If you’re looking for a dessert that’s warm, comforting, and packed with sweet, buttery goodness, you’ve just hit the jackpot. I’m so excited to share this Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe with you—because honestly, once you try it, it’ll be your go-to for potlucks, family dinners, or just treating yourself. The smooth sweetness of the condensed milk mixed with crunchy toffee bits and rich chocolate nestled in a buttery crust makes for a pie that’s downright irresistible.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ridiculously Easy to Make: This recipe comes together quickly with simple steps that anyone can follow, no fancy techniques needed.
- Perfect Texture Combo: Soft, custardy filling pairs beautifully with a crisp, buttery crust and crunchy toffee bites.
- Crowd Pleaser: Every time I bring this to gatherings, it disappears fast and everyone asks for the recipe.
- Make Ahead Friendly: You can prepare it in advance, chill it overnight, and have it ready to impress whenever you want.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are straightforward and pantry-friendly, but each one plays an important role in building that incredible flavor and texture. I always recommend using good quality toffee bits and fresh pecans to get the best results.
- All-purpose flour: This creates the crust’s sturdy base, so don’t skip the sifting if you want a smoother crumb.
- Confectioners’ sugar: Adds sweetness and a delicate texture to the crust that you can really tell when you bite into it.
- Butter: Use softened unsalted butter to ensure your crust is rich and flaky; butter quality makes a noticeable difference.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This ingredient brings the sweet, creamy filling to life—plus it’s what makes it so easy to whisk everything together.
- Large egg: Helps bind the filling for that custard-like consistency we all crave.
- Vanilla extract: Elevates the flavors and adds a warm, inviting aroma.
- Salt: Just a pinch balances all the sweetness perfectly.
- Milk chocolate English toffee bits: These crunchy morsels are the star here; they melt just a bit while baking, giving that amazing toffee flavor and texture contrast.
- Chopped pecans: Nuts add a lovely crunch and a slight earthy note that complements the sweet toffee.
Variations
I love to experiment with this Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe because it’s such a versatile base. Feel free to swap ingredients to suit your taste or what you have on hand. Trust me, you can’t go wrong!
- Swap the nuts: I’ve tried walnuts or almonds instead of pecans when that’s what I had, and it still worked great.
- Ditch the chocolate: For a more classic toffee flavor, skip the chocolate bits and just add extra toffee and nuts—it’s just as heavenly.
- Make it gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend for the crust if you need to avoid gluten; just be sure it’s a good baking blend!
- Add fruit: Fresh or dried cherries or cranberries mix wonderfully with the toffee and chocolate for a fruity twist.
How to Make Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe
Step 1: Create the Perfect Crust
First things first, combine the flour and confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl. Cut in the softened butter until the mix looks like coarse crumbs—that’s a great cue that it’s ready. I use a pastry cutter or even my fingers for this step. Then, press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Don’t just drop it in loosely; pressing firmly ensures a nice, crispy edge after baking. Pop it into a 350°F oven for 15 minutes until it’s just starting to turn golden on the edges.
Step 2: Whip Up the Filling
While the crust is baking, beat together the sweetened condensed milk, egg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth. This mixture will be your custardy, sweet filling base. Once you’ve got that silky smooth, stir in the toffee bits and chopped pecans. The combination of these crunchy bits inside the creamy filling is what makes this recipe so addictive!
Step 3: Assemble and Bake
Pour the toffee-pecan custard evenly over the pre-baked crust. Spread it out gently so it covers the surface without disturbing the crust too much. Slide it back into the oven for another 20 to 25 minutes. You’re looking for the filling to puff up slightly and turn a bit golden on top—don’t worry if it jiggles just a little, that’s perfect! Let the pie cool completely after baking, then cover and chill it in the fridge so it sets nicely before serving.
Pro Tips for Making Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe
- Butter Temperature Matters: Make sure your butter is softened but not melting before mixing it into the flour; it makes for a flakier crust.
- Don’t Overbake: The filling will seem a tad wobbly when you take it out, but it firms up beautifully as it cools—overbaking dries it out.
- Even Spreading: Gently spread the filling on top to avoid breaking your crust which can cause sogginess.
- Chill for Best Texture: I learned the magic of chilling this pie overnight—it makes cutting cleaner and flavors meld better.
How to Serve Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping this pie with a simple dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of warm caramel sauce for extra indulgence. A dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a game-changer, too. If I’m feeling fancy, a few toasted pecans on top offer a lovely crunch and look beautiful.
Side Dishes
For dessert, I often pair this bread pudding pie with fresh fruit like raspberries or sliced strawberries to add a bright contrast. A hot cup of coffee or a latte complements the toffee flavors wonderfully and rounds out the experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For holidays, I’ve served this pie in mini ramekins to make individual portions that look so festive and special. Try topping each serving with a mint leaf or edible gold flakes for a little sparkle—your guests will think you worked for hours in the kitchen!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once chilled, this pie stores beautifully in the fridge for up to 4 days. I keep it covered tightly with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out or absorbing fridge odors. It’s an excellent make-ahead dessert for busy weeks.
Freezing
If you want to freeze leftovers, wrap individual slices well in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe container. From my experience, freezing for up to 2 months works great without losing that toffee-chocolate goodness.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop a slice in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds or until just warmed through. If you want that crust a bit crispier, a few minutes in a 350°F oven works wonders. Just don’t overheat—warm, not hot, keeps the filling silky smooth.
FAQs
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Can I make this Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! This pie actually tastes better after it’s had time to chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight, allowing the flavors to meld and the filling to set perfectly.
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What’s the best toffee bits to use?
I prefer milk chocolate English toffee bits because they melt just enough during baking to add gooey texture without losing their crunch. But dark or caramel toffee bits can also be delicious if that’s what you have.
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Can I substitute the crust for a graham cracker crust?
You sure can! A graham cracker crust would add extra sweetness and a slightly different crunch. Just press it into the pan the same way and prebake it briefly before adding the filling.
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Is this recipe gluten-free?
The classic recipe calls for all-purpose flour, which contains gluten, but you can use a gluten-free flour blend for the crust if you need to avoid gluten. Make sure your blend is suitable for baking to get the best texture.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe turns out every single time—it’s sweet, crunchy, creamy, and utterly comforting. When I first tried this recipe, I was blown away by how simple ingredients came together to create something that feels so special and indulgent. I hope you give it a shot and end up with those same happy smiles from your family and friends. Trust me, once you make this, it’ll become one of those desserts you make again and again.
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Chocolate Toffee Bread Pudding Pie Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes plus chilling time
- Yield: 3 dozen bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Bread Pudding Pie is a delightful dessert featuring a buttery crust topped with a rich, sweet custard mixed with crunchy milk chocolate English toffee bits and chopped pecans. Perfectly baked to a golden brown and chilled before serving, it combines creamy, crunchy, and buttery textures in every bite.
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
Filling
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- 1 package (8 ounces) milk chocolate English toffee bits
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and confectioners’ sugar. Cut in the softened butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Press this mixture firmly onto the bottom of a greased 13×9-inch baking dish to form an even crust.
- Bake the crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the crust for 15 minutes, allowing it to set and slightly golden.
- Mix the filling: While the crust is baking, in a separate large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk, egg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Add the mix-ins: Stir the milk chocolate English toffee bits and chopped pecans into the filling mixture, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Assemble and bake: Spread the filling evenly over the pre-baked crust. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and set.
- Cool and chill: Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the baking dish. Once cooled, cover it and refrigerate until chilled thoroughly.
- Serve: Cut into bars or squares and serve chilled. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Use softened butter for easier mixing with the dry ingredients to achieve the perfect crust texture.
- Chilling the pie before serving enhances the flavor and helps the bars hold their shape when cut.
- You can substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
- For a richer flavor, try using dark or semi-sweet chocolate toffee bits instead of milk chocolate.
- Make sure not to overbake in the final step to keep the filling moist and creamy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (assuming 36 bars)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg