Bread pudding made from cake donuts! Baked with a coffee custard, and topped with a coffee glaze!
I’ve wanted to make a donut bread pudding for, well, forever. As a donut-obsessed person, this concept always held so much appeal to me. Since I’ve finally done it now, and it was a smashing success (if I do say so), now I want to make bread pudding out of every other bread product I can think of. I’ve always wanted to do this with croissants too. I’m doin’ it. Soon. How can that NOT be good? It can’t. Or… bagels. I think that could even work.
What else? I’m going to keep brainstorming potential bread pudding candidates. If one thing’s for certain, I will fixate until I feel my brainstorming and experimenting has been thorough! I won’t be able to help myself.
How is it possible to take donuts, a food that is already so perfect and difficult to improve upon, and make them even more decadent, less healthy, and overall better.
That’s a tall order. We’re talking about donuts. They’re already soooooo sooooo SOOOOO ridiculously good. Even the plain cake donuts are pretty killer. I’ve yet to meet a donut that I didn’t like though.
Still, it is apparently possible to elevate them to another level = bread pudding. Ahhh, bread pudding. A dessert that sounds dull and boring, and looks unassuming, but is altogether fabulous. Carbs baked into custard. What’s not to like?
But donuts call for coffee. Everything calls for coffee in my world, but especially donuts. Right? Thus, the custard component of this bread pudding is, you guessed it: coffee-flavored! It’s just good sense. Coffee and donuts belong together.
I was also sort of inspired by my S.O.’s habit of dunking donuts in coffee. I know that this is a common practice, it’s just not something I do myself. I’ve never been much of a dunker. Whether I’m drinking milk or coffee, I just don’t really want anything else in it. Even donuts. He does it with everything though. Donuts, chocolate chip cookies, brownies. Any sweets and pastries. I don’t know about all that, but I think I can get on board with donuts.
And if I’m making a bread pudding out of donuts, then I definitely want there to be coffee. It’s in the custard, and it’s in the glaze. There’s plenty of coffee here.
There’s also a slew of cinnamon and cinnamon chips in this bread pudding. You know, for good measure.
Coffee & Donuts Bread Pudding
Ingredients
Bread Pudding:
- 16 stale plain cake donuts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter melted
- 1 c. sugar
- 4 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 c. whole or 2% milk
- 1 c. strongly brewed coffee
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp. vanilla
- 1 c. cinnamon chips
Glaze:
- 3 tbsp. strongly brewed coffee
- 1/2 tsp. instant coffee granules
- 2 c. powdered sugar
Instructions
For bread pudding:
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Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish with non-stick spray. Layer the donut pieces in the dish.
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In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, eggs, milk, coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla. Whisk until well-blended.
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Pour the egg mixture evenly over the donuts.
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Sprinkle the cinnamon chips evenly over the donuts.
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Cover the dish with foil, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil, and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until custard is set and edges of the donuts are golden brown.
For glaze:
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In a small bowl, combine coffee, instant coffee, and powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle over bread pudding while it's still warm.
Recipe Notes
If donuts are not already stale, bake them on an ungreased baking sheet at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
How does a person make bread pudding look prettier than this? Not sure, but if you’ve figured out the secret, fill me in! 🙂
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
February 17, 2015 at 12:39 amThat looks like the dessert of my husband’s dreams Sarah! Donuts, coffee and bread pudding are 3 of his favourite things. Pretty sure I’m going to have to make this for him! What a creative recipe! Love it!
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:12 pmYay!!! So glad it’s a winner. Let me know if you try it!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
February 17, 2015 at 7:30 amSOOO can I sub this in as my morning cup of coffee?! I am IN LUHVE with the idea of cake donuts to make bread pudding. Totally craving and drooling over here! Pinned!
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:13 pmLol!! Thank you, girl! Yes, it’s just like having a regular cup of coffee, so the calories are non-existent. Ha!!! I wish! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
February 17, 2015 at 8:07 amOh wow, this looks incredible, Sarah! I am so loving your donut bread pudding. This sounds fantastic! I wish I had this for breakfast right now, would definitely make my Tuesday better!
