Apple Pie Bread Pudding
Cozy up with my ever comforting Apple Pie Bread Pudding – a delightful twist combining the best of apple pie and creamy bread pudding. Indulge in the warm, spiced flavours of this irresistible Apple Pie Bread Pudding. Made with layers of soft brioche and apple pie filling, it’s a dessert to remember.
Ingredients for 8 – 10 Servings
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Bread Pudding:
12 thick-cut slices of brioche bread or 12 brioche rolls, preferably dried out overnight, cut into 2.5 cm (1 inch) cubes
Optional: for topping
Apple Pie Filling:
800g apples of choice peeled and diced
approx 5 apples
Gala or Granny Smith
4 tablespoons salted butter
2.5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
150g brown sugar (3/4 cup)
120ml water (1/2 cup)
Custard:
240ml milk of choice (1 cup)
240ml heavy cream (1 cup)
1.5 tablespoons salted butter
75g granulated sugar (1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons)
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
4 eggs, at room temperature
Total Time
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Preparation Time30 minutes
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Cooking Time30 min – 40 min
Goes Great with
Method
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1. Preheat Oven and Prepare the Pan:
- Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a 23 cm (9 inch) round (or 20 cm or 23 cm square) baking pan with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper. Place the pan onto a baking sheet and set aside.
2. Prepare Apple Pie Filling:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of salted butter.
- Add 2.5 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice, stirring well.
- Add 150g of brown sugar and stir to combine.
- Add the diced apples and 120ml of water, stir, and cover. Cook until the apples are soft, stirring occasionally, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and strain the juices, reserving them for later.
3. Prepare the Custard:
- Combine all ingredients for the custard, except the eggs, in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until the butter is melted, then remove from heat.
- Add the 4 eggs one at a time, whisking well between each addition. Do not cook any longer after adding the eggs. Set aside.
4. Assemble the Bread Pudding:
- Place 1/3 of the bread cubes into the bottom of the prepared pan and press down.
- Spread about 1/3 of the apple pie filling over the bread cubes.
- Repeat the layering process two more times, finishing with the last 1/3 of bread cubes and apple pie filling on top.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the layered bread and apples, gently pressing down to ensure the bread is soaked.
- Sprinkle the top with
.
5. Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for 35-40 minutes on a baking sheet, until the top is golden and set but still slightly wobbly when shaken.
- Remove from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes.
6. Serve:
- Serve warm with a drizzle of the reserved apple pie filling juices and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Pro Tips- Dry the Bread: Allow the brioche to dry out overnight for better absorption of the custard.
- Customise the Apples: Mix different apple varieties for a blend of sweet and tart flavours.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the dish ahead and refrigerate it; bake just before serving for the freshest taste.
- Prepare your own Apple Pie Spice Mix
Notes
Turbinado sugar: is a type of partially refined sugar that retains some of the natural molasses from the sugarcane, giving it a light brown color and a mild caramel flavour. It has larger, coarser crystals than regular white sugar, and is often used as a topping for baked goods because it adds a nice crunch and a subtle molasses flavor.
It’s sometimes marketed as “raw sugar,” but unlike completely raw sugar, turbinado sugar has been minimally processed to remove surface impurities while still retaining some of the natural molasses. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a less refined sweetener with a bit more flavour or and texture than regular granulated sugar.
If you can’t get turbinado sugar, here are a few good substitutes:
1. Light Brown Sugar:
- Light brown sugar has a similar molasses flavor, although it is finer in texture. It can be used in equal amounts as a substitute, but it won’t provide the same crunchy texture on top of baked goods.
2. Demerara Sugar:
- Demerara sugar is another minimally refined sugar with large, coarse crystals and a light molasses flavor, very similar to turbinado. It makes an excellent 1:1 substitute.
3. White Granulated Sugar with a Bit of Molasses:
- Combine 1 cup of white granulated sugar with 1-2 teaspoons of molasses to mimic the flavor of turbinado. The texture won’t be as coarse, but it will work well for flavor.
4. Coconut Sugar:
- Coconut sugar has a caramel-like flavor similar to turbinado but is finer in texture. It can be used as a 1:1 substitute, though it will give a slightly different flavor.
5. Sanding Sugar:
- Sanding sugar has larger crystals like turbinado and can add a similar crunch when used as a topping. It doesn’t have the same molasses flavor, but it provides a similar texture.
These substitutes will work in most recipes, depending on whether you need to replicate the texture or just the flavor of turbinado sugar.