Easy Apple Bread Pudding
Easy Apple Bread Pudding
Introduction to Apple Bread Pudding
Ah, bread pudding, that timeless classic which whispers comfort and nostalgia with every bite. It’s like a hug from your grandmother, isn’t it? Luscious, rich, and infinitely adaptable, this dessert has graced our tables for generations. But allow me to introduce a twist on this beloved classic: Easy Apple Bread Pudding.
Combining the soft, buttery luxury of brioche bread with the crisp sweetness of gala apples, this homemade dessert takes the coziness of the traditional bread pudding and elevates it with hints of apple pie spice, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Truly, it’s a symphony of flavors that sings of fall recipes and holiday desserts, making it the ultimate comfort food for the colder months. Its ease of preparation ensures you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the moment, making it perfect for family-friendly gatherings or a sweet, make-ahead treat to warm up those chilly evenings.
Key Takeaways:
- Timeless Classic Reimagined: Easy Apple Bread Pudding blends traditional comfort with the flavors of fall.
- Seasonal Ingredients Shine: Utilizes brioche bread, gala apples, and spices for a heartwarming homemade dessert.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Ideal for holiday desserts, cozy family nights, or as a make-ahead treat.
Gathering Your Ingredients
Let’s dive into the heart of this comforting treat by rounding up everything you’ll need to bring this easy apple bread pudding to life. Starting with the soul of our dessert, you’ll need some luxuriously soft brioche bread, which brings a buttery richness that’s unmatched. Pair this with the natural sweetness and slight tartness of gala apples, and you’re already halfway to creating a homemade dessert that sings with flavor.
To envelop these core ingredients in warmth and spice, gather your apple pie spice, alongside the comforting notes of cinnamon and the deep, molasses-like sweetness of brown sugar. We’ll be blending these flavors with the creamy, rich base made from whole milk, eggs, and a dash of vanilla extract to create a bread pudding that’s both a joy to make and a delight to eat. Embracing these ingredients promises a journey into holiday desserts, fall recipes, and anytime treats that embody the essence of comfort food, perfect for baking in your cozy kitchen.
Preparing the Brioche Bread
Ever since I embraced the cozy charm of homemade desserts, especially during those chilly fall days and heartwarming holidays, I’ve learned a thing or two about the subtle art of baking. One of my all-time favorite comfort foods to prepare is the easy apple bread pudding. It’s a delightful sweet treat that combines the rich, tender texture of brioche bread with the classical, festive flavors of cinnamon and apple pie spice.
Now, let me share a little secret with you about getting this dessert just right. It all starts with the bread. I personally adore using brioche bread for its buttery richness, which makes the bread pudding feel like a warm hug. The trick here is to cube the brioche into perfect little squares and let them dry out until they’re just the right kind of stale. This step is crucial, folks. It’s what allows the bread to soak up that luscious mixture of eggs, whole milk, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and spices, creating a pudding that’s moist and tender, yet amazingly firm in every bite.
So, remember, taking those extra few moments to prepare your brioche bread can elevate your apple dessert from good to unforgettable. It’s these simple techniques that make holiday desserts, and indeed any baking adventure, all the more special and satisfying.
Making the Apple Pie Filling
Now, let’s dive into the heart of our cozy kitchen adventure with the apple pie filling, a step that transforms our easy apple bread pudding into a story of flavors. I start by enlisting the help of gala apples, praised for their sweet and nuanced flavor, ensuring our homemade dessert sings with each bite. Peeling, coring, and dicing, I treat each apple with the care of a seasoned chef, knowing these pieces are the foundation of our fall recipes and holiday desserts.
Into the warmth of a medium saucepan, I melt butter, watching it dance and sizzle, ready to embrace the apples in its golden pool. With a sprinkle of flour, our mixture starts resembling a storybook dough, thickening as we whisk. Next, brown sugar cascades like autumn leaves, melding into a symphony with the apple pie spice and a whisper of cinnamon. This is where magic happens, where simplicity meets sophistication.
The apples dive into this bubbling mixture, each piece soaking up the spices, turning soft yet holding their shape — the hallmark of a perfect apple dessert. Cooking them to just the right consistency feels like orchestrating a symphony, with each note played to perfection. It’s this balance of flavors and textures that elevates our easy apple bread pudding from a mere baking project to a craft, a creation that graces your table as a crown jewel of comfort food and sweet treats.
Assembling Your Bread Pudding
Once you’ve got your brioche bread perfectly cubed and staled, and the gala apples are nestled in their sweet, spicy mix, it’s time to bring it all together. The magic starts when you layer those slightly crusty brioche pieces in your casserole dish, creating a fluffy bed for the spiced apple pie filling. It’s like setting up the stage for a show everyone’s been waiting to see—a homemade dessert that’s about to unfold into a delicious symphony.
