Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Recipe

Luscious Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Recipe for Sweet Comfort

Sweet aromas of caramelized bananas foster bread pudding waft through kitchens like nostalgic memories.

Warm spices dance delicately across creamy surfaces.

Comfort mingles with indulgence in every decadent bite.

Grandmothers’ traditional desserts inspire this modern twist on classic comfort food.

Soft bread soaks luxuriously in rich custard and rum-infused caramel.

Each spoonful promises a delightful journey of unexpected flavors.

Why Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Shines

  • Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Combine the classic warmth of bread pudding with the decadent flavors of bananas foster, creating an irresistible treat that will wow family and friends.
  • Versatile Celebration Dessert: Ideal for special occasions like holiday gatherings, dinner parties, or weekend brunches, this recipe transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary sweet experience.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare most components in advance, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying delicious moments with loved ones.

What You’ll Need For Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

Bread and Base:
  • Bread Cubes: Soft white bread for a classic, custardy texture.
  • Bananas: Ripe and sweet for rich banana flavor.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Milk: Creamy dairy base for soft pudding.
  • Heavy Cream: Rich and indulgent liquid.
  • Eggs: Binding and adding structure to the pudding.
  • Vanilla Extract: Warm and sweet aromatic flavor.
Sweeteners and Spices:
  • Brown Sugar: Deep caramel-like sweetness.
  • Cinnamon: Warm and cozy spice.
Banana Foster Sauce Ingredients:
  • Butter: Rich and smooth base for sauce.
  • Brown Sugar: Sweet caramel-like sauce component.
  • Heavy Cream: Smooth and rich sauce liquid.
  • Rum: Classic bananas foster flavor enhancer.
  • Vanilla Extract: Warm and fragrant sauce flavor.
  • Sliced Bananas: Fresh fruit topping for the dessert.

Bake Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Easily

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish

Warm up your oven to a cozy 350°F.

Generously grease a spacious 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent any sticky situations.

Step 2: Arrange Bread Base

Scatter bread cubes evenly across the greased baking dish, creating a delicious foundation for your dessert.

Step 3: Create Creamy Banana Mixture

In a mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients:
  • Ripe mashed bananas
  • Whole milk
  • Heavy cream
  • Brown sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon

Whisk everything together until smooth and well-blended.

Step 4: Soak the Bread

Pour the luscious banana mixture over the bread cubes, making sure every single piece gets a luxurious coating.

Let the bread soak up all the flavors for 15 minutes.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes.

You’re looking for a beautifully golden-brown top and a set center that jiggles just slightly.

Step 6: Craft the Bananas Foster Sauce

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

Stir in brown sugar until it dissolves completely.

Slowly introduce:
  • Heavy cream
  • Rum
  • Vanilla extract

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 7: Add Banana Finale

Toss in sliced bananas and cook for an additional 3 minutes, allowing them to caramelize and become gloriously soft.

Step 8: Serve and Indulge

Ladle the warm, decadent bananas foster sauce over the freshly baked bread pudding.

Serve immediately and watch everyone’s eyes light up with pure dessert delight.

Expert Tips For Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

  • Let bread cubes soak in banana mixture for 15 minutes to maximize flavor penetration and ensure every bite is moist and delicious.
  • Substitute rum with vanilla extract or banana liqueur for a non-alcoholic version that maintains the rich, complex flavor profile.
  • Use day-old bread or slightly stale bread cubes to help absorb liquid without becoming overly mushy during baking.
  • Check bread pudding at 40 minutes to prevent over-browning, ensuring a crispy top and creamy interior by monitoring oven temperature carefully.
  • Warm the bananas foster sauce just before serving to maintain its silky consistency and enhance the dessert's temperature contrast.

Save And Heat Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping the bread pudding and sauce separately to maintain texture.
  • Warm individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, covering with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
  • Gently reheat the bananas foster sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
  • Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze bread pudding for up to 2 months, thawing overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Best Matches For Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

  • Sip a Rum-Infused Cocktail: Mix dark rum, banana liqueur, and a splash of cream to complement the dessert's rich flavors and echo the rum in the sauce.
  • Pair with Smooth Vanilla Ice Cream: Scoop creamy vanilla ice cream alongside the warm bread pudding to create a delightful temperature and flavor contrast.
  • Match with Caramel Espresso: Serve a small shot of caramel-drizzled espresso to enhance the dessert's sweet, deep caramelized notes and provide a slight bitter balance.
  • Complement with Spiced Bourbon: Pour a neat bourbon with subtle spice notes that will harmonize with the cinnamon and caramel undertones in the bread pudding.

