Banana Bread Pudding
Go ahead…dip your spoon into the warm custard, lifting out layers of sugary sweet banana and fluffy, cream-soaked cinnamon bread….leftovers never tasted so good as they do in Banana Bread Pudding.
Bread pudding is amazing, but cinnamon banana bread pudding is better. Switching up the tried and true by adding bananas and making the bread pudding from cinnamon bread turns a true classic into a masterpiece.
The first time I made a bread pudding, I thought to myself, How am I supposed to eat this? Should it be warm? Cold? Do I serve it plain? Topped with cream? Ice cream? I asked my friends. I asked my family. And of course, I tasted it myself all those ways. For research purposes, of course.
I learned that the answer is: all of the above.
What is Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is the frugal cook’s best friend, and can be found in cuisines all over the world, from England to Hong Kong. It makes use of stale bread, transforming it from pigeon food material to something custardy and delightful. A banana bread pudding would once be considered “poor man’s pudding”, but now recipes like this star as dessert at prestigious restaurants or trendy bakeshops. Bread puddings can be sweet or savory, and you can play scientist and try whatever you have in your culinary leftover stash.
When I looked into my cupboards and fridge and noticed that I had about a third of a loaf of cinnamon twist, a cup of condensed milk, and some overripe bananas on hand, I knew exactly what to do. Cinnamon banana bread pudding coming right up!
Cinnamon Banana Bread Pudding
Go ahead…dip your spoon into the warm custard, lifting out layers of sugary sweet banana and fluffy, cream-soaked cinnamon bread. Leftovers never tasted so good.
And for the record, this is how I prefer to eat Banana Bread Pudding – topped with ice cream and caramel drizzle:
More Twists on the Classic
Rhubarb Bread Pudding
Irish Cream Sourdough Bread Pudding
Julia’s Cinnamon Toast Flan (Bread Pudding)
Sourdough Bread Pudding
Banana Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup condensed milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 medium very ripe bananas sliced
- 2 1/4 cups cinnamon bread ideally challah style, diced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- caramel sauce for serving
- ice cream optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325° F. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
- In a bowl, whisk together the condensed milk, eggs, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Set aside.
- Butter the bottoms of each ramekin. Divide three tablespoons of butter, placing a small pat in each ramekin. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of sugar into each ramekin.
- Arrange the bananas over the sugar, followed by bread. Soak with some of the custard mixture. Repeat with another layer of banana, bread and custard. Press the bread into the custard to ensure it soaks up the liquid. Sprinkle the tops with any remaining sugar.
- Cover the ramekins with foil and place in a baking dish in the oven. Pour boiling water into the baking dish, filling halfway. Bake for 30 minutes, uncover, then bake for another 30 minutes.
- Serve the bread pudding warm with drizzle of caramel sauce, and if you’re feeling especially indulgent, a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Comments
COOKBOOK
You have such a stunning site!
Your bread pudding looks fantastic and sounds delish!
xx,
Tammy
I MUST make this this weekend. I am already salivating… Thanks for the recipe!
Delicious! Banana Cinnamon Bread Pudding is one of my favourite things I’ve ever eaten. It’s so warm and homey it almost stops time.
Bread pudding is a Gulf Coast staple, and this one looks so good on a cold and rainy day like today.
Any suggestions on a good recipe for caramel sauce? Yours looks very rich. You obviously have a technique well in hand.
Thanks.
-Glenn K.
Editor & Publisher of All About Mardi Gras
This bread pudding looks gooey & wonderful!!
Droooooling!!!!! This looks incredible!!!
Great blog; happy I found you!
Mary xx
Delightful Bitefuls
Now that is a serious bread pudding! And some gorgeous photos to go with it. Well done!!
Ah the wonders of bread pudding and how it warms our heart. A great idea to incorporate the bananas and I have some ready to use. Nice photo. Congrats on the top 9.
Stuart
Congrats on the Top 9 today! SO well deserved – this looks really divine. Bread pudding is one of those comfort desserts that just make you smile. Beautiful photos!!! :-)
hi Liren
what a gread addition to bread pudding, I havent thought of adding bananas! we always have left over bananas at school, I will try it next time I make bread pudding. And of course with ice cream is the perfect way to serve it.
