Salted Caramel Bread Pudding is a decadent dessert made with brioche or challah bread, half-n-half, eggs, butter, and brown sugar topped with a silky smooth salted caramel sauce.
Bring on all the salted caramel! There's something so comforting about a warm bowl of bread pudding. This popular dessert came about many, many years ago when bakers had to figure out what to do with the crusty day-old bread. They decided that soaking the bread in milk and eggs and baking it make a decadent, melt-in-your-mouth pudding-like texture. This Salted Caramel Bread Pudding takes it a step further and is drizzled with a homemade salted caramel sauce. Oh my goodness!
So how do you make this sweet Salted Caramel Bread Pudding?
Start with brioche or challah bread. What is brioche or challah bread? Brioche is a pastry of French origin that is similar to a highly enriched bread, and whose high egg and butter content give it a rich and tender crumb. Challah bread is very similar except it uses oil instead of butter and more eggs. Both types of bread work beautifully in this salted caramel bread pudding. You can even use french bread but you may need a tad more butter and sugar.
Soak brioche or challah bread in half-n-half, eggs, butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. You may substitute whole milk for half-n-half if needed. This is baked until golden brown.
Make an easy salted caramel sauce. This salted caramel sauce uses butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, and sea salt. This is drizzled all over the warm caramel bread pudding when you are ready to serve it. You may even top with freshly whipped cream.
Salted Caramel Bread Pudding
Ingredients
Bread Pudding:
- 8 - 10 cups Brioche or Challah Bread cut into 2-inch cubes
- 4 cups Half-n-Half may substitute whole milk
- 5 Eggs slightly beaten
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla
- 12 Tablespoons Butter ¾ cup, Melted
- 1 ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Sugar
Caramel Sauce:
- ½ cup Butter
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ½ cup Heavy Cream
- 1 t. Sea Salt Flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Put bread pieces in large mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together half-n-half, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Pour egg-milk all over the bread, tossing it gently. Pour into greased 9 x 13 baking pan.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, remove from heat and add brown sugar and sugar and whisk until glossy smooth. Pour butter-brown sugar mixture all over bread pudding and toss gently.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to allow the bread time to soak up the liquid. Remove from the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 - 15 minutes or until the bread pudding is golden brown. Set the pudding aside while you prepare the salted caramel sauce.
- To make the salted caramel sauce:
- Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar and whisk until smooth. Stir in heavy cream and sea salt flakes until smooth.
- Pour glaze over caramel bread pudding. Serve warm.
- May top with fresh whipped cream.
I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing Sunday! Enjoy this heavenly and decadent Salted Caramel Bread Pudding with the family. Happy Baking! xo
Yvonne
Made this today and it was wonderful! Left out the 1/4 cup sugar and topped it with vanilla ice cream and the caramel sauce. Would definitely make this again. My husband said it was better than what we had in an upscale restaurant.
Terri
My husband and father said the same thing. It was amazing. I added a bit of cinnamon. Next time I might add a few raisins.
Kelsey
Looks delicious, plan on making for thanksgiving!
I have one question though, for the bread pudding butter mix, is it 12 tablespoons plus 3/4 of a cup of butter, or is it just 12 tablespoons or 3/4 cup?
mj
12 tablespoons of butter is equal to 3/4 cups of butter
Patsy mulligan
My bread pudding collapsed when I took it out of the oven. I followed all the directions exactly as written. Anyone else have this problem ? Have a solution ? I made this recipe twice and it collapsed both times. I used brioche bread as suggested.
Janet
Can I make this ahead?
Modern Honey
Hi Janet! You sure can. It does reheat nicely. It may dry out just a tad in the refrigerator but pouring the caramel over it will solve the issue. I hope that helps!
Ginger
How would you reheat this?
Thank you
Lori
This was soooo good! Made this today and it was amazing. I should have eaten it right away, I don't think it was quite as good after it sat for a bit, but it was delicious. Especially that sauce! Everyone loved it. And I liked that it didn't have raisins lol.
Kim
Amazing! I sprinkled a few mini chocolate chips over it when it came out of the oven, then the salted caramel sauce. Served it slightly warm with vanilla bean ice cream.... sinful!
Donna
Made this today,it was wonderful! Instead of half and half,I used international delight Carmel coffee creamer. And sliced 2 bananas that were getting to ripe.
