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This Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding recipe tastes just like a cinnamon roll! It has a gooey cinnamon swirl lacing through custardy bread pudding, and is topped with a rich frosting. It’s the perfect holiday breakfast or special-occasion brunch!
Cinnamon buns are right up there with bagels + cream cheese for me as far as favorite special occasion breakfasts go.
Bagels are a rare treat (made even rarer by the fact that here in Kuwait it isn’t nearly as easy to find a decent quality bagel as it is in New York). But ironically (because there’s a Cinnabon that’s just a two-minute walk from where we live), cinnamon buns are an even more rare treat (because I try not to eat too much sugar).
Last Christmas I had a serious cinnamon roll craving and I made it my business to copycat the Cinnabon recipe (which I will definitely be sharing with you at some point!). After a couple tries, I think my recipe was even better than Cinnabon’s (of course I’m biased though).
And now regular Cinnabon doesn’t hold the same appeal that it used to. But delicious as they are, cinnamon buns are not something I make very often.
But sometimes a special occasion warrants an insanely good cinnamon bun, right? And sometimes when a killer cinnamon bun is in order, you just don’t have the time to whip up a batch.
But bread pudding. Oooh, cinnamon bread pudding.
Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding
The genius thing about bread pudding is that it takes truly minimal effort (read: 10 minutes, and that’s if you do it while enjoying a cup of coffee and a chat with a friend) the night before you want to have it.
Then after a quick bake the next morning, you can serve what is sure to be the hit of brunch to friends.
Gooey cinnamon swirl, custardy bread pudding, and rich frosting. It’s the stuff sweet cinnamon dreams are made of.
And bread pudding is the perfect way to use leftover stale bread!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
Cinnamon Swirl Syrup Ingredients
- Light brown sugar – a brown sugar + cinnamon mixture is a classic component of a cinnamon roll
- Butter – for rich flavor and to help achieve the perfect gooey cinnamon sugar swirl
- Flour – all-purpose flour helps thicken it a touch
- Water – for the right consistency
- Cinnamon – for flavor and aroma
Sweet Bread Pudding Ingredients
- Eggs – eggs are a classic component of bread pudding; they give the pudding structure and help it set
- Milk – I use whole milk, but you can use any type of milk you like
- Light brown sugar – for a hint of sweetness with notes of molasses and caramel
- Vanilla extract – vanilla extract gives our sweet bread pudding recipe a vanilla custard flavor
- Cinnamon – we just use a touch of ground cinnamon in the bread pudding because most of the cinnamon flavor comes from the gooey cinnamon brown sugar swirl
- Salt – a natural flavor enhancer
- Bread – I use stale French bread, but you can use any day-old bread you have on hand
Vanilla Icing Ingredients
- Powdered sugar – aka confectioner’s sugar or 10X sugar; this is the base of our quick and easy vanilla glaze
- Milk – I use whole milk, but whatever kind of milk you have on hand will work
- Vanilla extract – for flavor and aroma
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Cinnamon Swirl Syrup
Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and then remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
Step 2: Assemble the Bread Pudding
Generously grease a 1.5-liter casserole dish with butter or coconut oil.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.
Add half of the bread cubes to the prepared casserole dish and drizzle on half of the cooled Cinnamon Swirl Syrup. Add the remaining half of the bread on top and drizzle on the remaining half of the syrup. Pour in the egg mixture, gently pressing down on the top of the bread with a spoon to make sure all of the bread pieces are soaked.
Step 3: Chill Overnight
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
Step 4: Bake
The next day, preheat the oven to 350F and let the pudding sit at room temperature while the oven preheats.
Once the oven is up to temperature, bake the pudding until the custard is set and light golden on top, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Step 5: Make the Icing and Serve
Whisk together all ingredients for the icing and drizzle on the pudding while it’s still hot.
Storage and Reheating
Once it’s baked and cooled, store Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat this bread pudding, you can cover an oven-safe dish with foil and heat it until warm in a 350F oven, or in a microwave-safe dish in the microwave.
Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding FAQs
Can You Soak Bread Pudding Overnight?
Yes! Read through the particular recipe you’re making first to see if there’s instructions on how to refrigerate it overnight.
This recipe for Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding is best if you refrigerate it for 12 hours before baking, so overnight is perfect!
How Do You Know When Bread Pudding Is Done?
Here are a few different ways to tell when bread pudding is done cooking:
- It’s light golden brown along the outside.
- The custard is set (not liquidy-looking).
- When a paring knife is inserted in the center, it comes out clean.
Should I Refrigerate Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding?
Yes. After bread pudding is baked, store it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More Decadent Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
- Orange and Nutmeg-Scented Brown Sugar Bread Pudding
- Spinach and Cheddar Quiche
- Sweet Apple Hand Pies with Cheddar Shortcrust
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Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding Recipe
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Ingredients
Cinnamon Swirl Syrup:
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Bread Pudding:
- 5 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 cups cubed stale French bread (about 12 to 16-ounces)
Icing:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 4 teaspoons whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Other:
- Butter or coconut oil (for greasing the casserole dish)
Instructions
Make the Cinnamon Swirl Syrup
- Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and then remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
Assemble the Bread Pudding
- Generously grease a 1.5-liter casserole dish with butter or coconut oil.
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add half of the bread cubes to the prepared casserole dish and drizzle on half of the cooled Cinnamon Swirl Syrup. Add the remaining half of the bread on top and drizzle on the remaining half of the syrup. Pour in the egg mixture, gently pressing down on the top of the bread with a spoon to make sure all of the bread pieces are soaked.
