Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Caramel Pecan Topping

Calling all doughnut lovers and dessert enthusiasts! If you're looking for a decadent and unique treat that's sure to tantalize your taste buds, look no further than Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with a Caramel Pecan Topping. This heavenly creation takes everyone's favorite doughnuts and transforms them into a warm, custardy masterpiece that's guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

In New Orleans, bread pudding holds significant cultural importance during Mardi Gras festivities. Since Mardi Gras falls just before Lent, New Orleanians cleverly used rich ingredients like eggs and milk in bread pudding before Lent, making it a decadent pre-Lenten treat. Bread pudding, particularly homemade versions, became a staple dessert for family gatherings and Mardi Gras celebrations. Sharing this sweet treat fostered a sense of community and tradition.

Imagine a casserole dish brimming with soft, pillowy pieces of Krispy Kreme doughnuts bathed in rich, creamy custard. The doughnuts soak up the custard, becoming melt-in-your-mouth morsels of pure delight. Each bite bursts with the unmistakable flavor of Krispy Kreme's signature glaze, mingled with the comforting warmth of cinnamon and toasted pecan pieces. This decadent dish is finished off with a caramel pecan topping. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra luxurious delight.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Want to Make Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Caramel Pecan Topping
• Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need for the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding
• Steps To Make Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding
• Ingredients - Here's What You’ll Need for the Caramel Pecan Topping
• Steps To Make the Caramel Pecan Topping
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Recipe Tips and Tricks
• Other Great Mardi Gras Treats
• Recipe

Why You'll Want to Make Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Caramel Pecan Topping

• Unique Twist on a Classic: Bread pudding is a beloved comfort food, but this version takes it to the next level with the addition of everyone's favorite doughnuts.

• Flavor Explosion: The combination of glazed doughnuts, creamy custard, warm cinnamon spice, and toasted pecan pieces creates a symphony of flavors that will have you swooning with every bite.

• Perfect for Sharing (or Not): This decadent dessert is sure to be a hit at any potluck or gathering. But be warned, it's so good, you might just want to keep it all for yourself!

• The Beauty of its Versatility: You can enjoy it warm or cold, plain or topped with your favorite ice cream, whipped cream, or fruit. No matter how you indulge, you're in for a treat that will leave you wanting more.

Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need for the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

• Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts: You should use stale doughnuts that are a couple of days old for several reasons. Stale doughnuts, with their slightly drier texture, absorb the custard beautifully, creating a consistent and creamy pudding-like texture throughout. As doughnuts age, their flavors become more concentrated. This means the bread pudding gets a bolder and more intense Krispy Kreme taste compared to using fresh doughnuts.

• Whole Milk and Heavy Whipping Cream: Both of these play a crucial role in Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding, forming the basis for the rich and creamy custard that elevates this dessert to heavenly heights. They're both essential because the milk provides the vital moisture and flavor base, while the cream adds an extra layer of richness and luxury. It's a match made in dessert heaven, ensuring that every bite of your Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding is a blissful experience.

• Large Eggs: Too many eggs can make the custard overly dense and eggy, overpowering the delicate sweetness of the Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Three eggs strike a balance, creating a rich and creamy texture that complements the doughnuts without dominating the flavor.

• Light Brown Sugar: Unlike white sugar's pure sweetness, light brown sugar boasts molasses content, creating a warm, slightly caramel-like flavor profile. This complexity complements the Krispy Kreme's sweetness and adds a deeper dimension to the overall taste.

• Toasted Pecan Pieces: Add a delightful dimension to Krispy Kreme Doughnut Bread Pudding, elevating it from a basic dessert to a gourmet experience. They infuse the pudding with a toasty, nutty flavor that beautifully complements the sweetness of the Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The crunch of toasted pecans provides a contrasting textural element to the creamy custard and soft doughnuts. This textural interplay makes every bite exciting and prevents the pudding from becoming monotonous.

• Cinnamon: This spice helps to balance the sweetness of the doughnuts and brown sugar, adding a subtle complexity that prevents the pudding from becoming saccharine. It acts as a counterpoint to the sweetness, making each bite satisfying and interesting.

• Vanilla Extract: It doesn't have a strong flavor, but it acts as a flavor enhancer, amplifying and rounding out the existing flavors in the pudding. It brings out the sweetness of the doughnuts, the cinnamon's warmth, and the custard's richness, creating a more complex and harmonious taste experience.

• Salt: A touch of salt enhances the perception of sweetness. This counteracts the overwhelming sweetness of the doughnuts and custard, creating a more balanced and nuanced flavor profile. Each bite becomes more interesting and prevents the pudding from becoming cloyingly sweet.

