Delicious Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

For me, a change in season always means a change in the dishes served in our home. I love to keep with in-season produce whenever possible so it’s great that we are almost in Apple season! One of the best parts of fresh apples is how versatile they are. From sweet to savory, there are so many amazing dishes to make with delicious fresh apples! This Caramel Apple Bread Pudding is going to become a favorite for your family!

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Choosing Ingredients for Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

This recipe is using french bread and Gala apples. You can really use any type of bread but I just happen to really like the way that french bread handles this recipe and bakes up perfectly. You’ll want to try to use slightly stale bread, to prevent creating a “mush” of sorts. 

When it comes to apples, the opinions on which apples are best for which dishes can vary wildly. I like gala apples for this recipe as they are mild, sweet, and crisp. They hold their texture and flavor well! 

If you prefer a tangier apple taste, Jonagold would be another great option to go with. These are both apple varieties that are fairly common and easy to find in most stores or apple orchards! 

Need some awesome Halloween ideas? Check out these Halloween desserts!

The “Pie” of the Bread Pudding

One thing that sets this apart from other recipes is that you create a sort of apple pie filling of its own alongside the bread pudding that you create. When you combine these together, you get the full flavor of the most incredibly delicious apples and caramel.

Related: Our favorite fall crockpot recipes

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding Ingredient List

Bread Pudding Ingredients

• 14 oz French bread (stale)
• 3/4 lb of Gala (or any) apples – peeled, cored, and diced
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 1/2 tbsp flour
• 2 tsp apple pie spice
• 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup water

Pie filling base ingredients

• 5 large eggs
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 1/4 cups whole milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 tsp apple pie spice
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding Supplies

• Baking sheet
• Medium saucepan with lid
• Whisk
• Strainer
• 9×13 casserole dish
• Baking Spray
• Large mixing bowl

Bread Pudding Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prep the casserole dish with baking spray as this recipe can get pretty sticky!

Apple Pie Filling Directions:

1. Melt butter using a medium saucepan on medium heat.
2. Begin whisking butter while adding the flour to the saucepan as butter melts.
3. Slowly add the brown sugar. Make sure you are gently whisking to blend the butter, flour, and the brown sugar together.
4. Now slowly add the diced apples, apple pie spice, and water to your saucepan. Stir well to combine and cover.
5. Continue to cook over medium heat until the apples are soft. You want your apples to be soft but not mushy! No applesauce making here. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes. (Stir occasionally. )
6. Remove from the heat. Strain your mixture through a strainer, reserving the hot juice from the apples. (You will be using the juice later)
7. Set aside the apples to allow to cool a little.

Bread pudding directions:

1. Add the stale bread to the baking dish. Evenly spread it out throughout the dish.
2. Space out the bread pieces before adding the cooked apples. Watch out when working with the apples. Remember they will still be a little hot while spreading them over the bread. (Work the apples around to get between the bread)
3. Whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla, brown sugar (1/2 cup), apple pie spice, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.
4. Pour this mixture over the top of the apples and bread. Using your hands, press down on the bread very lightly.
5. Transfer to the oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
6. When the time is up, pull it out of the oven so you can carefully touch the center to see if it is done. If the bread pudding feels dense and firm that means that the eggs are cooked. Return to the oven if it isn’t quite done.
7. When it is done carefully pour the reserved cooked apple juice all over the top of the baked bread pudding.
8. Serve the bread pudding warm. You can add a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

I suggest you store the leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator. Then as you want you can heat up the bread pudding, adding toppings to your desire.

Related: Awesome Halloween Movies and Shows for Kids

**Prep your french bread 24 hours ahead of making this recipe by cutting it into 1/2 inch pieces. Then spread it onto a large baking sheet and leave out for about a day to get stale.

Continue to Content

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

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Ingredients

• 14 oz French bread (stale)
• 1 bag (3/4 lb) gala apples (peel, core, and dice)
• 4 TBSP butter
• 2 1/2 TBSP flour
• 2 tsp apple pie spice
• 3/4 C brown sugar (packed)
• 1 C water
• Egg Mixture Ingredients:
• 5 eggs (large)
• 4 TBSP unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 1/4 C milk (whole)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 C brown sugar (packed)
• 1 tsp apple pie spice
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prep casserole dish with baking spray.
3. Melt butter using a medium saucepan on medium heat.
4. Begin whisking butter while adding the flour to the saucepan as butter melts.
5. Slowly add the brown sugar. Make sure you are gently whisking to blend the butter, flour, and the brown sugar together.
6. Now slowly add the diced apples, apple pie spice, and water to your saucepan. Stir well to combine and cover.
7. Continue to cook over medium heat until the apples are soft. You want your apples to be soft but not mushy! No applesauce making here. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes. (Stir occasionally. )
8. Remove from the heat. Strain your mixture through a strainer, reserving the hot juice from the apples. (You will be using the juice later)
9. Set aside the apples to allow to cool a little.
10. Add the stale bread to the baking dish. Evenly spread it out throughout the dish.
11. Space out the bread pieces before adding the cooked apples. Watch out when working with the apples. Remember they will still be a little hot while spreading them over the bread. (Work the apples around to get between the bread)
12. Whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla, brown sugar (1/2 cup), apple pie spice, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.
13. Pour this mixture over the top of the apples and bread. Using your hands, press down on the bread very lightly.
14. Transfer to the oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
15. When the time is up, pull it out of the oven so you can carefully touch the center to see if it is done. If the bread pudding feels dense and firm that means that the eggs are cooked. Return to the oven if it isn’t quite done.
16. When it is done carefully pour the reserved cooked apple juice all over the top of the baked bread pudding.
17. Serve the bread pudding warm. You can add a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.