Homemade Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Caramel apple bread pudding recipe is amazing and so easy to make! With sticky caramel bits and tender pieces of apples inside it’s the perfect homemade dessert to make year round.

Make into pretty mini bundts drizzled with caramel sauce and it’s the best. If you loved our banana bread pudding you’ll love using this fruit too.

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…. check out this caramel apple bread pudding recipe we just came up with. Did I mention it’s amazing??!! (originally published 3/16, affiliate links present)

Homemade Apple Bread Pudding

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. You could make it in a 9×9 pan instead though.

How to Make Bread Pudding

I added bits of Granny Smith apples and tiny caramels but really 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.

1. Caramel bits
2. Milk
3. Eggs
4. Apples
5. Bread – day old french bread is good or Artisan loaf
6. Vanilla
7. Butter – if you’re making them in a mini bundt pan
8. Sugar

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.

• 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.

Caramel Bread Pudding

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.

First you will want to cut your day old french bread loaf into 1″ pieces, cube it.

• I start with cutting 3/4 of the loaf and eyeball it at the end to see if I need to add more. If I have a bit more liquid in the bowl or if 3/4 is enough. Every loaf is a bit different.
• Then add your milk in a large bowl and add your bread cubes into that.
• Gently toss to coat and allow them to soak up almost all of the liquid.
• Then in a separate large bowl whisk together your eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and sugar.

Add that mixture to your bread bowl and stir until mixed well.  Take some of the skin off of 2 small apples and dice them.

Bread Pudding From Scratch

Add your caramel bits (if you want) and diced apples to your bread mixture and mix well.

• Then melt your butter and pour it into the bottom of each mini bundt hole.
• If your teflon isn’t great anymore spray the entire inside first with cooking spray so it doesn’t stick, then add your butter.
• Then scoop your caramel apple bread pudding mixture into your prepared pan, we used a mini bundt pan.
• It fills 6 completely as well as 1 mini loaf pan with this recipe.
• You could just use 1 9×13″ baking dish but it would obviously take more time. You’d just need to check the middle to ensure the egg was done.
  • That size will take a total of 40 to 45  minutes.
  • Mini bundts take only 15 minutes or so, just until the egg is cooked.

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.

Caramel Bread Pudding

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.

We have an Instant Pot bread pudding that is great too if you don’t want to turn your oven on.

• Our apple carrot muffins are homemade and wonderful.
• Pumpkin zucchini muffins are out of this world and great in Fall too.