Pineapple + Coconut = Love
Pina coladas; A classic tropical drink known by many. I happen to love them. However, I only drink alcohol on rare or special occasions now. It’s February and I had one thing on the brain (besides a pina colada!) ; The warmth of the summer sun.
Almost the entire month of January was cold and cloudy. There is some sun lately, but growing up in the desert, I love my heat! With all this idealization of sun and summer, I definitely thought to bring a bit of tropics to me. This is what inspired the Pina Colada Bread Pudding.
Bread Pudding – a classic
Bread pudding is definitely an old school dessert in my book. When I make this dessert in the restaurant, many of the older clientele can relate how this dessert brings them back to being a kid-which I love.
It should also be noted this is a beloved dessert because it’s easy and cheap to make. Now, this recipe is slightly fancier than traditional bread puddings, it’s still a great way to use up that extra or going stale loaf!
Secret to the BEST Bread Pudding!
One of the best secrets I know to having the moistest, ooey, gooey, delectable bread puddings is to soak the bread overnight!
Soaking the bread overnight allows the custard mixture and flavors to fully immerse into your bread. Have you ever had bread pudding that was super dry? It’s possible they did not soak the bread long enough.
The flavors are incomparable between an overnight soak bread pudding versus one soaked for a few hours. The pina colada bread pudding has a great mixture of each flavor so it’s a nice balance of coconut to pineapple.
Another secret to a delectable, irresistible bread pudding is the bread itself. Now it’s perfectly fine to use up that old loaf but if making this recipe for a special occasion (because yes, this bread pudding is THAT good) you may want to be selective about your bread choice.
Choosing the right bread
Like I said, use that old loaf there is nothing wrong with that…at.all. BUT if you want to up your bread game try this recipe with brioche or the Hawaiian dinner rolls! Those are my top two suggestions but if you watched my video, I use Texas toast.
You don’t have to cut the bread up either. Feel free to use just your hands to tear the bread into nice even cubes. Having the cubes of bread close in size helps for an even texture throughout your bread pudding. Otherwise, you could have a few soggier and/or drier spots in your pudding.
Overnight Payoff
Referencing back to soaking our bread puddings overnight, feel free to try one soaked for a few hours versus waiting. Not saying the dessert wouldn’t be good, it just isn’t the same.
I never really appreciated bread pudding for all it’s possibilities until one day after a bunch of holiday banquets we had soft dinner rolls galore at the restaurant just sitting on the shelf. After being tired of staring at them with no real other use for them I got creative and thought about bread pudding for the very first time.
I looked up a few basic recipes and ended up settling for a classic. I unknowingly decided to soak the bread overnight because we got busy and time had run it’s course for the day.
Unsure of what to really expect, the next day I baked the dish off. The back hallway illuminated with strong aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg. It smelled like we were in a classic bakery or donut shop.
Soaking the bread overnight resulted in such a beautiful display of bread, sugar, and butter. The bread pudding has a souffle like texture from the overnight soak and that’s why I fell in love. Now I could really understand why this dish was a classic comfort from the past.
New takes on classic recipes are some of the dishes I really love to eat and create. Don’t underestimate these classic old school recipes. There’s a reason they’re beloved and still around for us to enjoy (and enhance).
Pina Colada Bread Pudding
Transport to the tropics with this pina colada bread pudding. Easy to make and full of tropical flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 Loaf Bread
- 1 Can Crushed Pineapple
- 7oz Can Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Flaked Coconut
- 4 Eggs
- 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 Tsp Cardamom
- Pinch, Salt
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Stick Butter
- Optional Garnish: Additional 1/2 Cup Coconut Flakes, Toasted
Instructions
- Step One
Cut bread into one inch cubes. Using the cold stick of butter, gently grease a 9 inch by 13 inch pan*. Set aside both the pan and butter.
*I used glass
Step Two
Place bread cubes evenly throughout the pan. In a mixing bowl, empty contents of sweetened condensed coconut milk and whisk until smooth.
Step Three
Add brown sugar, salt, and spices to the coconut milk. Whisk until well combined. Add the eggs and mix thoroughly.
Step Four
After eggs are mixed in, put in the pineapple, coconut flakes, and heavy cream. Mix well. Dump the custard mixture evenly throughout the bread. Once all pina colada custard is all poured over bread, wrap pan in plastic. Chill overnight.
Don't skip this part or your bread pudding will be dry!
Step Five
The next day, preheat oven to 350 F. Take off plastic wrap and replace with foil. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cut your stick of butter into small cubes.
Step Six
Once the time expires, remove foil cover. Spread the cubed butter over the bread pudding evenly as possible. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or golden brown.
Step Seven
If desired, toast 1/2 cup of coconut flakes for a garnish. When bread pudding is golden brown on top, remove from oven and let rest. Run the edge of the pan with a butter knife to loosen the bread pudding.
Step Eight
After bread pudding has cooled for 30 minutes, cut into desired portions. Top with buttered rum glaze and toasted coconut. Eat and enjoy!
Notes
Letting the bread pudding rest overnight is not only crucial to a moist bread pudding, but also it allows for the souffle like texture you want from a great bread pudding. Try topping with macadamia nuts for added crunch!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 399Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 430mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 3gSugar: 17gProtein: 9g
Nutritional data is estimated and may not be accurate.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe and this tropical twist on a classic dessert. Try the pina colada bread pudding topped with my buttered rum sauce! It’s such a great pairing of flavors.
Happy cooking y’all.
-K
I love the tropical flavors in your your recipe! Creamy and delicious!
What if I can’t find the canned coconut milk? Is there a substitute?
Hi Debra,
If you cannot find the sweetened condensed coconut milk, you can use cream of coconut, usually found as ‘coco Lopez’ in the bar cocktail mixers section of the store, OR you can use regular sweetened condensed milk and add 2 tsp of coconut extract. Hope that helps!
What size can of crushed pineapple?
20oz can of pineapple
Thank you
Debra
Whoopee! I made this Saturday evening and baked it on Sunday. Just two of us in the house so shared it with a neighbor, who said it was the best bread pudding she ever ate. I have to agree. I made Betty Crocker’s buttered rum sauce which was a heavenly addition. I also used a large fresh brioche loaf, the slices cut into quarters. No variations in the recipe, except that I forgot to toast the extra coconut used for garnish. Tonight, Tuesday, we had some for dessert with some vanilla ice cream and the sauce, of course, on top. What a treat!
Made this last night and baked today and OMG sooo delicious! I toasted lots of extra coconut bc we love it and made my own version of the rum sauce with butter, brown sugar, coconut oil and butter rum oil based flavoring. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe! My family and all three Chihuahuas adore it.
I made this with a few changes. I used 5 eggs, added about 3/4 c heavy cream and 1 c milk to the custard. I also used quite a bit of coconut rum in the sauce. It was absolutely amazing! Thank you so much! I will be making this again, soon!
Can I leave this in the fridge for 2 nights or will it ruin it?
Hi Kathy,
I think you could leave it for two nights, although I haven’t personally tried it.