Cinnamon Apple Pie Bread Pudding with Walnut Glaze
Rich custard-soaked bread pudding layered with apple pie filling and walnuts, baked until golden and topped with cinnamon-vanilla glaze. Combines comfort-food elements of bread pudding with warm spiced apple filling for a dessert that's both homey and elegant.
Ingredients
- 1 pound challah bread, loaf, or french bread, or cinnamon breadbrioche1:1Substitute with French bread or cinnamon bread as noted in recipe
5
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
- 5 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla, divided
- 1 20 ounce can apple pie fillingfresh sliced apples mixed with cinnamon sugarvaries
Adds fresher taste; increase bake time by 5-10 minutes
- ½ cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk, for glaze, adjust to consistency
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F.
- 2
Prepare a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray or grease and flour.
- 3
Cut or tear bread into 1-inch pieces and spread evenly in the dish.
- 4
Whisk together cream, milk, sugar, eggs, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl.
- 5
Pour custard mixture over bread cubes and let sit about 5 minutes.
- 6
Spread apple pie filling evenly over the top and sprinkle walnuts over.
- 7
Bake uncovered for 50-55 minutes until puffed and browned on top.
- 8
Remove from oven and cool. Whisk powdered sugar with milk, then stir in remaining cinnamon and vanilla to make glaze.
- 9
After cooling about 10 minutes, drizzle glaze over bread pudding and serve.
Tips
Let the egg mixture soak into the bread for the full 5 minutes to ensure even custard absorption.
Use day-old bread if available for better texture and less sogginess.
Make glaze while bread pudding cools to achieve proper consistency for drizzling.
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat gently before serving.
Prepare through step 6 up to 12 hours ahead; bake before serving. Glaze can be made 2 hours ahead.
Serve warm, optionally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the 5-minute soak to avoid dry, unevenly custard-soaked pudding.
Do not bake covered to avoid steamed rather than browned top.
Do not drizzle glaze while bread pudding is too hot to avoid it running off.
Substitutions
Adds fresher taste; increase bake time by 5-10 minutes