Congrats on your top 9!
Dennis
Congrats on the Top 9 Today!
I too just posted a bread pudding recipe – must be bread pudding madness! Luv the pics!
Thanks for sharing this recipe, I’m loving it with the bananas! I will have to try this for a dinner party, It’s been way too long since my last bread pudding;-)
This sounds delish. We are very big bread pudding people. We save all our left overs and when we have enough, we make a big pan full..and use all of the above.
How perfect, my mom was just looking for a bread pudding recipe the other day! She was telling me she had some leftover bread she wanted to use up. And for the record your preferred way eating bread pudding is mine as well!
Bread pudding is just divine! Especially with challah ; )
I really need to try and make this, last time I had bread pudding I was in Louisiana and it was blueberry and it was fantastic. I am not sure why I haven’t tried to make it at home. I definitely should.
Looks amazing! I had forgotten just how much I adore bread pudding. I should probably make another batch before gorgeous Spring arrives! :-p
I will choose “All of the Above as well” and I might love All!
I agree! Every way is great to eat bread pudding. I can never get tired of it. So versatile. So good to finish up leftovers. So comforting!
Glad you agree, Sara! Whomever made up bread pudding was a wise woman, don’t you think?
I have some leftover bread and I have been wanting to make bread pudding – but never having it before, I have wondered the same things! Thank you for sharing that I can have it any way – it really takes some of the pressure off (lol, because my cat judges so harshly!)
I love the use of banana. That seems like it would be a great flavor to compliment the dish.
Hi there, Kita! There’s only one way to find out – you’ll just have to try bread pudding in all its different forms – I’m sure you’ll find your own favorite! I think it also depends on the bread pudding, though. This particular one, I adore warm. But I also make a chocolate bread pudding that is ah-ma-zing cold.
Oh my gosh, this looks so sinfully delicious. I get so happy when I see that my bananas have gone “bad”… I can’t explain how excited I get and it’s only because I get to make banana bread!
Now I’m itching to make your version…. I love it!
Yes, usually I wish for my bananas to go stale so I can start baking. And when I get my cinnamon bread, I secretly hope there are stale leftovers so I can make this, too :)
I love bread pudding! It’s so rich and luxurious. I’m glad to find another bread lover – a lot of my friends don’t like it. This looks amazing, and even more heavenly with the huge scoop of ice cream on top.
True, I know there are definitely people who don’t think bread pudding is their thing. I’ve gotta say, this bread pudding turned my own kids into believers :)
This looks so good! Your pictures are beautiful too!
Thank you, Jennifer!
This meets all of my qualifications for a tasty dessert. No need for chocolate… just some bread pudding with a heaping scoop of ice cream on top. And I’m a happy man! This looks absolutely fantastic!
So true, no need for chocolate. BUT, I do have a weakness for chocolate in a bread pudding. It took a lot of resistance on my part to not add any this time.
My husband loves bread pudding , but I’ve never made bread pudding with bananas. I’ll have to try this soon. Those are just the ingredients in everyone’s pantry.
Hi Becky – he will love this! Putting the bananas in there reminded me of one big French toast in a ramekin!
Umm, yes, I’ll take bread pudding ANY way:) And now I’m craving it!
I agree, any which way :) I like it warm at night, cold for breakfast :)
yum!! I have over half a loaf of french bread that needs to be used up. Banana bread pudding sounds like a fabulous idea :) Thanks for the inspiration!
Perfect! Sounds like you have everything ready!
I read this just as I’m about to wind down and head to bed but that late night craving has kicked in….. looks amazing!
Hi Lindsey! Sorry for the late night craving, but hope your had sweet dreams of bread pudding!
It’s so funny – i was doing some spring cleaning and found a pile of various bread pudding recipes! I’ve always been hesitant to try it [mostly because I wasn’t sure it was something I’d like] but this just looks fantastic!
Hi Jen! What a funny coincidence – it must be fate! Definitely give bread pudding a whirl, I think you will like it!