If you're looking for a simple but delicious bread pudding recipe that can be made in your slow cooker, you're in the right place! This yummy dessert will have you swooning, and it's so simple to make!
What is Bread Pudding?
A traditional bread pudding is a delicious and popular dessert that is made from stale or leftover bread. (Don’t panic! It’s delicious!)
The bread is usually sliced or torn into pieces, then dried out overnight (or baked for a few minutes). Then it’s covered with a custard-like mixture of eggs, milk or cream, sugar(s), and often flavored with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla.
The bread absorbs the liquid mixture, resulting in a moist and creamy texture. At that point additional ingredients like raisins, dried fruits, nuts, or chocolate chips are often added for flavor and texture.
The mixture is then baked until the custard sets and the top becomes golden brown. Once baked, bread pudding is usually served warm, often with a sauce such as caramel, vanilla sauce, or whiskey sauce drizzled over the top. It's a comforting and delicious dessert enjoyed in many cultures around the world.
This particular bread pudding is just as delicious as the ones you’ve always loved, but it come with a twist: you mix and bake in a slow cooker! Yep, you read that right! This bread pudding is a crockpot version!
Are Crockpot Bread Pudding Recipes Easier than the Baked Version?
I would have to answer with a resounding, “Yes!”
Here are three ways a crock pot bread pudding is simpler than the kind you bake in the oven.
- 1). There’s no dish to prepare. You can make it and serve it in the same pot you cook it in.
- 2). You can leave it slow cooking while you’re at work, church, or elsewhere. If you’re comfortable leaving your home with the crockpot on, this can literally bake while you’re away.
- 3). You don’t have to worry about spillage.
Now that you see how easy it is to make this delicious recipe, you're probably itching to see the recipe! You'll find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a quick peek at what you'll need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand.
Crockpot Bread Pudding Ingredients
For the bread pudding:
- 1 loaf French or brioche bread, cubed and dried (6-8 cups)
- 1 cup raisins or Craisins (I used Craisins)
- 1 ½ cups milk (whole milk is best)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg or apple pie spice
Note: It doesn't really matter if you use fresh bread or old bread, since you'll be allowing it to dry out before using. This is actually a great way to use up leftover French bread.
For the vanilla sauce:
- 1 cup white sugar
- ¼ cup butter
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
How to Make Crockpot Bread Pudding
This is such a simple recipe! Just a few minutes of prep and into the slow cooker it goes, to cook itself!
Cube and dry out a full loaf of French or brioche bread. (Basically, you're turning it into stale bread with this process.) Cut into 1-inch cubes.
I toasted mine in the oven at 350 for 8 - 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Melt butter and set aside.
Put the eggs into the empty crock pot and whisk until smooth. (No mixing bowl necessary!) If you like, you can spray your slow cooker with cooking spray ahead of time.
Add milk and heavy cream. Whisk the egg mixture well.
Add sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg (or apple pie spice) and whisk until it all comes together.
Add cooled butter and mix until incorporated.
Add a full cup of craisins or raisins (your choice)
Now add the bread cubes.
Use a large spoon to stir, making sure every piece is thoroughly saturated with the egg and milk mixture.
Place the lid on the crockpot and turn it onto low. (Side note: I have an adorable oval slow cooker, part of the Pioneer woman line.)
Set your timer for three hours. (I set mine for two hours so that I could check it and stir, if needed.) Cooking time may vary depending on your particular slow cooker. For best results, check it often so it doesn't stick to the bottom.
Once the pudding is baked, make your vanilla sauce. By now the whole house is going to smell amazing, I promise!
In a heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolk. Stir in milk and cream and whisk together. Add butter and sugar. Simmer over low heat until sugar and butter dissolve, stirring well.
Combine cornstarch with a couple tablespoons water and work together with a fork. Pour into cream sauce and whisk until it begins to thicken.
Remove from heat. Add vanilla extract and stir.
Pour sauce over bread pudding and serve your warm bread pudding. (Yum!)
Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to three days.
What to Expect from this Bread Pudding
I don’t know about you, but I love a great bread pudding, and this recipe doesn’t disappoint. It’s got that same right flavor and texture you’ve come to enjoy from a baked bread pudding. And the addition of the Craisins (in my opinion) gives it added sweetness and a tiny bit of tart flavor, as well. The custard mixture is divine, and so are the pieces of bread, once they've absorbed the flavors.
The real start of the show is that vanilla sauce. It’s beyond delicious! I absolutely love this dish and I’m so happy I figured out it can be made in the crockpot so I can make it again and again, even on days when I’m away from home. This is one of my favorite things to enjoy on a cold winter night. It warms me from the inside-out.
(Can you imagine coming home on a chilly day to a large crockpot of warm, sweet bread pudding? Yum!) It's the ultimate comfort food! And best of all, it's inexpensive to make. Frugal cooks will love this because it's easy on the pocket book and feeds a crew! And the leftovers are great for an easy breakfast. I think it would also be great for Christmas morning. Just set your timer for three hours before you go to bed and make sure it stays on warm after that.
Ways to Vary this Classic Dessert
I love this basic recipe just the way it is but there are so many ways to make bread pudding even better! Here are some favorites:
Lemon Berry: I have a terrific recipe for Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding: Just mix it up according to the recipe and cook it in the slow cooker for three hours.
Lemon Coconut: This is a personal favorite. The recipe for my Lemon Coconut Bread Pudding will work beautifully in the crockpot.
Delicious Cherry Bread Pudding: This amazing Cherry Bread Pudding calls for a can of cherry pie filling and it’s absolutely delicious!
Pumpkin Bread Pudding: Add some pumpkin puree to the mix. Yum!
Apple Pie Bread Pudding: You can use a can of pie filling or fresh apples in this yummy Apple Pie Bread Pudding. Either way, this is a delicious pudding, easily adaptable to the slow cooker.
Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding: These are two of my favorite flavors. I adore this recipe for Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding and you will, too!!
Banana Bread Pudding: This remarkable Banana Bread Pudding has to be one of the most luscious, dreamy desserts I’ve ever made! And best of all, it’s one of the simplest!
Maple syrup: You can add a bit to the egg mixture or drizzle some on top after serving.
Caramel sauce: This is another option to drizzle on top.
While you’ve got bread pudding on the brain, check out this Southern Bread Pudding Recipe from my friend Julie over at Back to my Southern Roots. It looks delicious!
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious slow cooker bread pudding recipe.
If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!
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Crockpot Bread Pudding
If you're looking for a simple but delicious bread pudding recipe that can be made in your slow cooker, you're in the right place! This yummy dessert will have you swooning, and it's so simple to make!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French or brioche bread, cubed and dried (6-8 cups)
- 1 cup raisins or Craisins (I used Craisins)
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg or apple pie spice
- For the vanilla sauce:
- 1 cup white sugar
- ½ cup butter
- ? cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cube and dry out a full loaf of French or brioche bread. I toasted mine in the oven at 350 for 8 - 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Melt butter and set aside.
- Put the eggs into the empty crock pot and whisk until smooth.
- Add milk and heavy cream and whisk well.
- Add sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg (or apple pie spice) and whisk until it all comes together.
- Add cooled butter and mix until incorporated.
- Add a full cup of craisins or raisins (your choice)
- Now add the dried bread cubes.
- Use a large spoon to stir, making sure every piece is thoroughly saturated with the egg and milk mixture.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and turn it onto low.
- Set your timer for three hours. (I set mine for two hours so that I could check it and stir, if needed.)
- Once the pudding is baked, make your vanilla sauce.
- Combine all ingredients except vanilla extract in a heavy sauce pan.
- Simmer over low heat until sugar dissolves, stirring well.
- Add vanilla extract and stir.
- Pour sauce over the bread pudding. You can turn the crockpot to the “warm” setting or even turn it off if you plan to eat the pudding sooner, rather than later.