The Best Sourdough Bread Pudding Recipe

Homemade sourdough bread pudding is one of the most delicious desserts you'll ever make. And the best thing is that not only does it taste like a big warm hug, it's made with simple pantry ingredients and leftover sourdough bread (which can help reduce food waste).

This recipe has been developed using plain sourdough bread, but you can use any type of sourdough bread you have on hand. There are notes further down on how to adjust the recipe if you are using a sweeter, enriched sourdough bread ... unless you're a very sweet tooth!

If you love making and eating sourdough comfort food like bread pudding, you might also enjoy baking sourdough chocolate chip cookies, sourdough banana fritters, sourdough pie crust or sourdough apple cake. And if you need to use up even more leftover sourdough bread, why not try making these sourdough croutons or sourdough crostini?

Why Sourdough Bread for Bread Pudding?

Leftover sourdough bread is perfect for making the best bread pudding! Because it's plain, you can add all the flavors in the silky custard. It's much the same in this sourdough stuffing, so if you do have lots of leftover bread, definitely check out that recipe too!

The brown sugar and vanilla extract in this recipe create a sweet custard that is soaked into the cubed bread.

You can add all sorts of flavors into the custard - experimenting can be lots of fun! I love adding cinnamon and nutmeg for a more traditional flavor, but you can really add anything you like from chocolate chips, dried fruits, nuts, jam - whatever you have on hand!

How To Make This Sourdough Bread Pudding Recipe

This sourdough bread pudding recipe is designed to be super quick and easy, pulled together in just minutes. It's a great recipe for the kids to help with in the kitchen too!

Here's how to make the ultimate sourdough bread pudding:

1. Preheat the oven to 175C (350F).
   
2. Tear the sourdough bread into chunks or cut into cubes. Be as rustic as you like with this! I like to keep them around 1-inch cubes. I like to put the crusty bits on the top so they get lovely and golden in the oven.
   
3. Arrange the sourdough bread cubes or chunks into an oven proof baking dish.
   
4. Sprinkle over the raisins if you are using them (you could also add other dried fruits if you want to).
   
5. Add all the remaining ingredients to a batter jug or small mixing bowl. Beat them until they are well combined and form a creamy custard mixture. You can use a whisk or fork for this step (or you can use a stand mixer if you don't want to do it by hand). Make sure the brown sugar is well dissolved in the custard mixture.
   
6. Pour the custard mixture over the torn up sourdough bread. Push the bread down if you need to to ensure that it's all coated in the custard mixture.
   
7. Place the sourdough bread pudding into the preheated oven (middle shelf is best so it's not too close to the top of the oven) and bake for around 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the custard is baked and the top is golden (see notes). If the top of the pudding isn't browning sufficiently towards the end of cooking time, brush the top of the pudding with some melted butter.

While this recipe has been developed using plain sourdough bread, you could also use other types of sourdough loaves. Here are some suggestions of other sourdough bread to make this recipe:

• easy sourdough discard bread (great if you want to make bread pudding in a hurry)
• sourdough brioche loaf
• sourdough pumpkin bread
• sourdough discard chocolate bread
• sourdough bread with coffee and maple infused dates
• sourdough chocolate chip bread
• orange cranberry sourdough bread

Step by Step Photos of Making Sourdough Bread Pudding

Best Tips for Making Sourdough Bread Pudding

• Whole milk works best with this recipe. If you are using skimmed milk or half and half, I recommend adding some heavy cream to the mix for extra creaminess.
  
• Make sure you push all the bread down into the custard to make sure it's soaked through. It's ok if the bread pops back up above the custard but it should all be soaked through.
  
• Add the crusty bits to the top of the dish. Once they are soaked in the custard, they toast up lovely and golden in the oven. The top of your pudding will be golden and crunchy with the silky, softer bread underneath.
  
• You can cover the bread pudding when you first put it in the oven if you want to. This stops the top from browning too quickly. If the top isn't browning at all, brush it with melted butter towards the end of the cooking time.

How To Serve and Eat Sourdough Bread Pudding

This favorite dessert is perfect served just as it is, warm out of the oven. But if you want to take your sourdough bread pudding to the next level, try some of these ideas:

• drizzle with caramel sauce and accompany with freshly whipped cream.
  
• dust with powdered sugar and serve with vanilla ice cream.
  
• serve with fresh raspberries and blueberries and top with whipped cream and maple syrup (serving it like this reminds me of French Toast and I've often given my boys leftover sourdough bread pudding like this for an easy breakfast! They think it's lots of fun!)

If you are making this for a party or gathering, it can be nice to make individual serving of bread pudding. You can make individual puddings in smaller ramekins or even in a large cup muffin tray.

Can You Make This Sourdough Bread Pudding Recipe in Advance?

Yes, you can make sourdough bread pudding ahead of time. You can bake the bread pudding and store it covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you want to serve it, pop it into the oven covered in aluminium foil to warm through.

This recipe is suitable for freezing. Store sourdough bread pudding in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

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