Tempting Apple Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce is one of those incredibly delicious desserts that you associate with crisp fall days and colorful leaves.
This bread pudding recipe is an easy make ahead recipe that will allow you to have a great dessert whenever you are ready to go to the pumpkin patch, carve pumpkins or create special fall memories.
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This Apple Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce is perfect on cool fall days. There is nothing like a warm and comforting dessert like this Drunken Caramel Apple Southern Bread Pudding.
A layer of crisp, cinnamon apples is nestled between billowy bread soaked in a rich vanilla custard. Then the layers are drizzled with a decadent bourbon caramel sauce.
If you’re looking for more Fall dessert recipes, try Pumpkin Lush, Apple Pie Dip and Lemon White Chocolate Cookies.
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
Why We Love This Flavorful Pudding
If you are looking for a warm, rich and decadent dessert than this is the recipe for you. This recipe is incredibly easy to make yet fancy enough to impress your friends when you drizzle the sauce over the bread.
It’s the perfect way to round out a crisp fall weekend of apple picking, leaf raking or pumpkin picking.
- Easy Ingredients: A great way to use leftover bread and seasonal fruit.
- Family Friendly: Top with your favorite ice cream or serve warm or cold for a great fall dessert idea.
- Adaptable: Can make it with different fruit or breads so it is super easy to make. Everyone love this recipe. Sauce can be made ahead too.
Ingredient Notes to Make Bourbon Sauce and Bread Pudding and Sauce Ingredients
- Bread Cubes: French bread or Italian bread, cut stale bread into 1 inch cubes. Using stale bread to make this dish allow the bread to help it absorb the sauce.
- Heavy cream: A combination of the cream and whole milk to make the sauce.
- Eggs: Four large eggs for the egg mixture. Whisk together milk and eggs to create the custard.
- Bourbon: Any variety or brand of bourbon whiskey that you enjoy when you make the bourbon sauce.
- Apples: A firm apple, like Granny Smith.
- Sugar: Brown sugar and granulated sugar.
Recipe Tips, Variations and Substitutions for Stale Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
This custard recipe is easy to make filled with warm fall flavors such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
- More Fruit: Make this dish better by adding raisins, dried cranberries or whatever you enjoy.
- Bread: Use whatever you like such as a loaf of brioche for this southern bread pudding.This recipe works because of the stale bread. So keep stale bread on hand.
- Crock Pot: You can make this recipe for the bread pudding in the crock pot very easily.
- Vanilla Extract: You can use caramel extract or rum extract in place of the vanilla extract.
How to Make Apple Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
This bread pudding with bourbon sauce is so decadent and delicious. You can top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or whatever you like.
These are the basic steps for making Apple Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. Get the recipe below in the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Step 1: PREP MILK MIXTURE
First, peel and slice your apples. Then in a large bowl, whisk the eggs, heavy cream, milk, vanilla and rum. Next add sugars and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and whisk together until combined.
Step 2: MIX
Then add bread cubes to the bowl and carefully stir, ensuring that each piece is soaked in the mixture; set aside. Toss the apples with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Step 3: ARRANGE
Then place half of the soaked bread cubes in a buttered 9×13 baking dish. Top with cinnamon apple slices. Place remaining bread on top; lightly press down.
Step 4: ALLOW BREAD PUDDING TO SIT
Then let the bread soak up the mixture for sit for 30 to 60 minutes or overnight.
Step 5: BAKE THE PUDDING
When ready, preheat the oven to 350°F and then bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the pudding is set.
Step 6: MAKE THE BUTTER BOURBON SAUCE
Meanwhile, place caramel in a small saucepan and stir in the bourbon. Heat over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes until caramel thickens and sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
Finally, drizzle Bourbon Caramel Sauce over the warm Apple Bread Pudding; serve immediately, drizzling the bourbon mixture over the bread.
Recipe FAQs for Making Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce Recipe
Expert Tips for Making This Best Bread Pudding Recipe
This easy dessert is great for a crowd. Below are some recipe tips to take this dessert to the next level.
- Apples: Honey crisp, pink lady or Golden Delicious.
- Add Nuts: Try chopping up some walnuts or pecans for the dessert.
- Bourbon: Feel free to use a different type of whiskey or even use brandy for the sauce.
- Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
What to Serve with Apple Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce Dessert
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Apple Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
Ingredients
Bread Pudding
- 5 cups French or Italian bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 1 cup Whole milk
- ⅓ cup Brown sugar
- ⅓ cup Granulated sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons Bourbon
- 1 ½ teaspoons Cinnamon, divided
- 2 Large apples, peeled and sliced
Bourbon Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup Caramel sauce, prepared ice cream sauce
- 2 tablespoons Bourbon
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together heavy cream, milk, eggs, vanilla and rum.
- Add sugars and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and whisk until combined.
- Add bread cubes to the bowl and carefully stir, ensuring that each piece is soaked in the mixture; set aside.
- Toss the apples with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Place half of the soaked bread cubes in a buttered 9×13 baking dish.
- Top with cinnamon apple slices.
- Place remaining bread on top; lightly press down.
- Let sit for 30 – 60 minutes (or overnight).
- Bake at 350 degrees 45-50 minutes or until set.
- Meanwhile, place caramel and bourbon in a small sauce pan.
- Heat over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes until caramel thins.
- Drizzle Bourbon Caramel Sauce over the warm Apple Bread Pudding; serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Apples: Honey crisp, pink lady or Golden Delicious.
- Add Nuts: Try chopping up some walnuts or pecans for the dessert.
- Bourbon: Feel free to use a different type of whiskey or even use brandy for the sauce.
- Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Rum? I don’t see rum in the ingredients but it’s whisked in a bowl with eggs , cream, vanilla!!
Help! Making this now!
It should say bourbon not rum. It will be corrected. sorry.
I do not get ice cream caramel sauce here so I looked at a couple of other recipes and made my own brandy/rum sauce and it came out fantastic.
Christina, I love bread pudding but have never had it with bourbon in the sauce, it sounds delish!