Have you ever made bread pudding from banana bread? I hadn’t until today.
Walking through the grocery store aisles looking for inspiration, I found a loaf of banana bread and decided to finally try making a bread pudding using banana bread. All I needed were eggs and cream because I already had a banana at home. I also picked up some frozen puff pastry and some jam and a bag of Doritos and some salsa. For not a lot of money, I had a lovely dessert, a snack and something for afternoon tea.
Bread pudding is best made from stale, dry bread but this bread was quite moist so I cut it into cubes and put it in the oven on low heat for about 20 minutes, tossing it once. While the bread was in the oven, I whisked four eggs with some sugar and cream and a little vanilla.
When the bread came out of the oven, I let it cool for a few minutes then tumbled it into a buttered casserole dish. 20cm square (8×8) would work just fine. I poured the custard mixture over the top and let it sit to soak in for about 15 minutes and then into a 180C / 350F oven for about an hour until a knife came out almost clean.
Once it was slightly cool, I dusted it with icing sugar and served it with dark toffee sauce and whipped cream. Over the top? Maybe, but it’s Christmas!
- 6 cups cubed banana bread
- 1 banana - sliced into coins
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup cream
- 2 cups milk
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Preheat oven to 180C / 350F and generously butter a 20cm square baking dish (8" square)
- Dry bread soaks up the custard better, so if the bread is moist, place on a baking tray at 160C / 320F for about 20 minutes, tossing once. Set aside to cool.
- Add the cream, milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla into a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Tumble the banana bread cubes into the baking dish and scatter the banana slices over them. Pour over the custard mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes before placing it in the oven.
- Bake for one hour until a knife inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Serve warm, dusted with icing sugar and served with warm toffee or caramel sauce and cream.
Puff pastry turnovers are the most simple things to make ever and they look really nice on a plate, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can make your own filling from fruit you like or you can use jam or canned pie filling and in less than 30 minutes from start to finish you can be serving something like this.
Preheat oven to 190C / 375F. Lay a piece of puff pastry on a flat surface and divide it into four sections. Place a tablespoon of filling in one corner of each square and pull the other corner over and press to seal the edges. Place on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Whisk an egg with a teaspoon of water and brush the tops of the turnovers and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes until risen and golden brown. If you want to drizzle with icing, mix 1/4 cup of icing sugar with 2 teaspoons of hot water to make a runny icing and drizzle across the turnovers.
Some might say, why a bowl of salsa and some Doritos for a holiday entertaining? Can’t you come up with something more creative? Okay, maybe I could but at this time of year, why kill yourself getting ready for a party and be so tired you can’t enjoy your friends. Enter a bowl of salsa with chips. It’s junk food we all eat at home from time to time anyway. The last time I served this, the bowl was empty and not a Dorito left.
I love the idea of banana bread pudding because I love everything in it. Such a clever idea Maureen! 😀
Now this is the way to do bread pudding, and I love that toffee sauce!
We love us some bread pudding around here! This looks amazing….OOOOh so good with chocolate chips too I bet! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Maureen! I’m very grateful the www has brought you into my life! XO, Sheila
Oh wow! I’ve made French toast with banana bread but never bread pudding. Oh the marvelous decadence!
Yum, this is such an awesome idea! Didn’t think banana bread could get any better!
Hey, nice idea, very creative.
I have never tried Bread Pudding using Banana Bread. What a great idea. Thanks! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Top banana bread pudding! Came just in time for the holidays! Thanks, Maureen!
Decadent.
Banana bread is one of my all-time favorite things! And making bread pudding with it sounds absolutely delicious. Yum!
The pudding looks so decadent!!
Lovely photos Maureen!
You are too funny, Maureen – you could always use the excuse that it’s too hot to walk; that’s what I do as no one wants to see me in a sweat. This is a great twist on bread and butter pudding. And anyone who doesn’t like doritos with salsa is just a snob. I can’t get over your comment on my blog about the Secret Santa exchange. Everything arrived smashed and broken? That’s so unfortunate. And if memory serves me right, the gift I sent you last year also arrived in a thousand pieces. Your postie must take to your gifts with a sledgehammer xx
Your recipe sounds delicious! I have never had this recipe before, but it looks wonderful!
