Cozy Golden Banana Bread Pudding Recipe: A Sweet Family Treat

Creamy desserts hold a special place in our culinary hearts, and this velvety banana bread pudding brings comfort to every single bite.

Ripe bananas merge perfectly with soft, custardy textures that melt on your tongue.

The classic recipe transforms simple ingredients into a decadent treat that surprises even seasoned bakers.

Warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg add depth to each spoonful.

Bread pudding carries the magic of turning humble ingredients into something extraordinary.

The rich, custard-like base captures the essence of home-style cooking with remarkable simplicity.

You’ll fall in love with this dessert that promises pure indulgence in every delectable serving.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 320 kcal

Servings: 9

Banana Bread Pudding Ingredients List

• White Bread: Sturdy day-old bread absorbs custard perfectly and creates delightful texture.
• Banana: Ripe, spotty bananas offer deeper sweetness and enhance overall flavor profile.

• Milk, Heavy Cream: Creates rich, silky custard base with luxurious mouthfeel.
• Eggs: Essential binding agent that helps pudding set and provides structural integrity.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth and complements banana's natural sweetness.

• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provides balanced sweetness and caramel undertones.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg: Warm spices that elevate pudding's complexity and create cozy aroma.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies other flavor notes.

• Unsalted Butter: Adds golden richness and helps create crispy top layer.
• Banana Slices: Fresh garnish that reinforces main flavor.
• Pecans: Introduces delightful crunch and nutty dimension.
• Caramel Sauce, Powdered Sugar: Optional elegant finishing touches for extra indulgence.

Kitchen Tools for Bread Pudding

• 8×8-inch baking dish: Essential for creating and baking the pudding, provides perfect shape and size.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for whisking custard ingredients together smoothly.
• Whisk: Crucial for blending custard ingredients without lumps.
• Cutting board: Helps cube bread and slice bananas cleanly.
• Sharp knife: Needed for precise bread and banana cutting.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.

How to Make Banana Bread Pudding

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a cozy 350F. Grab a baking dish and give it a quick butter massage to prevent sticking.

• Create a Bread Foundation

Scatter bread chunks across the dish like a delicious landscape, making sure they’re spread out evenly.

• Whip Up a Dreamy Mixture

In a large bowl, combine mashed bananas, creamy milk, rich cream, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and a sprinkle of warm spices. Whisk until everything dances together smoothly.

• Marry the Bread and Custard

Gently pour the luscious banana mixture over the bread. Press down softly, letting the bread soak up all the goodness. Let it rest for a quick 10-minute flavor fusion.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Drizzle melted butter on top like a golden waterfall. Slide the dish into the oven and bake until it turns a gorgeous golden brown and sets beautifully, about 40-45 minutes.

• Dress and Delight

Crown your creation with fresh banana slices and crunchy pecans. Serve while it’s warm, maybe with a cheeky drizzle of caramel sauce or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Bread Pudding Tips & Delicious Add-Ins

• Bread Choice Magic: Use day-old brioche, challah, or French bread for richer, more luxurious texture and deeper flavor profile.
• Make-Ahead Miracle: Prepare the pudding up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate before baking, allowing flavors to meld beautifully.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap milk and cream with coconut milk or almond milk for a lactose-free version that's equally creamy and delicious.
• Gluten-Free Option: Replace traditional bread with gluten-free bread cubes to make this dessert accessible for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Flavor Boost Tricks: Add dark chocolate chips, rum-soaked raisins, or orange zest to elevate the pudding's complexity and surprise your taste buds.

Creative Ways to Serve Bread Pudding

• Cozy Winter Comfort: Serve this warm banana bread pudding straight from the oven on chilly evenings for a heartwarming dessert experience.
• Brunch Delight: Present the pudding as a stunning centerpiece at weekend brunches, paired with fresh coffee and mimosas for a luxurious morning treat.
• Elegant Dinner Finale: Plate individual portions with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a sprinkle of toasted pecans for an impressive restaurant-style dessert that wows dinner guests.
• Sweet Accompaniment Magic: Enhance the pudding with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to create a decadent contrast between warm and cold textures.

How to Store Banana Bread Pudding

• Smart Storage Solutions: Keep leftover banana bread pudding in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 4 days, maintaining its delicious texture and flavor.
• Quick Reheating Trick: Warm individual servings in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or reheat the entire dish in a 325F oven for 15-20 minutes, covering with aluminum foil to prevent drying.
• Freezing Friendly Option: Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire dish the night before, cover, and refrigerate unbaked. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking, then follow original baking instructions for a stress-free breakfast or dessert.

Velvety Banana Bread Pudding Recipe

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4.8 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Classic banana bread pudding merges comfort and nostalgia in a luscious dessert from Southern United States. Rich custard and caramelized bananas create a warm, inviting treat you’ll crave after one delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups (946 ml) cubed bread (French bread, brioche, or challah)
• 3 large eggs
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 cups (473 ml) whole milk
• ½ cup (118 ml) heavy cream
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
• 1 banana, sliced
• ¼ cup (30 g) chopped pecans or walnuts
• caramel sauce or powdered sugar (for serving)

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Instructions

1. Vessel Preparation: Generously butter an 8×8-inch ceramic dish, ensuring complete coverage to prevent adhesion.
2. Bread Foundation: Transform day-old bread into uniform cubes, creating an even, single-layer base across the entire baking vessel.
3. Custard Composition: Whisk together mashed bananas, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated and brown sugars, eggs, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt until achieving a seamless, velvety consistency.
4. Saturation and Layering: Pour the silky custard over bread cubes, applying gentle pressure to guarantee thorough absorption, allowing the mixture to marinate for 10 minutes.
5. Butter Embellishment: Drizzle melted unsalted butter across the surface, creating a golden, flavor-enhancing top layer.
6. Thermal Transformation: Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 40-45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown surface with a subtle central jiggle.
7. Resting and Garnishing: Allow pudding to rest briefly, then adorn with banana medallions and toasted pecan fragments for textural complexity.
8. Serving Suggestion: Present warm, accompanied by caramel sauce or a delicate powdered sugar dusting, transforming each serving into a decadent experience.

Notes

• Bread Selection Strategy: Use slightly stale or day-old bread for optimal absorption and texture, ensuring the pudding maintains a rich, custardy consistency without becoming soggy.
• Banana Ripeness Tip: Select overripe bananas with dark spots for maximum natural sweetness and deeper flavor profile, enhancing the overall dessert’s complexity.
• Moisture Control Technique: Press bread cubes gently into custard mixture, allowing complete liquid absorption without creating a dense, waterlogged texture; let mixture rest 10 minutes before baking for best results.
• Dietary Modification Option: Swap whole milk with almond or oat milk for lactose-free version; replace eggs with mashed banana or commercial egg replacer to create a vegan-friendly variation that maintains similar richness and binding properties.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg