Best Bread Pudding Recipe made with Banana Bread

I have always loved bread pudding, and this banana bread bread pudding might be my favorite version yet.

This isn’t just bread pudding with some bananas added. Nooo, this is bread pudding using actual banana bread! And yes, it’s as decadent as it sounds. 

If you have leftover banana bread, this delicious dessert is the perfect way to use it. 

Ingredients

• Banana bread. Try my no-fail recipe, or grab a loaf from the bakery or grocery store. If you can let it sit for a day or two, it’s better than freshly baked. 
• Half and half. This is exactly what the name implies – half milk and half heavy cream. Half and half yields the perfect consistency for bread pudding. 
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla
• Fresh bananas. We’ll use these for garnish, so they can be ripe bananas or just ripe. 

How to Make Banana Bread Bread Pudding

Cube the Banana Bread

Start with day old banana bread and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Arrange them in a 9×13 baking dish. 

Make the Custard

In a large bowl, whisk together the half and half, sugar, eggs and vanilla.

Now, pour the custard over the bread cubes. 

Weigh the Casserole Down

Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap. Then, place another baking dish on top to weigh it down.

You want the bread to be fully soaked by the custard mixture. Refrigerate the baking dish for several hours and up to overnight. 

Bake the Bread Pudding

When you’re ready to bake your banana bread pudding, let it sit at room temperature while the oven is preheating.

Then, remove the plastic wrap and bake it in the oven until it’s set. A slight jiggle in the middle is okay, but you want it to be mostly set. 

Serving Suggestions

Here are my favorite ways to enjoy this indulgent dessert:

• Garnish with sliced bananas. They make a picture perfect presentation, and the contrast of fresh bananas with the baked pudding is divine.
• Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Bonus points if you serve it slightly warm with the scoop of ice cream on top.
• Drizzle with caramel sauce, vanilla sauce or sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top. 

Variations

Cream Cheese Banana Bread Pudding. Add cubes of cream cheese to the custard for a creamy, tangy element. 

Banana Nut Bread Pudding. Incorporate crumbled pecans or walnuts into this bread pudding for next level texture. 

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding. Use a loaf of chocolate chip banana bread instead of regular banana bread, or toss semisweet chocolate chips with the cubed banana bread before you pour in the custard. 

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make Ahead

This banana bread pudding is an ideal make ahead dessert. The longer you can let the bread soak, the better!

Make it several hours ahead of time or even the day before. Refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake, and let it sit at room temperature while the oven is preheating.

Storage

Store leftover banana bread pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating

Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the entire baking dish in the oven at 350F degrees.

Why does bread need to be stale for bread pudding?

Traditional bread pudding recipes call for stale bread or day-old bread because dry bread absorbs the custard more effectively.

When bread is slightly dried out, the egg mixture can soak deep into the cubed bread instead of making the dish soggy.

Using stale bread also helps the pudding maintain its structure as it bakes. 

Can I use fresh banana bread in this recipe?

Yes, you can definitely use freshly baked banana bread. However, because it contains more moisture, you’ll want to dry it out slightly first.

Dry it out by cutting the bread into 1-inch cubes and spreading them across a baking sheet. Then, bake for about 20 minutes at 250F degrees until slightly firm.

This helps the bread soak up the custard mixture properly.

When you try this banana bread bread pudding recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

For more bread pudding recipes, try these:

• New Orleans Bread Pudding with Buttered Rum Sauce
• Blueberry Bread Pudding with Brioche
• Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

For more banana recipes, try these:

• 3 Ingredient Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites
• Moist and Easy Cinnamon Banana Bread
• Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding