Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Our homemade caramel apple bread pudding recipe with caramel sauce is amazing! With sticky caramel bits and tender diced apples inside 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.

Homemade Bread Pudding Ingredients

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

What Type of Apples to Use

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.

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.

Can you add raisins?

Yes, this base can be tweaked all sorts of ways. If you wanted to use dry fruits instead we have made raisin bread pudding by folding those in instead this same way.

If you wanted an easier version you could use pie filling instead of fresh fruit. I have done this with a few flavors I will share here below but of course from scratch is always the best of the best.

Or leave the fruit out all together and just go for it with the add ins, I mean whatever works right. If you did that and wanted a really all in flavor of that sort you can add the candies and then drizzle on caramel sundae topping over the top when done too.

How Long to Cook 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 bread pudding 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

They should look like this when they are done. Rising above the holes, the egg will be firm and cooked. Put a large cutting board on top and flip the pan over. If you’ve greased it well they will just slide out and then top with powdered sugar glaze and Homemade Dulce de Leche or caramel sundae topping.

Other Unique 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.