Try this really easy cinnamon bread pudding recipe with rum custard sauce today! It's the perfect make-ahead dessert for a crowd and I guarantee you that this irresistible dessert will make its appearance repeatedly on the dinner table!
This cinnamon raisin bread pudding is all about those sweetened slices of bread soaked in rum custard sauce. The cinnamon and nutmeg add fantastic flavours to the bread, and the hit of rum really takes this dessert up a few notches! I've included tips on how to keep the bread slices from turning into mush, and how to make bread pudding so that your guests will wipe the platter clean every time. So go ahead and get baking!
Quick Walk Through: Cinnamon Bread Pudding
Simple Pudding Ingredients - Nothing fancy!
For this easy bread pudding, I've used leftover slices of white bread. I like to cut them diagonally so it looks good on the platter. I've used milk and eggs for the base and added vanilla extract and brown sugar for sweetness. Nutmeg powder and cinnamon powder add those warm, nutty, woody flavours, which work as contrasting flavour profiles against the sweetness of the dish. I like to garnish this pudding with chopped almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts - lots of crunch and texture!
How To Make Bread Pudding
I've broken down the steps of making bread pudding so it's easy for you to follow.
- Soak the bread slices in the egg and milk mixture, garnish with nuts and bake the pudding
- Make the rum custard sauce separately in a pan
- Refrigerate the custard after it cools down
- Serve chilled cinnamon raisin bread pudding with rum custard sauce!
Top Tips to Make The Best Cinnamon Bread Pudding
- When making bread pudding, the bread slices can get mushy really quickly and this isn't the best way to present it. The trick is to not soak the bread slices for too long in the milk and egg mixture. Just a minute or two will do. This way, the slices will be individually seen too.
- Make sure you brush the baking dish with melted butter so it doesn't stick to the bottom.
- Make sure both the pudding and the rum custard sauce cool down completely before refrigerating them
- When making the rum custard sauce, add the milk in a slow and steady stream while whisking vigorously. Remember, we just want the egg mixture to warm up, and not end up with scrambled eggs!
- Add the rum in the custard sauce right at the end so that the alcohol doesn't evaporate
Serve it with Rum Custard Sauce
The ingredients for this rum custard sauce are things that you'll already have in your pantry. The custard base is made with milk, an egg, some sugar, salt and vanilla extract for seasoning. The recipe calls for a hit of dark rum which has notes of spices and caramel all rolled into one. You can substitute it with some whiskey or bourbon.
Serve cold cinnamon bread pudding with chilled rum custard sauce drizzled on top! This dessert will stay fresh for a good 3 days if you want to make it ahead, but I'm sure it'll be demolished sooner than that ๐
Guys, Iโd love to see pictures of your bread puddings on Instagram! So get baking!
Watch the Video
This recipe was first published on August 21, 2015 and updated on 28 April, 2021 with new photos and a video but no changes to the recipe.
Easy Make-Ahead Cinnamon Bread Pudding
Ingredients
Bread Pudding
- 7-8 slices stale White Bread sliced diagonally into a triangle
- 2 Eggs
- ยพ cup (183 g) Milk
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 5 - 6 teaspoons Brown Sugar + Extra for sprinkling
- Pinch Salt
- ยฝ teaspoon Cinnamon powder
- ยผ teaspoon Nutmeg powder
- 2 tablespoons melted Butter
- 2 tablespoons Nuts chopped (I used almonds, hazelnuts and raisins)
Rum Custard Sauce
- 1 Egg
- ยผ cup (50 g) Sugar
- ยฝ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 ยฝ tablespoons Dark Rum
- ยพ cup (183 g) Milk
Instructions
For Bread Pudding:
- Preheat oven to 180C
- Brush a round or rectangle baking dish with melted butter
- In a bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, salt, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder and the remaining butter till properly combined
- Lightly soak each slice of bread for about 5 seconds in this mixture, turning it to soak both ways and arrange on the baking dish like shown in the video. Pour any extra egg mixture all over the bread. Let this soak for 20 minutes
- When ready to bake, sprinkle with chopped nuts and some more sugar
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180C for 35-40 mins. Once baked, remove from oven, and let the pudding cool. Once cool, cover with aluminium foil and and refrigerate for at least an hour or two. Serve cold with some rum custard sauce.
- For Rum Custard Sauce
- In a pan, slowly bring the milk to a simmer. Turn off the heat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together egg, sugar, vanilla and salt till light and fluffy.
- Add hot milk in a slow stream to the egg mixture while whisking vigorously so that the egg doesn't scramble. This method is called tempering, and ensures that the egg is cooked without scrambling. It's important to add milk slowly so that the egg doesn't cook too quickly.
- Strain the mixture into another pan if required. Now put this pan on a slow flame and keep stirring till the mixture starts to thicken up. As soon as the mixture starts coating the back of a spoon, take it off heat and transfer to another bowl. Again it's important to warm up the egg mixture slowly and keep stirring so that it doesn't curdle. Stir in the rum at this point.
- Let the custard cool down to room temperature, after which it can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Serve with cold cinnamon bread pudding.
Video
Notes
- I've used leftover slices of white bread. I cut them diagonally so it looks good on the platter.
- Nutmeg powder and cinnamon powder add those warm, nutty, woody flavours, which work as contrasting flavour profiles against the sweetness of the dish. Do not skip it.ย
- When making bread pudding, the bread slices can get mushy really quickly and this isn't the best way to present it. The trick is to not soak the bread slices for too long in the milk and egg mixture. Just a minute or two will do. This way, the slices will be individually seen too.
- Make sure you brush the baking dish with melted butter so it doesn't stick to the bottom.
- Make sure both the pudding and the rum custard sauce cool down completely before refrigerating them
- When making the rum custard sauce, add the milk in a slow and steady stream while whisking vigorously. Remember, we just want the egg mixture to warm up, and not end up with scrambled eggs!
- Add the rum in the custard sauce right at the end so that the alcohol doesn't evaporate. You can substitute rum with brandy or orange juice.ย
Lok Man Fan (Lokness) says
Wow..... What a gorgeous bread pudding! That rum custard sauce sounds absolutely delicious!
Claudia Rinaldi Spartera says
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
tina roberge says
This would be lovely to have on a family Sunday morning breakfast. I could even use my gluten-free bread.
Whitney says
This looks amazing! I love cinnamon bread anything!
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says
This is one bread pudding I would never ever get tired of eatmg
Tracy says
Make ahead anything is totally up my alley!!
Jessica Wood says
Ahhh this looks so delicious! Really wishing I had some to go with my coffee this morning. And how fun would this be to make for Christmas morning breakfast?
Lydia McClister Filgueras says
I love how you've left the bread in slices. It makes for a really nice presentation. Mmmmmm
Oana Iancu says
There is nothing better than bread pudding and custard ๐ any time of the day. Have to make your cinnamon version. Thanks for sharing it!
Nish Kitchen - www.nishkitchen.com says
Bread pudding looks truly delicious! Lovely click!
marye says
That beats cinnamon toast anytime! Yum!!
Mandee Racer Pogue says
WOW! This looks amazing! My husband would love it
Hillary Reeves says
Oh my goodness, my boyfriend is going to lose it when I make this on Sunday!! Thanks so much for this recipe!!
Florentina Lile says
This looks beautiful ! bread pudding usually looks like a mess but this one is a show stopper !
Whitney says
This looks amazing! I love cinnamon bread anything!