Holiday Bread Pudding Recipe
Holiday Bread Pudding is a festive dessert made with custard-soaked brioche or challah, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and filled with dried fruits and crunchy nuts. Baked until golden and served with caramel sauce or powdered sugar, it’s cozy, comforting, and perfect for gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes (including resting time)
- Yield: 10–12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Bread Pudding:
6 cups day-old brioche or challah, cubed (1-inch pieces)
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ cup golden raisins or regular raisins
½ cup dried apricots, chopped
½ cup mixed nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, pecans), roughly chopped
2 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing
Optional Add-ins: Zest of 1 orange, 2 tbsp brown sugar for topping
Optional Topping: Caramel sauce for drizzling, powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Soak dried cranberries, raisins, and apricots in orange juice or warm water to plump.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, milk, and cream until smooth.
- Add cubed bread to the prepared dish. Pour custard evenly over bread and press gently to soak.
- Sprinkle soaked fruits and half the nuts over bread. Press lightly, then top with remaining nuts and optional brown sugar.
- Let rest at room temperature 20–30 minutes, or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor.
- Bake uncovered 40–50 minutes, until golden and custard is set. A knife inserted in the center should come out mostly clean.
- Cool 10–15 minutes before serving. Drizzle with caramel sauce or dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
Use panettone or stollen instead of brioche for extra holiday flavor.
Swap dried fruits for figs, cherries, or chocolate chips.
Add orange zest for brightness or swirl dulce de leche before baking.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze portions for up to 2 months.
Reheat in oven at 325°F or microwave single portions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of recipe)
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 215mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 88mg
Find it online: https://chocolatecoveredamy.com/holiday-bread-pudding-recipe/