Steps To Make Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Place one Krispy Kreme doughnut on a cutting board and cut into eight pieces. Repeat with the rest of the doughnuts.

3. Then, place all of the cut doughnuts into a large bowl.

3. Next, add the toasted pecan pieces and set the bowl aside while you make the custard.

4. To make the custard, start by pouring the whole milk and heavy whipping cream into a separate bowl.

5. Next, add the large eggs.

6. Then add the light brown sugar.

7. Next add the cinnamon and the salt.

8. And finally add the vanilla extract.

9. Next, whisk everything together well, making sure to break up the eggs, to combine.

10. Then, pour the custard mixture over the cut doughnuts and toasted pecan pieces.

11. And stir everything together well to combine.

12. Then, let everything sit in the bowl for a few minutes to allow the cut doughnuts to absorb the custard and for the flavors to meld together.

13. Next, pour everything into the prepared baking dish.

14. Then, using a rubber spatula, spread everything into an even layer in the baking dish, pressing it down into the pan as you spread it. Bake in a 350°F oven for 50-60 minutes. While the bread pudding is baking, make the caramel pecan topping.

Ingredients - Here's What You’ll Need for the Caramel Pecan Topping

• Heavy Whipping Cream: Contributes to a deeper, more intense caramel flavor. Its inherent sweetness blends beautifully with the caramelized sugar, resulting in a complex and satisfying taste that sets your topping apart. It also helps stabilize the caramel sauce, preventing it from separating or becoming too runny.

• Light Brown Sugar: Unlike white sugar's pure sweetness, light brown sugar boasts molasses content, a natural flavoring agent that adds warmth, depth, and a hint of caramel-like notes to your topping. It's like a symphony of flavors on your tongue, keeping you coming back for more.

• Unsalted Butter: Adds an undeniable depth and complexity to the caramel flavor. Its nuttiness harmonizes beautifully with the caramelized sugar, creating a warm, buttery richness that elevates the overall taste experience.

• Toasted Pecan Pieces: These infuse the caramel with a toasty, nutty richness that beautifully complements the sweetness. The crunch of the toasted pecans offers a delightful contrasting textural element to the soft custardy Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding. This contrast perfectly harmonizes with the caramelized sugar in the sauce.

• Vanilla Extract: While caramel and pecans are delicious on their own, they can sometimes lack a certain nuance. Vanilla extract adds that much-needed touch of elegance and refinement, preventing the topping from becoming one-dimensional or harsh.

Steps To Make the Caramel Pecan Topping

1. When there's about 15 minutes remaining for the baking time of the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding, place a small saucepan over medium-high heat and add the butter.

2. Once the butter has melted, add the heavy whipping cream.

3. And light brown sugar.

4. Then cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.

5. When the sauce reached a full boil, allow it to cook for three minutes.

6. Then, add the vanilla extract.

7. And the toasted pecan pieces.

8. Then, stir to combine everything. Remove from the heat and set aside until ready to use.

9. Remove the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding from the oven.

10. Then, immediately pour the caramel pecan sauce over the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding.

11. Allow the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding to rest for 5-10 minutes to cool and absorb the Caramel Pecan Topping. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Spice up your Mardi Gras festivities (or any ordinary Tuesday!) with this easy-to-make, show-stopping dessert. Impress your crew with a dish that's stunningly simple, yet bursting with flavor and texture. This indulgent twist on a classic dessert is a celebration of Mardi Gras in every bite! Ready to dance with flavor? Grab your ingredients, crank up the music, and whip up this Mardi Gras magic.

Laizzez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll!!

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Stale is Gold: Use slightly stale doughnuts (ideally 1-2 days old) for better absorption and a more cohesive texture. If your doughnuts are fresh, toast them in the oven at 300°F for 5-10 minutes until slightly dried out.

• Flavor Fusion: Explore beyond glazed! Chocolate-glazed, strawberry-filled, or sprinkle doughnuts add surprising flavor dimensions. Adjust the custard sweetness accordingly.

• Cubing Matters: Cut doughnuts into even-sized cubes for uniform baking and custard absorption. Smaller bites are perfect for sharing.

• Brown Sugar Symphony: Play with different types of brown sugar! Light brown adds subtle caramel notes, while dark brown intensifies the caramel flavor and depth.

• Storage Savvy: Wrap leftover bread pudding tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave until warmed through.

• Second Life Surprise: Leftover bread pudding can be transformed into French toast or Pain Perdu! Cut into slices, dip in egg mixture, and fry until golden brown for a sweet and satisfying breakfast treat.

Other Great Mardi Gras Treats

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