaks up the apple-y custard beautifully.
- Apple Caramel Cinnamon Cake – This apple cake is superbly tender, moist, and scrumptious! Infused with cinnamon spice and drizzled with caramel, it’s a sure hit every time.
- Caramel Apple Baked Donuts – If you enjoy the classic fall flavors of apple and caramel, these Caramel Apple Baked Donuts are a must-try! They are tender, yummy, and a quintessential fall treat.