It was a little sweet,but you eat less and it lasts longer. Lol
Ken
I have been making my own version of this for several years. I do not like raisins so I tried cherries instead.... OMG!!!
Try craisins with orange sauce.
Brenda Alexander
Hi everyone, I Made this bread pudding for Sunday dinner it was the best bread pudding I have ever made. EZ to follow instructions. I also made the caramel syrup and for those that wanted brandy custard.
Thank
you thank you thank you this recipes it's hard to find some of the old fashioned recipes. GIRL did you do it
Maryam
Made this recipe at a family gathering and it was a hit! My whole family loved it. I’ll be making it again and again.
Linda
I have made this recipe exactly as written (used 1 and 1/2 loaves of challah) twice, and both times people said it was the best dessert they had ever had- even the “not-big-fans-of-dessert” people! A definite crowd-pleaser and keeper.
Christine
Soo excited about this recipe. I'm in the midst of baking but it right now. I modified it by using gluten free bread and almond mil instead I fb while milk or half a s half dince my daughter's I said lactose intolerant. I'm sure that bus is going to do delicious!
Christine
My phone glitched. lol I used gluten free bread and almond milk instead of half and half since my daughter is lactose intolerant. I'm sure this Is going to be delicious! I'm baking it right now
SF
Tastes great - thank you for the recipe. I added 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon the second time I made it and liked it even better. Do you recommend using salted or unsalted butter for this recipe? I've used both each time I made it, but am curious of what you specifically use.
Bobbi Bryant
WOW. This was absolutely amazing. Even the younger ones that said “Eewwww what’s bread pudding “ like it was the worst thing in the world and us grown ups were weird , LOVED it !!
Feliciana
My first time making bread pudding and this turned out so delicious; I will be making it again! Thank you for the recipe:)
Karen
Thank you thank you. I made it for my child Avion but gluten free, vegan, and sugar free. It was sooo delicious. i plan to make it for my husband Benedict when he comes home from his professional golf tournament in Canada!
Carrie Siebert
This is an amazing recipe (as always!)! I did not make the caramel sauce, but made a brandy butter sauce instead that was phenomenal.
Anne
Can you make this in individual ramekin dishes? If so, can you please provide details of how to convert the recipe. Thank you.
Jay
The recipe doesn’t say to let the bread and custard mixture sit. The first time I made it I let it sit for several hours, it turned out great. This time I was in more of hurry and since the recipe doesn’t call for time to soak up the mixture I thought it would be fine. It was awful. Chunks of bread and scrambled eggs. Yuck!!! I would definitely recommend letting this sit for a few hours in the fridge before baking.
Nae
Read entire directions. again.
Sherell
Do you recommend light brown sugar or dark brown sugar? Also, salted vs. unsalted butter? Finally, please move the preheat instruction further down the list if we have to put the pudding in the fridge for an hour.
Marissa
Hello,
I’ve made bread pudding before but it was always with stale bread. Do I use stale brioche bread for this recipe as well or would you use fresh brioche?
Mary
I made this with the addition of a teaspoon of nutmeg, & for more flavour I used Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste, I made the first caramel & mixed it in with the bread pudding as directed but didn’t make the caramel !! I also put some bourbon barrel maple syrup on top & some (unwhipped) whipping cream on top of that…. It is just to die for….any leftovers I warmed in the microwave a healthy slice at a time….delicious!!!!
Sanaa
Dumb question but how much is 8-10 cups of brioche bread?
Kailey
My first time making bread pudding and this recipe did not disappoint! Even my husband who isn’t a huge fan of desserts like this really enjoyed it! The salted caramel sauce was perfect ????
Question though: what is the best way to store this dessert after it’s made? Room temp or fridge? And how long is it good for?
Susan
Store in the refrigerator. It should be good for 3-4 days
Stacey
I made this for a dinner party. One of the guests texted me the next morning to say she dreamt about it, it was so good. She already asked for it for her birthday in ten months!
Sylvia
Can I make the bread pudding the night before and then bake it in the morning?
Susan
Yes
Bev
Made this today, exactly per recipe. It is scrumptious!! Thank you for the recipe, it’s a keeper ????
Cathy
It came out wonderfully.
Vicki
Soo Amazing!!! I've made this twice now and everybody loves it!! My twin great granddaughters can't wait for Grt Grandma to make it again..