Apple Fritter Bread Pudding

Y’all, if you love apple fritters, this Apple Bread Pudding is about to be your new obsession! Think warm, buttery fritters soaked in a rich custard and baked until golden, then drizzled with a luscious brown sugar cider glaze. It’s like the best parts of breakfast and dessert had a baby, and now it’s sittin’ pretty on your kitchen counter!

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 A spoon drizzling syrup over a ramekin filled with apple fritter bread pudding

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I’ll be the first to admit I’ve got a soft spot for my classic bread pudding, it’s an all-time fave in my heart (and my belly!). But when you’re in the mood for some apple goodness, this apple bread pudding recipe right here is where it’s at! And let me tell ya, that sauce I use on top? It’s like a leveled-up version of the glaze I use on my apple fritters, but with some vanilla love and a splash of Calvados. Honestly, boos, this apple bread pudding’s so good, it might just make you forget about the classic for a hot minuteโ€ฆ until it’s time to bring that one back too!

The Lowdown on This Apple Bread Pudding

Closeup of Jocelyn in pink dress smiling

Cuisine Inspiration: Southern comfort

Primary Cooking Method: We’re all about that bake, baby!

Dietary Info: This one’s vegetarian, but definitely not vegan or gluten-free

Key Flavor: Warm apple cinnamon goodness with a punch of sweet and tangy cider

Skill Level: Easy-peasy!

Sure, it looks fancy with that golden-brown top, but making this bread pudding is way easier than you’d think. The hardest part? Waiting for it to bake!

If there’s ever a recipe that screams fall, this is it boos. Between the apples, cinnamon, and cider, it’s like you wrapped up all those cozy autumn vibes into one dessert.

The custard in this is absolutely ah-ma-zing! Rich and smooth with the perfect hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. Like a warm, slightly boozy, apple-flavored hug in a ramekin.

Ingredients you’ll need to make Apple Fritter Bread Pudding

  • Butter: We’re using unsalted butter to sautรฉ those apples and give the whole pudding a rich, buttery goodness. You could use salted butter if that’s what you’ve got, just skip the extra salt later.
  • Apples: Grab a couple of your favorite crisp apples. I like a mix of sweet and tart, but you do you boo!
  • Apple Cider: This is what gives the custard that sweet-tangy apple flavor throughout.
  • Granulated Sugar: To sweeten those apples just right!
  • Kosher Salt: A pinch to bring out all the flavors and balance the sweetness.
  • Eggs & Egg Yolks: These are the backbone of the custard, y’all. They help create a rich, creamy texture.
  • Brown Sugar: Gives the custard a deeper sweetness.
  • Nutmeg & Cinnamon: This spice combo brings all those cozy, warm fall flavors. If you don’t have nutmeg you can use a little extra cinnamon, but both together are BOMB.
  • Vanilla Extract: If you’ve got vanilla paste, that’d be a solid swap.
  • Calvados: If you’ve never had Calvados before, it’s essentially a fancy-sounding apple brandy. It’s got a deep, smooth apple flavor that pairs perfectly with this pudding.
  • Evaporated Milk: Makes the custard extra creamy without being heavy.
  • Apple Fritters: Now, not to be biased (I might be just a little), but I highly recommend homemade fritters for this apple bread pudding! Of course, you can totally grab some from your favorite doughnut shop too. There’s this spot in Chicago that, oh my, has some of the best fritters I’ve ever had!
  • Brown Sugar Cider Sauce: Apple cider, brown sugar, butter, Calvados, vanilla, and salt all come together for this luscious glaze. It’s a flavor explosion that’ll have you licking your plate boos!
Overhead shot of ingredients to make apple fritter bread pudding on the table before baking

