Pecan Pie Croissant Bread Pudding
Pecan Pie Croissant Bread Pudding is the best comforting breakfast food! Inspired by warm holiday pie, it’s sweet, flavorful, fluffy, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Serve warm for a meal the whole table will adore.
What Is Bread Pudding?
Similar to french toast, bread pudding is a baked recipe that can be served as breakfast or dessert. It is made with stale pieces of bread that are combined with a mixture of milk, sugar, and eggs. Then, it is baked in the oven until it is soft and fluffy. However, what truly sets bread pudding apart from other recipes is its sauce. Unlike french toast, it is coated in caramel, vanilla, or alcohol-based sauce. As a result, it’s tender, gooey, and sweet, sticky perfection.
For our easy bread pudding recipe, we took it to a whole new level by using flakey, buttery croissants. The result is a truly decadent recipe that will have your guests licking their fingers and begging for more!
Ingredients You’ll Need for Croissant Bread Pudding
The ingredients needed for this recipe are simple and few but create the most indulgent flavor! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Croissants – The bigger the better. Just make sure they are at least a day old so that they soak up the liquid.
- Eggs – These help form a crisp crust and lock in moisture while also providing healthy fats for a rich taste.
- Half and Half – Used in place of milk, half and half creates the creamiest, fluffiest bread pudding you’ll ever make!
- Vanilla Extract – To enhance the flavor of the rest of the ingredients.
- Maple Syrup – This helps provide a rich sweetness similar to pecan pie.
- Pecans – Chopped up and added on top, these provide a good dose of healthy fats and added crunch you’ll love.
- Butter – Everything tastes better with butter! Just make sure it’s cold.
- Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar will work to create a caramelized flavor just like pecan pie.
- Rolled Oats – Used to create the crumble topping. Steelcut or quick oats aren’t suitable to create the same crisp results.
- Salt – Takes any baked item from good to great.
How to Make This Easy Bread Pudding Recipe
The steps for this croissant bread pudding recipe are nearly identical to that of french toast. However, it’s made extra special with the addition of a crumble topping. Take a look at the steps below, and don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the complete details!
- Whisk together the half and half, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla in a mixing bowl.
- Chop the croissants into bite-sized pieces, and arrange them in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- Pour the egg mixture on top of the croissants, making sure they are completely coated. Then, sprinkle pecans on top.
- Form the crumble by combining the butter, sugar, salt, and oats in a bowl. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to cut the ingredients together until they are combined and crumbly. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the croissants in the baking dish. For the best results, cover the dish with foil, and let it soak in the fridge overnight.
- When you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven, and bake the croissant bread pudding covered for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue to bake for another 30 minutes or until the bread is crisp and golden on top.
Baking Tips
Swap Out the Bread. If you prefer, swap out the croissants for a thick bread like Challah or Brioche.
Use a Thermometer. The easiest way to tell when your bread pudding is done is to use a digital thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature has reached 160° Fahrenheit.
Soak Overnight. We highly recommend making this recipe in advance and allowing the bread to soak overnight and absorb the liquid. As a result, your bread pudding will be extra fluffy and thick.
How Do You Keep Croissant Bread Pudding Moist?
To prevent your croissant bread pudding from drying out, be sure to follow the baking instructions, keeping it covered for the first 30 minutes. Then, to be extra careful, we recommend letting the dish rest for 30 minutes after baking. This allows the bread to really soak up any excess moisture. Of course, you’ll also want to be sure to keep it tightly covered after baking.
More Comforting Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
Whether you’re baking for a crowd or cooking for one, you can never go wrong with a good breakfast. If you enjoy this bread pudding, be sure to take a look at more of our favorites below!
- If you are a fan of having dessert for breakfast, then our Bananas Foster French Toast is going to rock your world!
- A match made in heaven, our Peach Blueberry Baked Oats are a must-try breakfast.
- A hands-off recipe, this Blueberry Mascarpone French Toast looks and tastes like you were in the kitchen all day.
- Full of chocolate, cinnamon, and sugar, your favorite dessert meets a comforting breakfast in this Churro French Toast.
Pecan Pie Croissant Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 6-8 large day old croissants
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups half and half
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup roughly chopped pecan pieces
- 1/2 cup butter (cold and cut in 1 inch pieces)
- 3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl add half and half, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla. Chop the croissants, and arrange them in a 13 x 9 baking dish. Pour the egg mixture over the croissants, and sprinkle pecan pieces on top.
- To make the crumble: Add butter, brown sugar, salt, and oats in a bowl. With fingers or a pastry cutter, rub the mixture together until it resembles a coarse crumble. Sprinkle over the croissants. For the best results, cover and refrigerate overnight in order for the croissants to soak up some of the liquid.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the croissant bread pudding, covered with tin foil, for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes or until crisp and fragrant.