Description
This Slow Cooker Bread Pudding is a warm, comforting dessert featuring soft, custardy bread cubes soaked in a spiced milk and egg mixture. With optional raisins for a touch of sweetness, this easy-to-make pudding cooks gently in a slow cooker, making it perfect for a hassle-free dessert that’s rich, flavorful, and ideal for serving warm with cream, whipped cream, or ice cream.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 cups 1-inch bread cubes (from a day-old French or Italian loaf)
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
- 2 cups milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup cane sugar (or white granulated sugar)
- ¼ cup butter (melted and slightly cooled)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Begin by buttering the inside of your slow cooker or spraying it with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent the bread pudding from sticking during cooking.
- Add Bread and Raisins: Place the bread cubes and optional raisins evenly into the buttered slow cooker, creating the base of the pudding.
- Mix Custard: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, melted and cooled butter, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Combine Custard and Bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and raisins in the slow cooker. Toss gently to ensure that the bread cubes are fully coated with the custard.
- Let Soak: Allow the bread and custard to sit for about 10 minutes. Toss again to make sure the custard is evenly absorbed and distributed throughout the bread cubes for an even texture.
- Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 2 ½ to 3 hours. Check doneness by inserting a knife near the center; it should come out clean when the pudding is fully cooked and set.
- Serve: Serve the bread pudding warm. Optionally, drizzle with cream, add a dollop of whipped cream, or top with vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent touch.
Notes
- You can use day-old bread for best texture as it soaks up the custard better.
- Raisins are optional, and other dried fruits like cranberries or chopped dates can be substituted.
- If you prefer a richer pudding, substitute whole milk with half-and-half or add a splash of cream.
- For a nutty flavor, add chopped toasted nuts before cooking.
- Ensure the slow cooker is well buttered or sprayed to avoid sticking and make cleaning easier.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on slow cooker make and model; check doneness accordingly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker bread pudding, bread pudding recipe, easy dessert, comfort food dessert, slow cooker dessert
