Cinnamon Bread Pudding is a comforting classic that elevates stale or leftover bread into a warm, custardy dessert scented with cinnamon and vanilla. This timeless dish is beloved for its simple ingredients and deeply nostalgic flavors, offering a homey sweetness that feels perfect for chilly evenings, holiday gatherings, or anytime you crave a familiar treat. Each spoonful delivers a balance of creamy texture, soft bread, and the cozy warmth of homemade pumpkin pie spice.
To make the pudding, cubes of day-old bread are combined with a rich custard made from milk or cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Generous amounts of ground cinnamon and often a touch of nutmeg meld into the custard, infusing the bread as it soaks. Raisins, chopped apples, or toasted nuts can be stirred in for added texture and flavor, while brown sugar introduces molasses notes that deepen the overall profile. The mixture is baked until the top is golden and slightly crisp while the interior remains soft and custardy.
Cinnamon Bread Pudding is versatile in serving. It can be enjoyed warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence. For a lighter approach, serve it with a citrusy compote to cut through the richness. This dessert also adapts well to different types of bread – brioche and challah yield particularly rich results due to their higher fat content, while baguette or sandwich loaves offer a firmer texture.
Beyond flavor, bread pudding represents resourceful cooking. It transforms leftovers into something celebratory and demonstrates how simple pantry staples can produce a showstopping dessert. This makes it a favorite for home cooks who appreciate both thrift and taste. Cinnamon Bread Pudding is a soulful dessert that comforts and satisfies, offering a timeless combination of custard, spice, and baked bread that resonates across generations. Simple and delicious every time.
Ingredients
- 4 cups bread cut into cubes
- 1 1/2 cups milk whole milk preferred
- 1/2 cup sugar granulated
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 3 eggs beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1/4 cup raisins optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
![Preparing cinnamon bread pudding - a woman butters a white baking dish in a modern kitchen.]()
- Place the bread cubes in a greased baking dish.
![Adding cubes of stale bread to a greased baking dish, a key step in the cinnamon bread pudding recipe.]()
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, sugar, cinnamon, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter until well combined.
![Whisking eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon to create the creamy custard mixture for bread pudding.]()
- Pour the milk mixture over the bread cubes, ensuring all pieces are well-coated. Allow the bread to soak for about 10 minutes.
![Pouring the egg and milk mixture over bread cubes to ensure they are evenly soaked before baking the cinnamon pudding.]()
- If using raisins, sprinkle them evenly over the soaked bread mixture.
![Sprinkling raisins over the soaked bread for added sweetness and texture in the cinnamon bread pudding recipe.]()
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
![Checking the baked, golden-brown cinnamon bread pudding with a knife to see if it's done.]()
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm, possibly with a scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce!
![A serving of warm cinnamon bread pudding in a white bowl, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.]()
Nutrition
This is like a hug in dessert form! So comforting and delicious. My family loved it.
Absolutely agree! It really does feel like a warm embrace. Perfect for cold nights. ❤️
I followed the recipe exactly, but it turned out really dry. Any idea what I could have done wrong?
Why does everyone love this stuff? It’s just soggy bread with milk and sugar! 🤔
Yum!!! I added some pecans to mine and it was GREAT!! Definitely a keeper recipe.
Simple and cheap! made it with leftover bread and it was pretty good. Will make again!
Glad to hear you liked it! It’s a great way to use up leftover bread.
Made it for my friends and they couldn’t stop eating! A hit at my potluck!
Good, but honestly better with chocolate chips instead of raisins if ya ask me. Just sayin’.
I don’t know what happened but mine turned out way too soggy. Maybe I added too much milk? 🤷♂️
Bread pudding? Never heard of that before. Sounds weird but I guess people like it?
I’m not a baking person, but this was straightforward. I might start baking more!
The melted butter really made a difference. Don’t skip that part!
Wait, 4 cups bread? I used like half a loaf and it was too much liquid lol. But once I adjusted, it tasted alright. Would make again but measure better.
Yeah, bread pudding can be super sensitive to the bread-to-liquid ratio. Good call adjusting—measuring the bread (especially by volume) makes a huge difference.
Best bread pudding ever! So sweet and perfect with ice cream!
I never thought I’d like bread pudding, but this sounds amazing! Gonna try it soon.
Yum! I used old bread and added chocolate chips instead of raisins. So good!
Just okay. I think it needed more cinnamon. Next time, I might add nutmeg too.
This was delicious! Perfect for breakfast and so easy to make. My kids loved it!
Wow, I was skeptical at first because it seemed too simple, but it’s actually really good! The cinnamon flavor is amazing!
I totally agree! The cinnamon really makes this dish pop. I was also surprised how easy it was to whip up. Great recipe!
Yeah, but I don’t know… simple doesn’t always mean good. I think it needs more flavor or something. Just my opinion.
YUM! Can’t believe I made something like this at home. Gonna try with almond milk next round! 😋
Cinnamon and sugar are great together, but is this even a pudding? Looks more like bread with eggs!
This was surprisingly easy to make and sooo delicious! My family loved it!
I don’t know… the texture was a bit off for me. Might have been the bread I used.
Made this for brunch and it came out super cozy—golden top, custardy middle. I added extra cinnamon and it still worked perfectly. Will definitely repeat.
Yesss this sounds so cozy! I love when the top gets golden like that—extra cinnamon is the move. Did you serve it with ice cream or caramel?
I’m skeptical of using “clean knife” as the only doneness test—bread pudding can look done but still be wet. I checked with a spoon and it was better. Flavor is solid.
Pretty good, but mine took closer to 55 minutes to set. Also, the bread cubes dried out a bit before soaking—next time I’ll cut them smaller. Tasty though!
No raisins for me (didn’t have them). Still, the cinnamon flavor is nice. Eggs make it kind of like a breakfast casserole… in a good way. 350F is right.