Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is a fancy, impressive addition to a brunch spread or dessert lineup, and bananas Foster bread pudding is a must-try twist for banana lovers. While the traditional New Orleans dessert is made by pouring flaming rum over a mixture of bananas, brown sugar, cinnamon and caramel, our bread pudding version skips the flambéing but keeps all of the flavor. Dish up bananas Foster bread pudding with other brunch recipes, or save a few slices for after dinner.

Ingredients for Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

• Unsalted butter: Melted unsalted butter serves as the base for the bananas Foster sauce.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds molasses and caramel notes while thickening the sauce. Use dark brown sugar rather than light brown sugar for a deeper flavor.
• Bananas: It’s best to save overripe bananas for banana bread instead of using them for this banana recipe, because they will get too soft while cooking. Stick with a semi-firm, ripe yellow banana without too much green or too many brown spots.
• Rum: Traditional bananas Foster calls for rum, so a few tablespoons are added to the sauce as well for a rich taste.
• Cinnamon: A hint of warm spice goes a long way in livening up the taste of this bread pudding.
• Salt: Add a sprinkle of salt to balance out the sweetness of the bananas Foster sauce.
• Half-and-half cream: Bread pudding uses a custard base for a rich texture. Use half-and-half cream to create that mixture.
• Milk: A little additional liquid in the custard mixture adds moisture without making it too heavy. We used 2% milk for this recipe, but you can use whole milk as well.
• Eggs: Eggs are crucial for helping the bread pudding bake, resulting in a soft texture. They’re beaten well into the half-and-half cream and milk mixture.
• Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extract enhances the flavor of this bread pudding recipe.
• Brioche: A loaf of brioche bread, cut into cubes, works perfectly.

Directions

Step 1: Make the rum sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, stirring until it’s smooth. Stir in the banana slices. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, without stirring, for three minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the rum, cinnamon and salt and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, spoon a small amount of the rum sauce mixture into the baking dish, and spread it into a thin layer on the bottom. Reserve the rest of the sauce for the bread mixture.

Step 2: Combine the bread, cream and eggs

In a large bowl, whisk together the half-and-half cream, milk, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon. Stir in the cubed brioche until it’s fully coated.

Stir in the remaining bananas Foster mixture.

Step 3: Bake the bread pudding

Transfer the bread pudding mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake it for 35 to 40 minutes until the top is golden brown. Let it cool slightly before cutting it into squares.

Step 4: Serve the bananas Foster bread pudding

To serve bananas Foster bread pudding, spoon the sauce from the pan over each square. Top them with whipped cream, if desired.

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Variations

• Add nuts: Play up the texture of this soft bananas Foster bread pudding by incorporating chopped nuts. Walnuts or pecans would be great additions. Simply stir them into the moistened bread cube mixture before baking the pudding.
• Include raisins: Include an additional pop of flavor by mixing raisins into the bread pudding or sprinkling them over the top before baking.
• Use another liquor: While rum is often used for bananas Foster, you can swap it out for whiskey or bourbon.
• Go for chocolate: Bananas, caramel and chocolate are a wonderful combination. Incorporate mini chocolate chips into the bread pudding before baking, or drizzle the bread pudding with chocolate sauce.

How to Store Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

Any type of bread pudding with an eggy custard base should be stored in the refrigerator. Cover the baking dish with storage wrap or a lid, or transfer leftovers to an airtight container.

How long does bananas Foster bread pudding last?

Store bananas foster bread pudding in the refrigerator for up to four days.

How do you reheat bananas Foster bread pudding?

It’s quick and easy to warm up a serving of bread pudding in the microwave. Just pit it on a plate and heat it for 15 to 20 seconds. You can also cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the oven at 300º for about 20 minutes.

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Tips

What’s the best bread to use for bread pudding?

Any bread can be used to make bread pudding, but the drier, the better. Dry bread will better soak up the flavor and moisture of the custard base without getting immediately soggy. You can use brioche, challah, French bread and more. Bread pudding is a great use for stale bread.

How should you serve bananas Foster bread pudding?

Some people love warm bread pudding, while others find that it’s best cold. Serve your bread pudding at whatever temperature you prefer. Enjoy a slice on its own, or top it with a drizzle of heavy cream, a dollop of homemade whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. Pair it with a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast or dessert.

Can you make bananas Foster bread pudding alcohol-free?

Just like bananas Foster, this bread pudding has rum in it, but those few tablespoons can certainly be left out. Simply skip adding the rum to the bananas Foster sauce, or swap it out for one teaspoon of rum extract instead.