Apple Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
A Moist-spicy apple bread pudding with a thick buttery vanilla sauce.
If you’re like me, you probably have a certain food dish that whenever you eat it, or even THINK about it, you can’t help but feel all those warm and fuzzy good feelings.
There is just something about that dish that brings you back to a good place. Your happy place.
That is where today’s recipe brings me.
As a child, my mom used to make bread pudding for us on special occasions. Usually, holiday’s like Christmas, but sometimes if we did our chores and behaved, she would treat us for no occasion at all. Just because she knew how much we loved it!
But friends, this wasn’t just ANY bread pudding. Oh no. THIS pudding was the BEST pudding.
Years later, I got the recipe from mom and I made it whenever I wanted. Which, you can probably guess was often. I never tired of it. Not once. But, like with many of the recipes mom has shared with me, I did make a couple of changes.
The first one I made was adding apples. Mom’s pudding already had the raisins in it, and I LOVED them, but I just felt it needed something more.
Since I usually crave this dessert when the temperatures start to get cooler, apples just seemed like a good addition.
They are. That little bit of crunch brought my fave dessert over the top as far as I’m concerned.
Later, I would tweak the vanilla sauce just a wee bit so it was thicker and buttery. It’s definitely a sweet sauce so you don’t need much. TIP: You can use this vanilla sauce for cakes, ice cream, pancakes, and even a top fresh fruit!
The best part is you don’t need any fancy ingredients to make this delicious dessert. To start, you need bread. (of course!). I usually use whatever I have on hand. French or Italian are good choices because they hold up well and are pretty substantial.
Even better? Day-old bread. The drier the bread the more it soaks up all that goodness!
You’ll also need apples, raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Then you are going to heat up some milk, butter, and sugar. Just until the butter melts, and then you’re going to pour all of that yumminess over the bread and fruit.
And like I said that bread is going to soak it all up. But wait…there’s more!
To all that we are going to add a couple of eggs and some vanilla, which is going to make a rich and oh so scrumptious custard!
FYI-while this bread pudding is baking, your whole house is going to smell like cinnamon and apples. And when it’s done, the top is going to be all golden and the tips of those juicy apples are going to be caramelized.
Here comes the BEST part!
Before that pudding even gets a chance to cool you’re going to scoop some up in a pretty bowl or glass and drizzle it with warm vanilla sauce.
And when that sweet vanilla sauce has reached all the cracks and crevices and touched every bite of that pudding…it’s time to…
Now, this is totally optional of course, but who wouldn’t want a wee dollop of fresh whipped cream?
Mom definitely approves of THAT change! And the others.
And me? I’m just glad I get to make this dessert any time I want! LOL!
Here’s the full recipe!
Apple Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
A moist-apple-filled bread pudding with a sweet vanilla sauce.
Ingredients
For the Bread Pudding
- 2 cups milk
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 1/2 cups bread cubed
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 apples
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the Vanilla Sauce
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/3 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350. Butter an 8x11 baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread cubes, apples, raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside. Combine milk, 4 Tablespoons butter, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat until butter melts and bubbles begin to form around the edge. (Stir constantly). Remove the milk mixture from the heat. Place the bread cube mixture into the baking dish. Pour the milk mixture over the bread. Stir until coated. Let sit for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, beat eggs in a small bowl. Add the vanilla. Pour this mixture evenly over the rest in the baking dish. Place in the oven for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. While pudding is baking, Combine the ingredients for the vanilla sauce in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. When pudding is done, serve with vanilla sauce and freshly whipped cream.
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site
I hope you and yours enjoy this recipe for Apple Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce as much as our family has!
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Thank you so much for stopping by!
This looks so good! And easy, too. I can’t wait to try this!!
Thank you, Michelle! And yes, SUPER easy! I hope you and yours LOVE it!
Pudding looks so scrumptious, Always yes for warm pudding with a scoop of ice cream, I cannot stop eating! Vanilla sauce is a great addition , Perfect dessert for the season . Thank you for sharing this, Christine!
I feel like such a weirdo saying this, Christine, but I’ve honestly never had bread pudding of any kind before. This recipe looks amazing though so I can’t wait to try it now. I know a lot of people love it, especially this time of year so I’m excited to try your recipe. Hugs, CoCo
Thank you so much, Aarthi! With or without the vanilla sauce ice cream is a MUST with this pudding! LOL!
First, You are definitely not a weirdo. I know quite a few friends that hadn’t tried bread pudding either. I think it’s something many (like me) grow up with, and others don’t. It’s also HUGE here in the Midwest, so that could be it too! I hope you enjoy it, my friend! Have a wonderful week!