Now, for the grand finale, whisk together a custard mixture that’s rich with whole milk, a splash of vanilla extract, and hints of cinnamon and brown sugar—this is where your eggs come into play, blending seamlessly with the melted butter to bring everything together. Gently pouring this over the bread and apples, making sure every nook and cranny is soaked, is crucial for that even absorption, ensuring every bite is as moist and flavorful as the last. Trust me, it’s a simple step that transforms good into great, making this apple dessert not just a treat, but a sweet retreat into comfort food heaven.
Baking to Perfection
Once our apple dessert creation is ready for the oven, it’s all about precision to bring this comfort food to its glorious finish. Set your oven to a cozy 375°F (190°C) to envelop our brioche bread-based delight, ensuring every nook turns into a bite of pure bliss. Carefully placing our casserole in the middle rack allows for an even bake, transforming the ingredients into a symphony of sweet, apple-spiced perfection. Baking is a dance of patience—35-40 minutes might feel like forever, but it’s the golden ticket to that ideal texture that defines every memorable bread pudding. And here’s a little secret between us, to check if it’s done, give the center a gentle press; it should stand firm, like the resolve of a classic dessert refusing to sway under the spoon. Ah, perfection!
Serving Suggestions
Imagine pulling this gorgeous easy apple bread pudding out of the oven, its aroma filling the kitchen, making everyone’s mouth water. Now, to turn this lovely homemade dessert into an unforgettable culinary moment, here’s what I suggest. Serve it warm – yes, just when it’s comfortably nice to touch but still radiating that comforting warmth. Scoop a generous helping of vanilla ice cream right on top. Trust me, the contrast between the warm pudding made with luscious gala apples, aromatic apple pie spice, and brown sugar, against the cool, creamy ice cream is just divine.
But don’t stop there. Remember the flavorful juices we reserved from those tenderly cooked apples? Drizzle them generously over the top. It not only adds a glistening, inviting sheen but also intensifies the apple flavor, making each bite a delightful dance between the sweet and the spiced. This simple yet impactful way of serving elevates our easy apple bread pudding from a mere dessert to a sweet masterpiece, perfect for any gathering or a cozy night in. It’s these little touches, I believe, that transform good food into great memories.
Crowning Your Meal with a Sweet Masterpiece
Stepping back and gazing at the golden perfection that is my easy apple bread pudding, pulling from the oven, it’s more than just a dessert; it’s a testament to the simple joys that baking brings into our lives. Made with tender brioche bread, succulent gala apples, and a harmonious blend of apple pie spice, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, this homemade dessert encapsulates the essence of comfort food. It’s not just the aromatic blend of spices or the sweet caress of brown sugar that makes this bread pudding recipe a must-try for any home cook.
It’s the anticipation of sharing this apple dessert with loved ones, making it an ideal addition to your fall recipes, holiday desserts, and those moments that call for a sweet treat. Baking this dessert is an adventure in itself, exploring the realm of seasonal baking and reveling in the creation of family-friendly recipes that you can proudly say are your make-ahead desserts for any gathering. So, why not invite this delightful twist into your home? Embrace the comfort, savor the taste, and let this easy apple bread pudding be the crown of your meal, promising cozy nights and sweet memories.
If you’re a fan of bread pudding check out my Easy Pumpkin Bread Pudding recipe!

Easy Apple Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 lb Granny Smith apples
- 14 oz Brioche bread stale
- 5 eggs
- 2 1/4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 2 1/2 tablespoon flour
- 2 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
Instructions
- Approximately 24 hours prior to making this bread pudding, cube the bread into 1/2 inch pieces and spread them on a large baking sheet to allow them to dry out and stale.
- For the Apple Pie Filling:
- Begin by peeling, coring, and dicing the apples. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour until combined, then add 3/4 cup of brown sugar, mixing well. Add the diced apples, apple pie spice, and water. Stir to combine, cover, and cook over medium heat until the apples are tender, stirring occasionally (approximately 10-15 minutes). Remove from heat and strain the mixture through a strainer, reserving the juices for later use. Allow the cooked apples to cool slightly.
- For the Bread Pudding:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Evenly spread the stale bread cubes in the dish, then distribute the cooked apples evenly over the bread. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, apple pie spice, and cinnamon. Pour this egg mixture evenly over the bread and apples. Gently press down on the bread to ensure it absorbs the liquid.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the bread pudding is set and firm in the center. To check for doneness, gently touch the center — it should feel dense and firm when the eggs are cooked through.
- Remove the bread pudding from the oven and pour the reserved juices from the cooked apples over the top. Serve warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.