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Twist Ideas

  • Gluten-Free Version: Swap regular bread with gluten-free bread cubes or almond flour bread to create a celiac-friendly dessert.
  • Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace milk and heavy cream with coconut milk or almond milk, using coconut oil instead of butter for the sauce.
  • Reduced Sugar Option: Substitute brown sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, and use ripe bananas for natural sweetness.
  • Vegan Alternative: Use plant-based milk, egg replacer or mashed banana, and coconut cream to transform the recipe into a completely vegan-friendly dessert.

FAQs

  • What makes the bread pudding soft and moist?

The combination of mashed bananas, milk, heavy cream, and eggs creates a rich, custardy texture that keeps the bread pudding incredibly soft and tender when baked.

  • Can I use different types of bread for this recipe?

Yes, you can use brioche, challah, or French bread. Slightly stale bread works best as it absorbs the liquid mixture more effectively and creates a better pudding texture.

  • Is the rum necessary in the sauce?

The rum adds depth and traditional flavor to the bananas foster sauce, but you can substitute it with vanilla extract or rum extract if you prefer a non-alcoholic version. The sauce will still be delicious.

  • How do I know when the bread pudding is fully cooked?

The bread pudding is done when the top is golden brown and the center is set, meaning it doesn’t jiggle when you gently shake the baking dish. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.

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Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Recipe

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Recipe


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4.9 from 8 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Indulgent Bananas Foster Bread Pudding blends New Orleans classic dessert with comforting bread pudding magic. Rum-soaked caramel and sweet bananas melt into rich custard, creating a delightful dessert that whisks you straight to Louisiana’s culinary heart.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 5 large eggs
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 loaf French bread, cut into cubes

Dairy and Liquids:

  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Sweeteners and Spices:

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Prepare an aromatic bread pudding infused with caramelized bananas and rich rum-based sauce, transforming humble ingredients into an elegant dessert.
  2. Cube day-old bread into uniform pieces and arrange evenly in a generously greased baking dish.
  3. Whisk together mashed ripe bananas, dairy components, sweeteners, eggs, aromatic spices, and vanilla until smooth and well-integrated.
  4. Gently cascade the liquid mixture over bread cubes, ensuring complete and uniform saturation.
  5. Allow the bread to rest and absorb the creamy liquid for approximately 15 minutes, enabling deeper flavor penetration.
  6. Transfer the baking dish to a preheated oven, maintaining a consistent 350°F temperature.
  7. Bake until the surface develops a golden-amber crust and the interior reaches a soft, custard-like consistency, roughly 45-50 minutes.
  8. While pudding bakes, craft the luxurious bananas foster sauce by melting butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
  9. Incorporate brown sugar, stirring continuously until it dissolves and develops a rich caramel texture.
  10. Stream in heavy cream, rum, and vanilla extract, creating a silky, fragrant sauce.
  11. Allow the mixture to bubble gently, reducing and thickening over moderate heat.
  12. Introduce sliced bananas, letting them caramelize and infuse additional sweetness into the sauce.
  13. Remove bread pudding from oven and let rest briefly to stabilize its structure.
  14. Generously ladle warm bananas foster sauce over each serving, ensuring a decadent presentation.

Notes

  • Bread selection matters hugely, so use day-old challah or brioche for maximum texture and absorption of the creamy mixture.
  • Soak bread cubes thoroughly to ensure each bite is equally moist and rich with banana-caramel flavors.
  • Customize the rum sauce by using bourbon or orange liqueur for different flavor profiles if preferred.
  • Make this dessert gluten-free by substituting regular bread with gluten-free bread cubes and ensuring all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 20 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 100 mg
Angelina Wiles

Angelina Wiles

Content Editor & Culinary Enthusiast

Expertise

Food Writing and Editing, Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine, Baking and Pastry Arts, Sustainable Cooking Practices​

Education

Portland Community College
Certificate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on sustainable cooking practices, vegetarian cuisine, and food writing.​

​Oregon Culinary Institute
Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts
Focus: Specialized training in artisanal baking, pastry techniques, and dessert presentation.


Angelina’s love for cooking started with handwritten family recipes and weekend trips to farmers’ markets around Portland. She followed her passion with a Certificate in Culinary Arts from Portland Community College, then perfected her sweet side with a Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts at Oregon Culinary Institute.
Angelina believes recipes should feel like a conversation, not a science project. She’s all about helping readers trust themselves in the kitchen with simple steps, fresh ideas, and easy twists on classic meals.
When she’s not editing recipes, she’s baking bread, sipping coffee, or getting inspired by the changing seasons.

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