I am a big fan of bread pudding -sweet or savory – I have made a few. But what a great idea to make it with banana bread. inspiring and I will try.
A delicious and clever recipe, Maureen. Wish we had a Foodworks near home!
I never made pudding but when I saw yours I said to myself that I must to try this!! It looks so décadente and it’s Christmas time so…!
Doritos is always a good alternative, even is a Junk food, you are right, the plate returns to the kitchen always empty!!
Have a great Christmas holidays Maureen ! xx
I’ve never made bread pudding from banana bread! It sounds like a wonderful idea, and your bread pudding looks delicious! I love that picture with the syrup being poured – made me drool!
I believe dear Maureen should check out opening up a bakery at Foodworks…Your banana bread pudding and puff pastry turnovers are inspired!
Hi Maureen! I love banana bread and bread pudding- this is perfect! PS there is not a damn thing wrong with Doritos and salsa!
I always head for the chips and dips at a party – nothing wrong serving that up at all. As for the banana bread pudding – I wonder why I’ve never thought of doing that? There’s always surplus bananas in the house for some reason.
I’m hosting brunch on Saturday. We will be having your banana bread pudding! It looks fantastic.
Oh heavens what an amazing looking dessert!! Just love everything about it!! Your dark toffee sauce is making me a bit crazy, I have to say!! I want it bad!!
Bread pudding made out of banana bread? Genius! And no, never thought of doing that. Really terrific idea — thanks! Hope you have a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Years.
That’s over the top Maureen but I love it. Have a great Christmas.
Pheowww… Excellent idea, although I never have left over banana bread, absolutely loving the look of your caramel sauce, yarm! PS: How the heck did you make your pudding look so darn delicious in the photo? Mine always looks like something a woolly mammoth pooped out.
My MIL adored bread pudding and this one would be at the top of her list for sure. It’s so nice to have a classy grocery shop in walking distance, we have two and both are budget (which is odd because our hood houses are in excess of 1.5million!), but it’s better than nothing!
If banana bread is not delicious enough, you amped it up . That pudding looks so good and perfect for Christmas morning. Chips and dip, hey, I love it.
Happy Holidays my dear and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
xoxo
I’m with you – why slave in the kitchen only to be exhausted when guests arrive. Doritos are my favorite chip, put just one in front of me and I’ll seek out the rest of the bag. I can never eat just one.
I love the idea of banana bread pudding maybe with a touch of a bourbon sauce! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
It’s actually shocking that i’ve never made bread pudding. I want to and now I want to with banana bread! Love that toffee sauce and the chips and salsa – great afternoon snack 🙂 Merry Christmas Maureen & John!
OH UBBA HUBBA!!! I NEED THIS! never have I had banana bread before but I recall my roomie way back when cooking 8 loaves… and the apartment smells, UGHHH SOOO GOOD!
I LOVE the bread pudding using banana bread. INSPIRED. A MUST TRY recipe. Yummy.
Boy did you get a Bingo with me on this recipe. I LOVE bread pudding. Man alive it has to be EXTRA delish with banana bread. I thought I had tried everything, but guess what. I haven’t. So a new trick for the ol’ dog.
Woof Woof. That’s dog talk for Yum Yum. Charlie will know what I mean—–Gad I hope I am remembering your dog’s name right. John is your husband. So I know I am safe there.
Banana bread x bread pudding is genius!! So clever! Love those pastry turnovers too. Have a lovely Christmas! 🙂
Chips and any form of a dip (like salsa!) are an essential for any type of party – there’s something about it that just makes I am making banana bread and can’t wait for it to get a little stale so that I can make this. This sounds so so good! Merry Christmas my friend!
We love ‘over the top’ rich sweet treats! And we’re not embarrassed to admit it in public! That bread-pudding and the toffee-sauce recipe plus pictures stole my heart and peace of mind 🙂
Off to the kitchen now!
