Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

I found this blueberry croissant bread pudding recipe in an ad for Smucker’s in a food magazine. I had bread pudding on the brain, so I was immediately drawn to it. When I realized that it was made with croissants, I remembered the French bakery we had recently stumbled upon in our neighborhood. All signs pointed to making this recipe and I’m glad I did—it’s an absolute showstopper, but it requires very little effort to make.

(For another take on bread pudding with blueberries, see my blueberry bread pudding recipe.)

Why You’ll Love This Croissant Bread Pudding Recipe

• Incredibly easy. This blueberry croissant bread pudding is one of the easiest things I’ve made. You can have it put together and in the oven in 15 minutes.
• A delectable brunch or dessert. This is seriously good—the flaky croissants, sweet preserves, vanilla-scented custard, it all comes together for an unforgettable treat.
• Customizable. You can use this recipe as a springboard to experiment with other types of jams or spreads. Nutella, anyone?

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Croissants – Be sure to use flaky, buttery croissants, not crescent rolls. The name is similar, but they’re not the same!
• Blueberry preserves – Preserves have more texture than jam and jelly, so you’ll get whole blueberries in your croissant bread pudding.
• Eggs
• Sweetened condensed milk – Not to be confused with evaporated milk! Condensed milk has sugar added, which means you won’t need to add any additional sweetener to the custard mixture.
• Water
• Unsalted butter – Melt this, then cool it slightly so it doesn’t cook the eggs.
• Vanilla extract – Use store-bought or homemade vanilla extract.
• Ground cinnamon
• Confectioners’ sugar or whipped cream – Optional for garnish, but a serving of bread pudding with a dollop of homemade whipped cream is perfection on a plate.

How to Make Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

• Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F, then coat a square baking pan with cooking spray.
• Spread the jam on the croissants. Split the croissants in half lengthwise, then spread preserves on each half. Put the tops back on and cut the croissants into strips. Arrange these in the pan, then drop spoonfuls of the remaining preserves on top.
• Make the custard. Lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the condensed milk, water, butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour the custard over the croissants and then press the croissants into the liquid so they’re submerged. Let this sit for 5 minutes.
• Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a thin knife or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 
• Cool and serve. Allow the croissant bread pudding to cool for 15 minutes. Top each serving with a sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar or a dollop of whipped cream.

Variations

There are a number of small tweaks you can make to customize this croissant bread pudding recipe. Try swapping the blueberry preserves for cherry, strawberry, or apple; use a different spice like cardamom, or a blend of spices. Almond extract can be used in place of vanilla, as it pairs particularly well with berries.

Serving Suggestions

Depending on how you dress it up, you can spin this blueberry croissant bread pudding as a treat-worthy brunch recipe or as a dessert. 

For breakfast or brunch, serve it with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of pure maple syrup. And for dessert? You can’t go wrong with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a generous pour of creme anglaise over the top. Either way, garnish with some fresh berries.

How to Store

• Refrigerator: Wrap the bread pudding in the pan, or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate bread pudding for 4 to 5 days; reheat it in the microwave before serving, or enjoy it chilled or at room temperature.
• Freezer: You can freeze blueberry croissant bread pudding wrapped in the pan or in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator before serving or reheating.

More Bread Pudding Recipes

• Cinnamon Almond Bread Pudding for Two
• Cookie Butter Pound Cake Bread Pudding
• Chai Spice Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
• Maple Date Bread Pudding