Easy Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Our easy caramel apple bread pudding recipe with caramel sauce is amazing! Made with a loaf of bread, caramel bits and diced apples. It’s the perfect dessert to make year round baked in a 9×13 inch pan.

I have to show you how to make bread pudding from scratch. I did this for Valentine’s Day this year tinkering around with an old recipe I had on hand. I created something new and FABULOUS we wanted to share with you right away.

So I experimented with these small caramel bits I found in the store and made this pumpkin monkey bread. I thought diced apple would be a good addition too so I made a small batch of bread pudding. This is what I came up with!

I always prefer to make desserts in my mini bundt or muffin pan because then it is already portioned out, and creates a nice crispier edge on the outside of each one…..also seems to cook faster and more evenly in my opinion.

Ingredient Notes

You want whole or 2% Milk or you could use a dairy free product of your choice, cashew is creamiest vs. almond milk

Then you want to add diced apples small in size. I prefer Fuji but any type will work. Granny Smith will hold up the best under heat but are a bit sour. Same goes for our caramel apple monkey bread.

Caramel bits were added this time because they are already small and bite sized vs. trying to dice up individually wrapped ones.

Eggs will firm it up but keep it moist and tender. Ideally you should have them at room temperature and whisk before adding.

Vanilla extract or almond extract is great too for more of a marzipan flavor to it

Butter if you’re making them in a mini bundt pan or at least non stick spray is needed so it slides out nicely

Sugar will coat the bread to make it sweet. Caramel bits are optional to add into the middle, or use caramel sundae topping to drizzle on top

Can you use a loaf of bread?

And of course Bread, day old french bread is great, or you can use a loaf of thick sliced sandwich Artisan loaf I showed you here if you would rather. I like to leave the end open overnight so it stiffens up so it is easier to slice.

Variations

This base can be tweaked all sorts of ways. If you wanted to use dry fruits instead of fresh apples you can. You can see how we did with when we have made raisin bread pudding by folding those in instead this same way. As for the frosting you can omit, make homemade or warm a tub of cream cheese frosting from the store.

Step by Step Photos

How Long to Bake Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

This time we used a mini bundt pan. It fills 6 completely as well as 1 mini loaf pan with this recipe. Mini bundts take only 15 minutes or so, just until the egg is cooked. If you wanted to bake in a 9×13″ pan it would be the same as our banana bread pudding recipe at closer to 30 min.

How do you know when it is done?

It is all about the texture, you want to wait until the middle has firmed to ensure the egg is done. I test with my finger to feel the texture and look so make sure the egg isn’t still opaque, rather it is white in color. You can use a toothpick if baked in a larger dish.

How to Serve

I think honestly it is great as is right out of the oven, but to make it over the top wow it is better to drizzle some warmed frosting or caramel sundae sauce over the top before serving. You can just microwave a tub of vanilla frosting for 20 seconds, or make homemade cream cheese frosting.

Other Bread Pudding Recipes You’ll Love

Well serve it warm for sure. You could top with whipped cream, a bit of vanilla ice cream or sliced fresh apple pieces. Serve it for breakfast, brunch or dessert any time of year. Apple pie bread pudding has the fruit just added to the top. Strawberry bread pudding using a can as well over the top of our base you can use with any fruits you love. We have an Instant Pot bread pudding that is great too if you don’t want to turn your oven on.