Thank you and happy Holidays.
Oh how scrumptious and comforting this looks, Maureen. 🙂 Wishing you a most wonderful holiday and good health for the new year. XO
Why did I not think of this? I make so much banana bread its unreal, I am going to have to try this asap I love it 😀 Hope you & John had a great Christmas.
Maureen, that pudding might be over the top, but hey, I’d rather have a tiny dish of something wonderful than a huge dish of something that’s just meh.
Mmm banana bread pudding. What a great idea for leftover banana bread or 75% off banana bread that expires tomorrow (likely scenario in my life). Also, can we add a little bourbon? Just a touch?
bread pudding with banana bread! Now, that is sinfully over the top! What an indulgent treat this could be? Someone gonna be happy in my family if I serve this.
That banana bread pudding looks like heaven on a platter! Who knew regular banana bread could get better!
This banana bread pudding looks delicious, Maureen! Love the idea of serving it with toffee sauce! So yummy – can’t wait to try this recipe. I know it will be amazing. 🙂
I love bread pudding, and love banana bread, so of course would be all over your creation!
nothing wrong with Tostitos and salsa, I’ve done the same countless times and food snobs can move away, fine…. More for me! HA!
Happy New Year, Maureen…. almost there for you, I’ve got a little time left here in Colorado (freezing my butt)
Maureen, what a lovely idea. I love bread and butter puddings and this is a fantastic twist!! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and all the best for a happiness filled 2016 xx
I love banana bread, so this bread pudding sounds amazing! And those turnovers are a huge temptation as well. Wishing you a very Happy New Year, my friend. And Izzy sends a big woof to Charlie. xo
Banana bread pudding? I can see plenty of minions going wild over that one! Such a clever idea.
Happy New Year, Maureen. Wishing you and your family good health, happiness and laughter in the year ahead 🙂
Brilliant Maureen! Banana bread bread pudding, it is a little over the top and that is exactly why I would want seconds. Wishing you a very safe and healthy 2016!
Oh. My. Goodness! I totally just printed that banana bread pudding recipe. Can’t wait to try it! Happy New Year, Maureen!
What a delicious idea!
Maureen, I made your banana bread pudding for Christmas brunch. It was fantastic. I couldn’t stay out of it. I will definitely make it again. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
What a great idea for bread pudding! I’ve made it with leftover stale panettone (a la Jamie Oliver), and this sounds delicious.
The banana bread pudding looks excellent! And the best part is that it is fast and easy 🙂
What a brilliant twist on bread pudding. It sounds amazing!
This bread pudding looks like a dream come true. I wonder if it would taste good with peanut butter, too. OMG.
Wow great idea. This banana bread pudding looks awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Creative recipe, I would like to try to make this recipe at my home. Thanks for sharing lovely tempting recipe.
I have made this recipe several times. I have a Zojirushi mini bread maker and bake a lot for pot lucks and to give as gifts. I frequently bake quick breads: banana, paw paw, apple, etc. Every now and then a loaf will go stale or just not rise properly, and that’s when I use your recipe to make bread pudding out of it. I have found that if a loaf does not rise properly, it does not absorb the milk well, even when dried out some in the oven. Last time I tried fluffing the poorly risen and dried bread cubes in the food processor with the main blade, and this opened them up enough to improve the absorption and give a good texture to the bread pudding. I usually leave out the banana slices. Toffee sauce is not something I was not familiar with here in the US, but I found a recipe on the internet and it was easy to make…delicious! My friends really enjoy receiving bread puddings made from your recipe.
Best banana bread bread pudding recipe ever. It was truly perfect and turned out wonderful. I used a hot butter rum sauce over the top of it (and used coconut rum for the sauce), and the 2 together were divine. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Hi is the cream regular whipping cream (33% fat) or heavy cream (36% fat). It makes a big difference in what it is used.
I used thickened cream that’s available here in Australia.
I used a fallen pineapple loaf that no one wanted to eat, and coconut milk in the custard. Turned out excellent! Everyone gobbled it up!