If you are looking for an old-fashioned bread pudding recipe, it doesn’t get any better than my Grandma’s recipe. I made a gluten free version, and I hope you love this easy gluten free bread pudding recipe as much as we do!
I don’t know about you, but old-fashioned bread pudding has been one of our family’s comfort foods for as long as I can remember. It was made with thick pieces of crusty bread and then smothered in vanilla cream sauce. Now that we are gluten free, it is still easy to enjoy this dessert using gluten free bread.
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If you love bread pudding as much as we do, you will want to try this gluten free banana bread pudding recipe!
Why I love this recipe:
- My Grandma knew her stuff. Trust me, this recipe is delicious.
- Not only is this old-fashioned bread pudding creamy and sweet, but it also helps eliminate food waste!! It helps you to know what to do with leftover gluten free bread!
- I don’t know about your kids, but mine will NOT eat the ends of a loaf of bread. If you have ever wondered what to do with the ends, this recipe will save you! If your kids won’t touch the ends (or crusts) either, save them up in a big bag in your freezer until you have enough to make this recipe.
- This is an easy recipe to make ahead and bake later when you are ready.
- This recipe has a really easy dairy-free option.
Reader Rave
I used gluten free white sandwich bread from Trader Joe’s, and it turned out perfect! Also used real maple syrup instead of sugar and added a bit of caramel extract.” Stephanie W., Facebook comment
Ingredient Notes:
- Your favorite gluten free bread – see the FAQ below for my favorite gluten free bread brands.
- Eggs – size large
- Milk – I love using either coconut milk or almond milk. You can also use regular milk if you are not dairy-free.
- Sugar – Many also love making this recipe with brown sugar and coconut sugar. Note these will darken your bread pudding in color.
- Ground Cinnamon – I also love a dash or two of ground nutmeg.
- Butter or Plant-Based Butter – I use unsalted butter. To make this dairy-free, use vegan butter or coconut oil.
Flavor Variations:
- Nuts like walnuts or pecans.
- Raisins or other dried fruit.
- Chunks of fresh fruit like apples or apricots.
- Chocolate would be sinfully good baked into this gluten free bread pudding, too!
- Use this Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread in place of the bread!
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: Grab a serrated bread knife and use it to cut your gluten free bread and ends into cubes. You can make your cubes any size. I like to make them 1-inch minimum. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl.
Step 2: Add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend in a smaller
Step 3: Pour the liquid over the bread cubes. Mix well to coat the bread cubes and allow the mixture to sit for at least 15 minutes so the bread absorbs all of the liquid.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap if you are making this gluten-free bread pudding recipe ahead and place it in the refrigerator. This mixture can soak overnight.
Step 4: Bake at 350º F for 25-30 minutes until the bread pudding is slightly golden on top. You can enjoy this homemade gluten free bread pudding warm or cold.
Bread Pudding Toppings:
- The star of this gluten-free, dairy-free bread pudding recipe is the homemade vanilla cream sauce. This quick and easy recipe adds a new sweet vanilla flavor to this easy gluten-free bread pudding recipe. There is even a vegan option if you prefer.
- You can also top this simple gluten free bread pudding with this homemade bourbon butterscotch sauce!
- Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Recipe FAQ:
We use several kinds of gluten free bread in our house. Our favorites to use in bread pudding are Canyon Bakehouse Hawaiian Bread, Canyon Bakehouse Country White Bread, or Franz Moutain White bread.
Bread pudding is easy to make and can last in the refrigerator for about four days. (My family never has dessert leftovers, but that is my best guess!)
You can freeze this bread pudding if you have leftovers or want to serve this at a later date. You can reheat in the microwave or thaw in the refrigerator.
Reader Reviews:
I’ve made this gluten free bread pudding and agree with everyone; it’s so good!”
Kris M-T
More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes:
- Easy Tapioca Pudding – This is the creamiest pudding, and it is gluten-free!
- Decadent Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
- Gluten Free Cranberry Bundt Cake – Perfect for entertaining!
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This helps others know that this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten Free Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 3-4 ½ cup gluten free bread cubes
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups almond or coconut milk see note
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup melted butter or plant-based butter unsalted
- ¾ cup sugar
- dash salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with coconut oil.
- Mix all wet ingredients in a bowl. Add in the sugar, salt, and butter.
- Add bread cubes, mix, and allow to sit for at least 15 minutes, so it absorbs the liquid. Stir every 5 minutes. You can also let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
- Pour the mixture into a baking dish and spread around the pan.
- Bake 25-30 minutes until golden on top.
Notes
- Note the type of gluten free bread you use may matter in this recipe. Some more dense gluten free bread, especially multigrain bread, does not absorb as much liquid. You can feel free to adjust the liquid and bread quantity accordingly.
- You can use non-dairy milk or regular milk if you are not dairy-free.
- If you are dairy-free you can use either plant-based butter or coconut oil.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Note this recipe was updated from an older April 2017 post with more detailed instructions.
I have never had bread pudding, but it looks really good! I think my kids would gobble this up!
I have never had a bread pudding which is just crazy! I feel like it’s one of those things that I’m going to try and realized I’ve been missing out all my life because the ingredients are all delicious and the final result looks soooo good!
Oh wow Lauren…I hope you like it as much as we do 😉
What a great idea to make a classic dessert gluten-free! Pinned!
Thank you so much Elaine 🙂
Bread pudding is so comforting! This gf version looks just as good (even better!) than the original.
Thank you so much Allison 🙂
Easy to prepare and looked great. My family has allergies to gluten and dairy and this is something everyone ate. It was delicious. We added the vanilla sauce and YUM!!! Cooked it in a cast iron skillet.
I am so glad you like this Kathy, thank you 🙂
So wherevisbthebrecipe???
Hi Joanne, Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I merged my smaller blog into my larger one and it seems like the recipe didn’t transfer properly. I have this fixed now. Thank you!!
This looks yummy. Bread pudding has always been my favorite since childhood (we wont discuss how long that had been. LOL) My daughter and family are GF and when they have dinner with me I usually ask her to make dessert as I don’t keep the flours, etc. Since peaches are in season do you think that a layer of peaches on the bottom of the baking pan would work or would it make it too soupy? Thanks.
Peaches sound like a delicious addition! Please come back and let us know how you added them 🙂
This looks delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
I have two questions:
1. Do you think flax egg will work in place of real eggs for your bread pudding?
2. Can you tell us about how many cups of diced bread you use? Gluten Free bread slices vary in size so very much! Some ready made breads are small loaves, some are larger, some thick sliced some thin sliced. Even beads made with wheat can vary.
You are so welcome Carol. I have never tried flax eggs with this recipe, but I suspect it won’t work…the consistency is so different. As for the quantity of bread, I believe it was 5 1/2 cups of bread cubes.
It looks so yummy! I am going to make it for Thanksgiving! Do you use Gluten Free white bread? Or 7 grain?
Hi Mary, I used a little of everything when I made this. I think gluten free white bread is best as it absorbs the liquid really nicely. That being said, I tend to use the ends of the bread because my kids don’t like them for sandwiches. In this recipe, I would say the bread is about 85% Trader Joe’s gluten free bread in the green checkered bag.
This looks like such a delicious bread pudding! I love how versatile the recipe is too. The sauce looks very yummy as well!
Thank you so much April, I will have to make it the next time you visit 🙂
This looks delicious! I love bread pudding and have never tried making a gluten free version!
Thank you so much Emily :-).