Warm Donut Bread Pudding

This warm and toasty donut bread pudding is the perfect excuse to use up leftover donuts Once you add the homemade buttery rum sauce on top you won’t believe how quickly it disappears

If you love bread pudding make sure to also try my Nutella croissant bread pudding and this Mexican bread pudding

What You’ll Need

• Evaporated Milk: Feel free to use heavy cream half and half or whole milk instead
• Eggs:
• Orange Zest: Lemon zest is great as well
• Vanilla Extract:
• Cinnamon: You can also use ground nutmeg or pumpkin spice if you have some
• Salt:
• Glazed Donuts: Krispy Kreme donuts are my favorite for this You want to use stale leftover donuts not soft fresh donuts
• Raisins: Golden or regular raisins both work great

• Unsalted Butter: Skip the salt in the rest of the recipe if you use salted butter
• Light Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar is okay as well
• Heavy Cream: Half and half works too
• Rum: I prefer spiced rum but use your favorite

How to Make Donut Bread Pudding

Prepare:

Preheat the oven Place the baking dish inside a larger baking pan Fill the larger pan with water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the smaller baking dish

Soak:

Whisk the evaporated milk eggs zest vanilla extract cinnamon and salt Add the donuts and raisins Soak for 15 minutes

Bake:

Transfer the donut mixture to the prepared baking dish Pour any excess soaking liquid on top Bake for an hour or until the top is puffy and springy

Cool:

Remove it from the oven and let it cool while you make the sauce

Rum Sauce:

Melt together the butter and brown sugar in a sauce pot over medium heat Mix in the cream and rum then bring to a simmer Remove it from the heat and let cool

Serve:

Serve the bread pudding warm and drizzle it with the buttery rum sauce Add a scoop of ice cream for extra pizazz

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Tips for Success

Nailing a donut bread pudding is all in choosing the right kind of donut

• Choose the right donuts For this you need traditional glazed donuts and they need to be stale Fresh donuts will fall apart when you soak them Avoid cake style donuts or any with thick style frostings or toppings
• Use more add ins Chopped pecans walnuts dried cranberries shredded coconut and mini chocolate chips are great ways to add more flavor and texture
• Make individual portions Assemble the pudding in the cavities of a muffin pan Reduce the baking time to 25 to 30 minutes or until the tops spring back
• Add toppings Whipped cream fresh berries and sliced bananas can also add more flavor to each bite Or skip the rum sauce and drizzle chocolate sauce on top instead
• Pick the right dish Avoid glass baking dishes as they’re more likely to burn the bottom of your pudding Go for lightly colored metal or ceramic baking dishes for best results

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Can I Prepare This Bread Pudding With Donuts Ahead?

Absolutely This is a great dessert for a dinner party as you can prepare it in advance Here’s how

• Soak the donuts and raisins for only 5 minutes before assembling and transferring to baking dish
• Reserve the liquid in a separate container and refrigerate Cover the pudding with Saran Wrap or foil and refrigerate the pudding for up to 12 hours
• When ready to bake remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking and set on the counter at room temperature
• Pour the reserved liquid on top Let pudding sit for 10 minutes to soak up the extra liquid and then bake as directed

How to Store Leftover Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days You can also cover the baking dish with foil to reduce clean up

To reheat pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until warm You can also heat it in the oven with foil over the top at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What type of donuts work best?

Stale traditional glazed donuts are ideal as they soak up the custard without falling apart. Avoid fresh or cake-style donuts with thick frostings.

→ Can I prepare it ahead of time?

Yes, soak the donuts briefly, refrigerate assembled pudding with soaking liquid separately, then bake within 12 hours for best results.

→ How do I store leftovers?

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in microwave or oven.

→ Can I add other mix-ins?

Yes, nuts, dried fruits, shredded coconut, or chocolate chips add texture and flavor variations.

→ What is the secret to the rich sauce?

The buttery rum sauce is made by melting butter and brown sugar, then simmering with cream and spiced rum for a luscious finish.