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:13 pmI wish I had some left!!! It would definitely make this dreary Tuesday better! Thanks, Gayle!
heather @french press says
February 17, 2015 at 10:55 amoh YES, LOVE all the bread pudding, especially one made with doughnuts
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:14 pmYes!! Everything is better with donuts, don’t ya think? Thanks, Heather! 🙂
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
February 17, 2015 at 11:24 amThis looks fantastic! I am a huge fan of coffee and donuts so this bread pudding doesn’t stand a chance. I will devour the entire pan.
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:14 pmLol! I know how you feel. That happens a lot in my house! Haha! Thanks, Jen!
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
February 17, 2015 at 1:02 pmLove this combinations – sounds amazing!
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:14 pmThank you!!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
February 17, 2015 at 1:59 pmThis is pretty much like the best idea ever! 🙂 Love this, Sarah!
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:15 pmThanks, Carrie!! It’s something I’d been wanting to try forever!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
February 17, 2015 at 5:41 pmYou didn’t. Coffee + donuts + bread pudding = totally unreal. I need to go make supper so that I don’t end up making and eating a WHOLE PAN of this!
Sarah says
February 17, 2015 at 9:16 pmLOL! You always crack me up, Ashley! I know how you feel… entire pans of desserts going miss around here pretty quickly! Thanks so much. I’m so glad you like it! 🙂
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
February 18, 2015 at 1:33 amOh my gosh. This is genius!
Sarah says
February 18, 2015 at 3:25 pmLol! Thanks so much! So glad you like it!
Sarah @ Whole and Heavenly Oven says
February 18, 2015 at 8:27 amOh, lord. You won’t mind if I just steal that whole pan outta my screen and just sneak off with it will you?! This pudding looks UNREAL, Sarah! I mean, we’ve got coffee and donuts so this qualifies as breakfast right?!
Sarah says
February 18, 2015 at 3:25 pmOh yeah. It’s breakfast alright! The best breakfast eva! Haha! 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali says
February 18, 2015 at 2:07 pmWhatttttttt! Donuts and bread pudding? This is genius Sarah, I might eat the entire pan on my own if this was in front of me! Super creative recipe, love it! 🙂
Sarah says
February 19, 2015 at 9:13 pmAww, thank you so much!!!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
February 18, 2015 at 7:54 pmCarbs + caffeine? I’m there for it! 🙂
Sarah says
February 19, 2015 at 9:15 pmRight??? World’s best breakfast!!! Haha! Carbs + caffeine, ftw!
Cynthia says
February 20, 2015 at 7:41 amlooks delicious! Last week, for a potluck I made blueberry croissant bread pudding. Everyone loved it and there wasn’t a crumb left! I am going to try this recipe as well.
Sarah says
February 20, 2015 at 8:20 amThat’s such a great idea! I’ve been wanting to try bread pudding with croissants, but blueberry didn’t occur to me, and that sounds amazing!!!
Jacqueline {Go Go Go Gourmet} says
February 20, 2015 at 9:12 amObsessing over this right now. That’s all I have to say.
Sarah says
February 23, 2015 at 8:14 amLol!!! Thanks, girl! 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
February 23, 2015 at 8:25 amI didn’t think I could love donuts anymore but donut bread pudding??? Girl, that is brilliant! I just want to plant my face in the entire pan! It looks craaaazy good!
Nicola - Pink Recipe Box says
February 26, 2015 at 2:21 amI always thought bread pudding was pretty boring and bleh. I bet it’s amazing when made with donuts!!
Sarah says
February 26, 2015 at 8:24 amI know what you mean! Bread pudding isn’t exactly a very trendy dessert, but I think it can be awesome when it’s jazzed up! We loved this version!
Erica @ The Crumby Cupcake says
February 26, 2015 at 8:18 amSpeechless. And hungry. OMG this looks amazing! This will HAVE to make an appearance in my kitchen! What a great idea!
Sarah says
February 26, 2015 at 8:25 amLol! Thank you so much, Erica! So glad you like it. I’m obsessed with donuts, so this was bound to happen!! 🙂
Christine from So Domestically Challenged says
February 28, 2015 at 8:34 pmOh my gosh! This looks so good, it makes me WANT to have company over in the morning!
