Vegan Bread Pudding
on Sep 12, 2021, Updated Aug 19, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links.
An easy but decadent vegan bread pudding that’s ooey, gooey and baked to golden perfection.
You can’t beat bread pudding for the ultimate comfort food breakfast, brunch or dessert!
You can serve bread pudding with whipped cream, maple syrup or sugar glaze for a standout addition to any special occasion or family gathering!
Traditional bread pudding includes eggs and cream or milk but amazingly, this recipe is completely egg-free and dairy-free. It’s also a great way to use up leftover stale bread and you most likely have all the ingredients you need on hand.
This Vegan Monkey Bread and Vegan French Toast Casserole are similar if you’re looking for something for a holiday breakfast.
Ingredient Notes
This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.
- Bread: You can use any kind of bread in this recipe but I like a basic wheat or sourdough bread best. You can also use gluten-free bread, if needed. Day-old or any stale leftover bread works best if you have some!
- Milk: Any plant-based milk works here. Try soy, almond, cashew or oat milk. Just note that almond and cashew tend to have a milder flavour while soy is a big more pronounced so just make sure you like the flavour of the milk before using it in the recipe. You can also use full-fat coconut milk if you don’t mind the coconut flavour.
- Sugar: Brown sugar and coconut sugar work here. You can also use cane sugar but brown sugar and coconut sugar add a deep, caramel flavour that’s really nice.
- Maple Syrup: Maple syrup helps thicken and caramelize the liquid portion and adds amazing flavour to the pudding.
- Oil: You can use melted coconut or any butter or vegan butter. I haven’t tried it with another oil like avocado or olive but I’d probably recommend sticking to coconut oil or even coconut butter.
- Flavour: Cinnamon and vanilla help enhance the flavour of the bread pudding.
- Raisins: Any kind works such as thompson raisins or golden raisins work. You could also mix and match with dried cranberries if you like.
How to Make Vegan Bread Pudding
Step 1: Cube the bread into about 1-inch cubes and add to an approximately 8 x 6 inch or 8-inch square baking dish.
Step 2: Add the rest of the ingredients to to a mixing bowl and stir until fully combined.
Quick Tip: If you’d like to add chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts or almonds or fruit like diced apples or banana, mix them in now as well.
Step 3: Pour the liquid mixture over the bread in the baking dish and gently mix to combine.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until the liquid is set and the pudding is golden brown.
FAQs
You should be able to use gluten-free bread of choice if you have a good one that you like, though I haven’t tested it so I can’t guarantee the result.
Yes, you can use coconut milk, either light or full-fat coconut milk works but I’d recommend using half coconut milk and half of a lighter milk like almond or cashew.
Coconut milk actually adds a lovely richness and thickness to the pudding just note it will add some coconut flavour to the recipe.
Yes, you can freeze the baked bread pudding for 3-4 months if wrapped well. Let cool completely before freezing. Reheat in the oven for 20-30 minutes until heated through and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
- Nuts: Nuts make a yummy addition to bread pudding! You can either sprinkle some pecans, walnuts or slivered almonds on top or mix them in with the raisins.
- Fruit: Diced apple makes a yummy addition if you mix them in with the raisins to make apple cinnamon bread pudding.
- Flavours: Try adding various flavours like nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom or orange zest.
- Firmness: You can serve bread pudding warm right from the oven but it will be a bit gooey and messy. For firmer pudding, let it cool for 30 minutes before serving.
- Topping: Try bread pudding served with your favourite dairy-free yogurt or whipped cream, a simple sugar glaze, cashew cream icing, sautéed apples, vegan caramel sauce or even vanilla ice cream.
Storage and Prep Tips
- The bread pudding can be prepared the night before baking but I wouldn’t recommend making it further in advance as it will get soggy. If prepping in advance, cover and store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
- Instead of prepping it advance, I’d recommend baking it the day before and reheating when you’re ready to serve.
- The bread pudding will keep in the fridge, covered, for up to 5 days and can be enjoyed cold or reheated in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
- It can also be frozen for 3-4 months and reheated in the oven for 20-30 minutes until heated through.
Vegan Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 7 cups cubed bread of choice, 250 g, approx. 1 inch cubes
- 3 cups plant-based milk of choice, 600 mL
- 1 cup coconut sugar, 110 g
- ½ cup maple syrup, 110 g
- ¼ cup coconut oil or melted vegan butter, 35 g
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- ½ cup raisins, 55 g
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the bread cubes in a 8×6 inch rectangle or 8-inch square baking dish.
- Add the plant based milk, coconut sugar, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, raisins, cinnamon and vanilla to a bowl and stir until thoroughly combined. Pour the milk mixture over the bread and stir gently to combine.
- Pour the milk mixture over the bread and stir gently to combine.
- Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes, until the liquid has set and the pudding is golden brown and somewhat firm. You can serve the pudding right away or let it cool for 30-60 minutes for a firmer pudding.
Whay can I use in place of maple syrup?
Used raisin challah instead of sourdough, coconut creamer (from Trader Joe’s) as the plant based milk, & cut the sugar down to 1/3 cup. It turned out deliciously!
Sounds amazing! Thanks for the feedback and the adjustments, those are always super helpful for others! Glad you enjoyed it.