Description
Apple Bread Pudding is a comforting fall dessert featuring crusty French bread soaked in a spiced custard with juicy diced apples and crunchy walnuts, baked until golden and served warm with vanilla ice cream or caramel sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Fruit
- ½ loaf French bread (about ½ lb)
- 2 cups apple (diced with skin on, about 1 large apple)
- ½ cup walnuts (coarsely chopped)
Custard and Spices
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup honey
- 1 orange (zested)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Serving
- Vanilla ice cream (for serving)
- Caramel sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Pan: Grease a 7 x 11”, 9 x 9”, or 8 x 8” baking pan to prevent sticking during baking.
- Cut and Arrange Bread: Cut the French bread into ¾” thick cubes and spread them evenly in the prepared baking pan.
- Make Custard Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and honey until smooth. Add milk, orange zest, ground cardamom, cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt, then whisk until fully combined. Alternatively, blend all these ingredients until smooth for a uniform custard.
- Combine Bread and Custard: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
- Add Apples and Walnuts: Scatter the diced apples and chopped walnuts evenly over the top of the bread and gently press them down with a spatula.
- Refrigerate: Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight to allow the bread to soak up the custard fully.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and let it reach the temperature.
- Bake: Remove the plastic wrap and place the bread pudding in the oven. Bake for 35–45 minutes, until the top is lightly browned and the custard is set.
- Cool and Serve: Let the pudding cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm topped with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Use French bread with a sturdy crust to absorb custard without becoming too soggy.
- Letting the pudding soak overnight improves flavor and texture.
- The warming spices can be adjusted to taste or substituted with pumpkin pie spice for convenience.
- Vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt complements the warm pudding with creamy contrast.
- This dessert is perfect for cozy fall and winter gatherings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 231 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 78 mg
