Cinnamon-Spiced Apple and Walnut Bread Pudding
A warm, festive bread pudding featuring cinnamon-spiced apples and crunchy walnuts, perfect for Christmas dessert. This American-inspired Christmas recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs day-old brioche bread, apples, walnuts for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 cups, cubed into 1-inch pieces day-old brioche bread
- 3 medium, peeled, cored, and diced apples
- 1 cup, roughly chopped walnuts
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp, melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish with 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter. Spread 8 cups cubed day-old brioche bread evenly in the dish.
- Step 2: In a skillet over medium heat, sauté 3 diced medium apples with 2 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup granulated sugar for 5 minutes until apples are tender and fragrant. Spread the apples evenly over the bread cubes.
- Step 3: Sprinkle 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts evenly on top of the apple layer.
- Step 4: In a large bowl, whisk together 4 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp salt until smooth.
- Step 5: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread, apples, and walnuts, pressing gently to submerge the bread. Let sit for 15 minutes to absorb.
- Step 6: Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until the custard is set and the top is golden brown and slightly crisp.
- Step 7: Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with maple syrup.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Cinnamon-Spiced Apple and Walnut Bread Pudding take to make?
Total time is about 70 minutes (20 min prep + 50 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Cinnamon-Spiced Apple and Walnut Bread Pudding?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep day-old brioche bread from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Cinnamon-Spiced Apple and Walnut Bread Pudding?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Cinnamon-Spiced Apple and Walnut Bread Pudding for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Cinnamon-Spiced Apple and Walnut Bread Pudding?
American christmas like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
My family devoured this for Christmas morning! The cinnamon and apple chunks were perfect with the walnuts.
- ★★★★★
Made this for my parents' anniversary dinner—it was a hit! The spiced apple filling was aromatic without being overpowering.
- ★★★★☆
Slightly bland for my taste (added extra cinnamon), but the texture was spot-on. Took 20 mins longer than listed to set.
