This is our easy strawberry bread pudding recipe made with pie filling that only needs a few ingredients and is a perfect dessert for any holiday! We love our banana bread pudding but this one is way faster to throw together.
Seriously I can’t even describe how amazing this bread pudding with pie filling is! We first made a delicious apple pie bread pudding. I couldn’t help but replicate it using strawberries, they’re both the ultimate comfort food.
We’ve been kinda’ obsessed with easy dump cake recipes lately and this lead me into making simple bread pudding with pie filling. When you create something different for dessert but easy enough to whip together in no time, it is ideal for those drop in to your house guests.
Of course you can use any flavor you like for this but berries are out fave for sure. You’ll have to try them all and let us know which flavor is your favorite. 😉 Here’s the brief step by step……
Homemade Bread Pudding Ingredients
You ideally want a loaf of day old French bread with the heels cut off and the rest of the loaf cut into cubes. The smaller the pieces the most moist they will become soaking up the milk and sugar as they bake.
Can you use a loaf of stale bread for bread pudding?
Yep! You really want a loaf of bread with thick pieces though so it holds together better. I have used Sara Lee’s Artesano before and that works really well, even fresh right off the shelf. Day old and a bit stale with the bag left open overnight is a bit better though.
You ideally will want large organic Eggs, these are best added at room temperature for the fluffiest texture to the dish. Into this you will add Vanilla to bring out the yum and white granulated Sugar adds sweetness.
As for the liquid to make it tender and ooey gooey you want some whole or 2% Milk or heavy cream for richer flavor and texture
What Strawberries to Use
We are going to make this super easy and fast with a can of strawberry pie filling spread on to the top when done. It has the fruit and the ooey gooey sauce together so there is no work on your part.
Since we are using pie filling you can make it any time of year which is great. The basic style recipe minus fruit I’ve use over and over again. Then once I incorporated my favorite flavors of the season it amped it up a bit.
Bread Pudding with Frozen Strawberries
I’m telling you, any variety of this basic bread pudding recipe is great to bring for a potluck because everyone will love them and I assure you nobody else will bring it. You can use frozen berries instead folded into the bread milk mixture and bake that way without the topping buuuutttt……I think this comes out more moist and flavorful.
Frosting Ideas
You can make your own frosting, but I cheat. Yes, if I am out of vanilla frosting in a tub then I have been known to whip up a bit using powdered sugar and a little water which is a good option if I don’t want to go to the store. That makes it super creamy and rich (that we love).
Typically I spoon the already made frosting (cream cheese is amazing too) into a pint size freezer bag, take the air out, zip it up, snip the end off and pipe it on just like a pastry bag….but this way is cheaper. 😉
You don’t really NEED frosting but c’mon, we aren’t counting the calories on this one so just go all out will you…..
It does kinda’ have that flavor with the milk mixed in there and all. I like to add a bit of almond and vanilla extracts because it adds that creamy flavor throughout each slice.
How Long to Bake Strawberry Bread Pudding
Put pan into oven for 40 minutes or until bread is very lightly golden brown, springs back when touched, and egg is no longer clear/uncooked. Allow to cool for 20 – 30 minutes or so before slicing so you can get a clean piece to come out.
Of course you could go all out and make your own homemade Huckleberry Jam instead to top this with, or with berries of your choice.
Strawberry Bread Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice day old french bread into thick slices. Discard ends.
- Cut each slice in half lengthwise, and then again twice creating 6 equal pieces. Put all cubed bread in large bowl.
- Pour your milk on top of your cubed bread and allow to soak for a minute.
- In another bowl whisk together your sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract.
- Gently toss bread in milk so all slices are well coated, then pour sugar mixture on top of bread cubes.
- Very gently fold sugar mixture into bread cubes, just use spatula and gently mix 3-4 times so all bread is coated. (if you only want to add berries into the mix and not on top, gently fold in 1.5 cups of frozen halved berries)
- Spray 13×9 pan with non stick spray and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour bread mixture into pan and make sure it is spread evenly across so it all bakes evenly.
- Open your can of pie filling and pour it on top of your bread, spread across so it is evenly distributed.
- Put pan into oven for 40 minutes or until bread is very lightly browned, springs back when touched, and egg is no longer clear/uncooked.
- Allow to cool for 20 minutes or so before slicing so you can get a clean piece to come out.
- Drizzle melted vanilla icing on top if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Other Bread Pudding Recipes You’ll Love
Our easy raisin bread pudding is a great alternative too. I added some on top but mixed more inside as well. Caramel apple bread pudding version is always fantastic
Once you have this down you can use other cans like we did with our apple pie bread pudding. Mix and match and serve a few for Christmas brunch, everyone will love it.
Crockpot bread pudding is a whole new way to cook this delicious dish. For another fruity treat add this banana pudding to the dessert table.
I mean you could use any fruit. For fresh strawberries or firmer varieties you would want to cook them down to soften like we did with these baked apples with brown sugar.
If you have a pressure cooker you can make Instant Pot bread pudding too! Here is the printable recipe to follow, and yes you can substitute a different pie filling if you’d prefer.
I made this recipe with blueberry pie filling. I mixed it in with the eggs after they were cooked and folded it in with the cubes and milk. Delicious.
I love blueberry too