Name: Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 16 ounce loaf brioche or challah bread; 3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, chopped ¼-inch; 2/3 cup chopped walnuts; 2/3 cup dried cranberries; 5 large eggs; 1 egg yolk; 1/2 cup applesauce (regular, not unsweetened); 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup packed brown sugar; 1 3/4 cups milk; 1 3/4 cups heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 4 tablespoons Danish Creamery Butter, cubed; 12 tablespoons Danish Creamery Butter; 3/4 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

There’s something so comforting and utterly delicious about a warm, spiced dessert that fills your kitchen with cozy aromas. This Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe is just that—a beautiful balance of tender apples, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and buttery brioche, all soaked in a fragrant custard and drizzled with homemade caramel. Trust me, once you make it, it’ll become a staple you’ll want to bake again and again.

The image shows a close-up of a golden brown bread pudding slice being lifted with a gold spatula. The bread pudding has several layers of unevenly shaped bread pieces with a slightly crispy texture on top, mixed with dark raisins and lighter nut pieces scattered throughout. A smooth, light caramel sauce glistens over the top, adding shine and moisture. The bread pudding sits inside a white baking dish with a blue rim, placed on a white marbled surface. The scene is bright and detailed, highlighting the moist and textured layers of the dessert. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly can’t say enough about how this Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe has won over my family’s hearts. It’s one of those desserts that feels fancy but is surprisingly simple to pull together, and the flavors are just pure magic.

Rich and Tender Texture: Toasting the brioche cubes before soaking ensures the pudding isn’t soggy but perfectly custardy inside.
Perfect Blend of Flavors: Tart Granny Smith apples, sweet dried cranberries, fragrant spices, and buttery walnuts make such a fantastic flavor combo.
Homey but Elegant: This pudding is just right for a cozy family dessert or impressing guests at your next gathering.
Decadent Caramel Sauce: The caramel topping takes this bread pudding from great to unforgettable. It’s worth every extra minute!

The image shows a white rectangular baking dish filled with a layered bread pudding. The top layer is made of chunky, golden-brown toasted bread pieces that appear moist with a shiny, caramel-colored sauce coating them. Mixed within the bread are small pale yellow apple cubes and dark dried berries, scattered evenly on the surface. The texture looks soft and slightly syrupy, with some edges of the bread slightly darker and crispier. The dish is placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

What makes this Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe stand out is the thoughtful mix of ingredients that complement each other perfectly—like a recipe that sings in harmony. Each element plays a role, and picking good quality ingredients really makes a difference.

Flat lay of a small stack of brioche bread cubes, three peeled and quarter-inch chopped green Granny Smith apples, a handful of chopped walnuts, a small pile of dried cranberries, five whole uncracked brown eggs and one whole uncracked white egg, a small white ceramic bowl of smooth applesauce, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of packed brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of milk, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl of ground cinnamon, three tiny white ceramic bowls containing ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and a spice blend of ground cloves and cardamom, a small white ceramic bowl of salt, two small pats of Danish Creamery butter cubes, and another small white ceramic bowl holding caramel sauce—all arranged with perfect symmetry and fresh, natural textures, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Brioche or Challah Bread: These breads are buttery and soft, which hold up wonderfully without turning mushy once soaked in custard—a plain loaf just wouldn’t have the same richness.
Granny Smith Apples: Tart and firm, they add a fresh, tangy bite and won’t turn to mush while baking.
Walnuts: Give a lovely crunch and a slight earthiness that balances the sweetness.
Dried Cranberries: They bring bursts of sweetness and chewiness, adding texture and color.
Eggs and Egg Yolk: These create the custard base that binds everything together and make the pudding luxuriously creamy.
Applesauce: Adds moisture naturally and enhances the apple flavor without extra sweetness.
Granulated and Brown Sugar: Together they provide depth of sweetness—the brown sugar especially contributes a slight molasses note.
Milk and Heavy Cream: This combo is key for a silky custard with just the right richness.
Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cloves, Cardamom): These warm spices make the pudding cozy and aromatic, filling your kitchen with that comforting scent that spells “fall” or any time you want a hug on a plate.
Butter (in pudding & caramel): Adds lusciousness and helps brown the edges for that golden crust everyone loves.
Vanilla Extract: Rounds out and intensifies every flavor for a truly crave-worthy dessert.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I like to mix things up depending on the season or what’s in my pantry.

Variation: Sometimes I swap the dried cranberries for dried cherries or raisins for a slightly different fruity note. It’s a small change but keeps this dessert feeling fresh every time I make it.
Dairy-Free Option: For friends who need to avoid dairy, I’ve had success swapping coconut milk for heavy cream and vegan butter for the butter—you’ll want to play with the custard thickness a bit to get that perfect texture.
Nut-Free Twist: Simply leave out the walnuts or replace them with pumpkin seeds for a fun crunch if you’re serving someone allergic to nuts.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe

Step 1: Toast the Bread Cubes to Perfection

Start by cutting your brioche or challah loaf into 1-inch cubes—it’s worth choosing a fresh but slightly day-old loaf here, as it holds up best. Spread the cubes evenly on a baking sheet and toast them in your oven at 350°F for about 7–10 minutes. You want them dried out enough to soak up the custard but not hard or crispy. Toasting is key because it helps prevent the pudding from becoming soggy by giving the bread some structure.

Step 2: Mix the Custard and Combine the Bread Mixture

While the bread is toasting, whisk the custard ingredients together in a medium bowl: eggs, egg yolk, applesauce, sugars, milk, heavy cream, vanilla, spices, and a pinch of salt. In a separate large bowl, toss the toasted bread cubes with your chopped apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries. This mix ensures every bite gets a little surprise of fruit and nuts.

Step 3: Soak and Rest the Pudding Before Baking

Spread the bread and fruit mix evenly into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour the custard over the top and let it sit for a couple of minutes so the bread absorbs some of the liquid. Then, gently press down with your hands to fully submerge all the bread cubes. Trust me, this step makes a big difference to that luscious texture you're aiming for. Let it rest for about 15 minutes before dotting the top with cubes of butter—this helps create those golden, crispy edges.

Step 4: Bake Until Golden and Set

Bake uncovered at 350°F for 45–55 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges look set and firm, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs—not wet custard. Let it cool on a wire rack for 10–15 minutes; this helps it set perfectly and makes serving easier.

Step 5: Make the Decadent Caramel Sauce

While your pudding cools, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in brown sugar and heavy cream, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is warm and glossy. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. This sauce can be made ahead and gently reheated, just add a splash of cream if it thickens too much. Pour as much as you want over slices right before serving—there’s no such thing as too much caramel!

Top Tip

I’ve made this Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe dozens of times, and some little things really help get it right every time without stress. These tips should save you from common pitfalls and help make your pudding outstanding.

Don't Skip Toasting the Bread: It’s tempting to save time, but skipping toasting can result in a soggy or mushy pudding. Toast until the bread feels dry but still tender.
Press to Soak Fully: Use your hands to gently press the bread into the custard—don’t just pour and forget. This ensures every bite is richly flavored.
Butter on Top for Crispy Edges: Cubed butter on top helps create those irresistibly golden edges I know you’ll love.
Check Doneness with a Toothpick: Resist cutting into the pudding to check—it can make your edges collapse. Instead, use a toothpick to check the center for moist crumbs.

How to Serve Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe

Apple Bread Pudding - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep garnishes simple so the pudding shines. A light dusting of powdered sugar or a sprinkle of chopped toasted walnuts on top adds a little crunch and looks gorgeous. Sometimes a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside makes the experience even more indulgent.

Side Dishes

While this pudding is a dessert star, it pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or spiced chai tea if you’re serving it for brunch. For a fuller meal, I’ve enjoyed it after a simple green salad or roasted chicken for a cozy Sunday supper.

Creative Ways to Present

For holidays or dinner parties, try serving individual portions in small ramekins with caramel sauce drizzled just before serving. You can even garnish with a cinnamon stick for a pretty, festive touch. Another fun idea is layering the bread pudding in a trifle bowl with extra apples and whipped cream for a show-stopping centerpiece dessert.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I always tightly cover any leftover bread pudding with plastic wrap or foil and store it in the fridge—it keeps well for up to 4-5 days. It actually tastes great the next day once the flavors get a little more melded.

Freezing

If I have more than we can eat, I cool the bread pudding completely, then wrap it a few times in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. It keeps wonderfully for up to three months. I also freeze single slices wrapped in freezer bags so I can enjoy it anytime without thawing the whole dish.

Reheating

To reheat, I usually cover the pudding with foil and pop it in a 325°F oven for 10-20 minutes depending on how much I’m warming up—this revives the texture nicely without drying it out. Microwaving in short bursts works too when you’re in a hurry, but watch the timing closely so it doesn’t get rubbery.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other types of apples in this Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe?

Yes! While Granny Smith apples are great for their tartness and firmness, you can also use Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples. Just choose ones that hold their shape well when baked so your pudding isn’t mushy.

Do I have to make the caramel sauce from scratch?

You don’t have to, but the homemade caramel sauce really elevates the dish with its fresh, buttery flavor and smooth texture. Store-bought sauce tends to be much sweeter and less nuanced. If you’re short on time, a good-quality store-bought caramel can work in a pinch.

Can I prepare the bread pudding ahead of time and bake later?

Definitely. For best texture, you can prepare the bread, apples, nuts, and custard separately and then combine right before baking. You can toss the bread, dried cranberries, and walnuts in the baking dish and keep the apples and custard separate in the fridge. Combine just before baking to avoid sogginess.

How do I know when the bread pudding is fully cooked?

The edges should look set and golden, and when you insert a toothpick in the center, it should come out with just a few moist crumbs—not wet custard. Avoid cutting into the pudding before it sets to keep the texture perfect.

Final Thoughts

This Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce Recipe feels like a warm hug on a chilly day. It’s the kind of dish I love to make when I want to slow down and savor time with family and friends. The way the apples and spices mingle with the rich custard and that dreamy caramel topping is nothing short of magic. Give it a try—you’ll be so glad you did, and it might just become one of your all-time favorite desserts too.