Chill Overnight
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
Bake
- The next day, preheat the oven to 350F and let the pudding sit at room temperature while the oven preheats (about 20 minutes).
- Once the oven is up to temperature, bake the pudding until the custard is set and light golden on top, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Make the Icing
- Whisk together all ingredients for the icing and drizzle on the pudding while it’s still hot.
Serve
- This is best served warm!
Notes
- What Size Dish to Use: I used a 1.5-liter casserole dish to make this recipe (similar to this casserole dish). Because 1.5 liters is equivalent to a little over 1.5 quarts (or about 6 1/2 cups), you could use another dish that has a similar capacity. For example, a 2-quart capacity casserole dish with dimensions of about 11 inches by 7 inches also works well.
- Storage: Once it’s baked and cooled, store Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: To reheat this bread pudding, you can cover an oven-safe dish with foil and heat it until warm in a 350F oven, or in a microwave-safe dish in the microwave.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
Share it with me on Instagram and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on April 11, 2014. It was updated with more information on December 15, 2023.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
Free Bonus
Could you make this with brioche bread and not leave it overnight ?
Lava Karim, Absolutely! Just let it sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes and it should be ready to bake.
I have been making this for 4 years now and I’ve sent a comment about how perfect it is and it’s never showed up so I am saying again this is a wonderful recipe! I do make one and a half recipes of the filling.
I make a lit of bread puddings..this is probably the best. Thanks!
OMG, this looks like the answer to my dreams :)))
Cinnabon, you have one near? PLEASE we must have your copycat recipe before Christmas!
And look how many Ellens have posted a comment, isn’t that odd?
I have never made a bread pudding and I was having a brunch and thought this was great because I could put the entire dish together and the night before. Mind turned out looking just like the picture. It was not just delish people couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful it looked. If you think it’s difficult, it’s not. I did it in stages. Dried the bread in the oven days before and stored it in a plastic bag. I did make 1 1/2 X the recipe, and doubled the syrup and the glaze. can’t wait to make it again.
This bread pudding is not only a show stopper, it tastes amazing. Mine alway turns out just like your photo. I’ve made it many times and I love things I can put together the night before, specially when you have sleep over house guests. I always make one and a half times the syrup. I always get rave reviews. It’s not difficult so give it a try…..
I made this for a brunch this weekend and it was fabulous. The icing was too thin (ran right down to the bottom and didn’t give that iced roll look like your pictures). Should it be 4 teaspoons of milk instead? Or a lot more powdered sugar? I’d like to make again on Christmas and just wanted to get it perfect.
Paula, I’m so happy you made this and enjoyed it! I’m so sorry – yes, that was a typo, it should be 4 teaspoons! I just fixed it in the recipe above. Thank you so much for letting me know, and again I apologize. I hope you and your family enjoy this on Christmas; Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I’m looking for a recipe like this – in which I can use a bunch of leftover cinnamon bread that has been sliced already. It’s pretty moist, so I can’t let it soak for hours like stale French bread. I wonder if I should dry it out a bit in the oven first. I welcome any ideas. I hate to toss great cinnamon bread but there’s too much of it.
Beth, Yes, if your bread is pretty moist you could either wait a couple days to make this bread pudding, or cut the bread into cubes and dry it out a bit in a warm oven. I hope this helps!
Hi! Would a 9×13 pyrex work? I don’t have a casserole dish and not sure how much 1.5L is… thank you!
Jessica, I apologize for my late reply! I’ve updated the recipe card above with more information on what size of casserole dish would work (it should have a capacity of about 6.5 cups). A 9 by 13-inch dish would be a little big (an 11 by 7 inch dish would work well), but it could still work – the bread pudding will likely cook faster in a larger dish, so check it sooner. Please let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
I just put this in the fridge and will bake tomorrow, Christmas morning, as I have done for four years now. Such a treat and a tradition that will continue for years to come I’m sure. It is known as THE bread pudding in our house. I double the recipe and use half challah bread, and half cinnamon bread. So looking forward to everyone enjoying this together tomorrow morning! Thanks for an amazing recipe :)
Laura, I’m truly honored that his has become part of your family’s Christmas tradition. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I made this for Christmas brunch, and it was out of this world, Faith! Everyone was sitting around the table with their mouths hanging open after the first bite. And just moments ago, I made another batch for Sunday brunch (it’s soaking up all the goodness now). I make it with a brioche that I buy from Whole Foods, and it is simply divine. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!
Lisa, Thank you so much for your sweet comment, I’m so glad this was a hit! You made my day. :)
I made this tonight. It is marvelous. Thank you for sharing it.
by far the best bread pudding ever!! directions call for 12 hour chill, however works FANTASTIC with 1 hour chill as well (i made it last night). simply was amazing and my family loved it!!
Wow – this looks incredible! So much easier than cinnamon buns. Can’t wait to try!
Oh my….how fabulous is that?! Love sweet and savory overnight puddings. Makes life so much simpler AND this one is a major winner. What an awesome idea for a holiday breakfast!
DROOL! I adore this time of year, the buns, the hot cross buns… yarm! I never would have thought to turn it into a pudding. Nice idea.
Hope you are well Faith, wishing you a wonderful weekend. :)
What a fabulous idea! I love cinnamon rolls, too, but rarely find the time to pull them together. (It’s that planning ahead thing, darnit.) Thanks for sharing!
Oh wow!! This looks so yummy!
What a fabulous bread pudding–I love when dessert doubles as breakfast the next morning!
bread pudding with cinnamon – i die.
Love this decadent bread pudding, Faith!
Luscious! This bread pudding is simply divine.
Cheers,
Rosa