Easy Bread Pudding (From Leftover Buns!)

The Chef & Pauper household is not big on waste (food or otherwise), friends. That’s why I always save leftover hotdog and hamburger buns in my freezer!

leftover hot dog and hamburger buns in freezer
It’s not as weird as it sounds!

Now, thawing them and actually using them for hamburgers or hot dogs isn’t ideal. I could go into how freezing and thawing causes structural changes to the bread from the ice that forms from the moisture within it, and discuss how that affects texture and taste, but that would be incredibly boring.

Instead, I like to use my leftover frozen bread for a dessert that actually works better with stale bread…Bread Pudding!

That’s right. We’re going to make one of my favorite depression-era desserts with items you probably already have on hand.

Let’s make some easy bread pudding!

First, gather your ingredients.

You can see I’m using two hotdog buns, two hamburger buns, and the butt end of a random loaf of bread, so just adjust ingredients to have the same approximate bread-to-everything else ratio.

It’s not an exact science, so don’t worry if you’re short an egg or a little low on milk here.

bread pudding ingredients
It’s about to get real tasty up in here.

For this recipe, you’re going to need:

  • 4-5 day-old buns or thawed buns from your freezer.
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 3-4 eggs, beaten (I’ve found that either works fine)
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Let’s get baking!

First, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Then (after aggressively washing your hands), break the buns into small pieces into an 8-inch square baking pan. Drizzle melted butter over ’em.

drizzling melted butter over bread for bread pudding
Fo drizzle!

In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed.

whisking egg mixture for bread pudding
You don’t have to use the world’s smallest whisk, but it won’t hurt.

Pour over bread, and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.

pressing bread down with fork for bread pudding
Push it. Push it good.

Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.

easy bread pudding from leftover buns
Now doesn’t that just look homey & delicious?

I recommend serving this delightful dish warm with a scoop of ice cream!

bread pudding with ice cream
Great comfort food for troubling times, friends.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Easy Bread Pudding from Leftover Buns

easy bread pudding from leftover buns

An Easy (raisin-free) Bread Pudding Recipe that makes good use of leftover frozen hot dog or hamburger buns!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 day-old buns or thawed buns from your freezer.
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 3 eggs, beatenĀ 
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
    2. Break bread into small pieces into an 8 inch square baking pan. Drizzle melted butter over bread.
    3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread, and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.
    4. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.

8 thoughts on “Easy Bread Pudding (From Leftover Buns!)

  1. This is so delicious! I got tired of throwing out old hamburger and hot dog buns and found this. I made it tonight and let me tell you, it is super easy and super delicious! I added raisins and used reduced sugar almond milk. YUM!

  2. Raisins or cranberries, or any other dried or candied fruit is a really good addition to bread pudding. Also some Cardamom (just a little) in with the cinnamon and nutmeg…

  3. I always felt so guilty throwing away the leftover buns and end pieces. So I make them into breadcrumbs, but you can only use so much of breadcrumbs….. Now I can make them into a delicious dessert! What a “think outside of the box” idea.
    Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.

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