How to make Apple Bread Pudding

Closeup of diced apples in a saucepan with sugar, cooking in liquid.
1
Melt butter in a saucepan. Then, stir in apples, cider, sugar, and salt.
Cooked diced apples simmering in liquid in a saucepan.
2
Cook the apples on medium heat until they have softened and the liquid thickens slightly, about 12-15 minutes.
Eggs, sugar, and spices in a clear bowl, ready to be mixed.
3
Add eggs, yolk, brown sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and Calvados to a medium bowl.
Mixed egg, sugar, and spice mixture in a clear bowl.
4
Whisk to combine.
Egg mixture combined with melted butter and evaporated milk in a clear bowl.
5
Pour in butter and evaporated milk.
Mixed wet ingredients for bread pudding in a bowl.
6
Whisk gently until fully combined.
Ramekins on a baking tray filled with torn bread pieces, prepped for the bread pudding base.
7
Fill the ramekins halfway with fritter pieces.
Ramekins filled with torn bread and diced apples.
8
Evenly pour apples and their liquid into each ramekin.
Ramekins filled with bread, apples, and custard mixture.
9
Top with remaining fritter pieces and pour in the custard mixture, filling up the line or ยพ of the way. Gently press on fritters with a spoon or fork to help them to soak up the custard.
Baked apple fritter bread pudding in ramekins, golden and slightly crisp on top.
10
Bake for 30 minutes or until pudding is browned and puffed up.
A saucepan filled with the base of the sauce for the apple fritter bread pudding.
11
Add ยพ cup apple cider and brown sugar to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium low heat and reduce by ยผ cup (leaving you with a ยฝ cup cider), about 6 minutes.
A saucepan with the sauce and two cubes of butter melting in the center.
12
Remove from heat and whisk in butter, Calvados, vanilla extract, and salt. It will thicken slightly as it sits.
Six ramekins filled with baked apple fritter bread pudding, golden and slightly caramelized.
13
Pour sauce over each ramekin and enjoy immediately!

What to serve with this simple apple bread pudding

Recipe Substitutions

  • Apple Cider: If you’re out of cider, apple juice works just fine boos. It’s a little sweeter, but still gets the job done. Add a squeeze of lemon for an extra zing if you want!
  • Calvados: Swap it with regular brandy or bourbon.
  • Evaporated Milk: Use half-and-half or whole milk instead. It’ll be slightly less creamy, but still delish.
  • Kid-Friendly Version: Leave the Calvados out. You can add a little more vanilla or even a splash of apple juice to keep things fun.

Recipe Variations and Additions

  • Spice It Up: Toss in a dash of ground ginger or allspice. Channel your inner autumn goddess boo!
  • Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on top before you bake. The crunch mixed with that soft, custardy bread pudding? Oh honey, to die for!
  • Extra Fruit: Throw in some raisins or dried cranberries. They’ll plump up in the custard, you’ll feel them in every bite.
  • Chocolate Addition: Add a handful of chocolate chips on top. Apples and chocolate? Trust me, it works!
Overhead shot of a ramekin filled with golden-brown apple fritter bread pudding with more ramekins and a couple of spoons next to it.

Expert Tips and Tricks for making the best apple bread pudding recipe

  1. Let the Fritters Soak: Don’t rush the soak time! Let those apple fritter pieces sit in the custard for at least 20 minutes. The longer they soak, the more flavor they absorb.
  2. Don’t Over-Bake: Keep an eye on those ramekins, boos. You want them to be golden brown, but not dried out. The bread pudding should be set, but still have a little jiggle in the center.
  3. Warm the Sauce: When pouring the sauce over your apple bread pudding, make sure it’s still warm so it soaks in better.
  4. Fork Test the Apples: The apples should be fork-tender, not mushy. You want them soft enough to bite into, but still holding their shape.

How to store & reheat Apple Fritter Bread Pudding

After baking, let your bread pudding cool completely, then pop it in the fridge. But hold off on adding that sauce before storing boos! Keep the sauce in a separate container and warm it up just before serving. That way you’ll keep the pudding from getting soggy.

To reheat in the oven, cover the bread pudding with foil and bake at 350ยฐF until warmed through, about 15-20 minutes. For a quicker fix, microwave individual servings for about 1-2 minutes.

How long will Apple Fritter Bread Pudding last in the fridge?

Your simple apple bread pudding will stay fresh in the fridge for about 3-4 days. After that, it’ll still be good, but that custardy goodness might start drying out a bit.

Can I freeze apple bread pudding?

Yes, you can freeze it! Wrap the bread pudding tightly in plastic wrap or store in a freezer-safe container. It’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just don’t freeze the sauce, that’s a no-no. I tried it once, and let’s just sayโ€ฆ It didn’t go well.

Closeup of a small ramekin filled with golden-brown apple fritter bread pudding with more ramekins in the background.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use day-old fritters?