Thanks so much for linking up to the Oh My Heartsie Girls Wordless Wednesday! I hope we see you again next week!
Sarah says
March 1, 2015 at 11:16 pmThank you so much for the party!! 🙂
Corinne says
March 2, 2015 at 3:27 pmThis looks amazing and I bet it smells just as good as it looks! Thank you so much for linking up the recipe at This Is How We Roll Thursday.
Sarah says
March 2, 2015 at 9:53 pmThanks so much for the party!
Kristin says
March 5, 2015 at 10:45 amOh yes, please!!! I’m literally drooling right now. This looks sooooo good. And using donuts is genius!! I usually use cinnamon raisin bread but this is wayyyyy better!!
Sarah says
March 5, 2015 at 9:42 pmLol! Thanks, Kristin! We loved it. The donuts were such a nice spin!
Beverly says
March 5, 2015 at 11:02 amI am not a big bread pudding fan, but my husband is. I might like it because of the doughnuts. I have to give this one a try.
Bev
Sarah says
March 5, 2015 at 9:42 pmThanks so much, Bev!
Mary @ StrawmarySmith says
March 8, 2015 at 1:55 amYou’re right – you DID find a way to make donuts better! And that glaze looks so divine I could eat it all by itself!
Sarah says
March 8, 2015 at 9:07 amHaha!! Thank you, Mary! I didn’t think donuts could get any better, but there may be other ways too, and I’m determined to find them out!! 🙂 Lol. Thanks for your kind comment!
Diane says
March 10, 2015 at 5:16 pmI’ve never had bread pudding… donuts? Oh yeah I love those. So this recipe is tempting me to make my first batch of bread pudding. Coffee???? For real? L.o.v.e. it all!
Thanks for linking up this luscious recipe at our Pure Blog Love Linky Party! I’m excited to see what you’ve been doing this week.
Sarah says
March 11, 2015 at 1:05 pmNever had bread pudding?? You must! It sounds boring, but it’s not – it’s amazing. Start with this donut one because it is wonderful! Thank you for the party!
chris says
March 12, 2015 at 8:47 amHi there~
Found you thru The Thurs This is How We Roll Party when I linked…I am loving your blog…this recipe in particular is awesome! I followed on FB and sub bc I Do Not Want To Miss Thing!!
Nice to “meet”you!!
Sarah says
March 12, 2015 at 9:26 amThanks so much, Chris! So glad you like the recipe!
Kevin Ashton says
November 5, 2015 at 6:40 amAmericans often confuse bread pudding with bread and butter pudding, but they are not the same thing.
Bread and Butter Pudding if made correctly is, slices of buttered fresh bread, baked in an egg custard and flavoured with various other things. It should not be dry or contain more bread than custard.
Whereas, Bread pudding is more of a moist cake made from leftover stale bread that is soaked to make moist again mixed with eggs, various dried fruit, sugar, spices, butter and milk.
Sarah says
November 6, 2015 at 12:56 pmInteresting. Thanks!
knagle says
December 7, 2015 at 8:27 pmI made this tonight but left out the extra sugar and only used 8 doughnuts ( 3 of them were raspberry filled) with the amount of liquid ingredients the recipe called for. I added about a teaspoon of fresh grated nutmeg and a splash of bourbon. It turned out perfectly, not too sweet, with the extra kick of the bourbon. I also did not add the glaze to skip the extra sugar. I let the doughnut pieces soak in the custard for about 20 minutes prior to baking since they were very stale. Great use for leftover doughnuts. I might make this for Christmas.
Sarah says
December 8, 2015 at 9:08 pmThat’s wonderful! I’m so glad you liked it, and that it turned out well for you! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback and the changes you made! Adding raspberry-filled donuts to this sounds AMAZING.
Meghan says
February 18, 2016 at 4:54 pmCould you make this the night before and let it soak in the refrigerator overnight, then bake the next morning?
Sarah says
February 19, 2016 at 9:47 amMost bread puddings can be made the night before to soak overnight, but I wouldn’t with this one! Donuts are just softer and more porous than some other heartier breads that get used in bread puddings, so I think it could end up making them too soggy! I hope that helps!