Yes, day-old fritters work just fine! In fact, slightly stale fritters might soak up the custard even better.

What if I don’t have ramekins?

Easy fix: grab a small casserole dish and bake it all together. You might need to tack on an extra 10-15 minutes, but just keep an eye on it.

Can I use a different type of bread instead of fritters?

Technically you could use regular bread, but then we wouldnโ€™t be talking about apple fritter bread pudding, would we boos? Jokes aside, you could totally use stale brioche or challah.

Overhead shot of a ramekin filled with golden-brown apple fritter bread pudding with two spoons in it.

This Apple Fritter Bread Pudding is gonna have you grabbing seconds before you even finish your first bite! And don’t even think about skipping that brown sugar cider glaze, boo. It’s the sticky sweetness that takes this whole thing over the top! So go ahead, make it, love it, and try not to eat the whole thing in one sittingโ€ฆ no promises!

More Bread Pudding Recipes

A spoon drizzling syrup over a ramekin filled with apple fritter bread pudding

Apple Fritter Bread Pudding

Bread pudding made with Apple Fritters? Yes, boo.. Yes! This bread pudding is simple to make with fresh apples, and hot out the oven apple fritters! I
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

For the Apples and Glaze

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 small apples ยผ inch dice (2.5 cups)
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider
  • ยผ cup granulated sugar
  • ยผ teaspoon kosher salt

For the Custard

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ยฝ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon Calvados
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1 ยพ cups evaporated milk
  • 4 large apple fritters 11 oz each/44 oz total in weight, torn into 1-inch pieces

For the Brown Sugar Cider Sauce

  • ยพ cup apple cider 6 oz
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoons Calvados
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ยผ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

For Apples

  • In a medium 2 quart pot saucepan, melt butter, then stir in apples, cider, sugar, and salt. On medium heat, cook the apples until they have softened and the liquid thickens slightly, about 12-15 minutes. Apples should be fork tender. The glaze will be thin. Set aside.

For Custard

  • Prepare six 9 or 10-ounce ramekins with butter or nonstick spray and place on a sheet pan.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, yolk, brown sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and Calvados. Then gently whisk in butter and evaporated milk.
  • Fill prepared ramekins halfway with fritter pieces. Evenly pour apples and their liquid into each ramekin, then top with remaining fritter pieces.
  • Pour custard mixture in each ramekin, filling up the line or ยพ of the way. Gently press on fritters with a spoon or fork to help them to soak up the custard. Let sit for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 F (you know your oven; you can wait until the mixture has sat for 10 minutes to start preheating your oven).
  • Put sheet pan with ramekins in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until pudding is browned and puffed up.

For Brown Sugar Cider Glaze

  • While bread puddings are baking, in a medium saucepan add ยพ cup apple cider and brown sugar. Cook over medium low heat and reduce by ยผ cup (leaving you with a ยฝ cup cider), about 6 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in butter, Calvados, vanilla extract, and salt. It will thicken slightly as it sits.
  • Remove bread puddings from the oven, let sit for 5 minutes, pour sauce over each and enjoy immediately!

Notes

How to store & reheat Apple Fritter Bread Pudding

After baking, let your bread pudding cool completely, then pop it in the fridge. But hold off on adding that sauce before storing boos! Keep the sauce in a separate container and warm it up just before serving. That way you’ll keep the pudding from getting soggy.
To reheat in the oven, cover the bread pudding with foil and bake at 350ยฐF until warmed through, about 15-20 minutes. For a quicker fix, microwave individual servings for about 1-2 minutes.

How long will Apple Fritter Bread Pudding last in the fridge?

Your simple apple bread pudding will stay fresh in the fridge for about 3-4 days. After that, it’ll still be good, but that custardy goodness might start drying out a bit.

Can I freeze apple bread pudding?

Yes, you can freeze it! Wrap the bread pudding tightly in plastic wrap or store in a freezer-safe container. It’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just don’t freeze the sauce, that’s a no-no. I tried it once, and let’s just sayโ€ฆ It didn’t go well.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 ramekin | Calories: 496kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 514mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 1034IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 275mg | Iron: 1mg
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Filed Under:  Fall Recipes, Oven, Pastries, Puddings and Cinnamon Rolls

Comments

    1. It’s a brandy made from apples but you can use any brandy or an apple cider here.

5 from 1 vote

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