Looking for an easy bread pudding recipe? This fruit cake bread pudding can be put together in minutes and is a great way to jazz up leftover fruit cake! Dotted with white chocolate and sprinkled with pomegranate arils, it’s one delicious bite.
Fruit cake gets a bad rap. You say “fruit cake” to someone and they usually turn up their nose. I mean, I understand.
When you think of fruit, you don’t usually tend to think of cake or vice versa. However, it’s so popular this time of year, especially here in Newfoundland.
If you don’t enjoy fruit cake in it’s natural form, then this fruit cake bread pudding will surely change your mind.
Easy Bread Pudding Recipe Using Leftover Fruit Cake
Every year my mother-in-law gives us a lovely dark fruit cake. For those who are unfamiliar with this version of fruit cake, it has molasses and lots of clove. It’s warming and delicious with ice cream.
However, the gifted cake is huge, and it’s a lot for hubby and I. This fruit cake bread pudding is an easy and delicious way to use up some of that cake and enjoy it in a new and exciting form.
How To Make It
The preparation of this couldn’t be easier. Nobody has time for fussy recipes during the busy holiday season so this one is perfect.
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Place the cubes of fruit cake in a greased skillet.
- Pour over liquid mixture of milk, cream, eggs, vanilla and orange zest.
- Press down so the cake soaks up the milk mixture.
- Sprinkle with chocolate chunks and bake.
- Garnish with pomegranate arils and walnuts.
This fruit cake bread pudding would be one delicious way to start Christmas morning. While it’s in the oven, sit back and sip on that first coffee (always the best one, may I add) or a mug of homemade hot chocolate.
If you make this fruit cake bread pudding recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Fruit Cake Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- Baking spray, to grease skillet
- 5 cups dark fruit cake, loosely packed and cut into cubes (see "Notes" below)
- ¾ cup milk
- ⅓ cup whipping cream (35% milk fat), or heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, from one orange (approximately)
- 2 ounces white chocolate, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup roughly chopped walnuts
- 3 tablespoons pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 10-inch cast-iron skillet (or similarly sized baking dish) with baking spray. To skillet, add fruit cake and set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the milk, whipping cream, eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest until well combined.
- Pour the milk mixture over the fruit cake and press the fruit cake down to soak up some of the milk mixture.
- Sprinkle chocolate chunks over top. Bake for 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick or cake tester inserted in the centre of the bread pudding comes out clean.
- Carefully remove from the oven and garnish with walnuts and pomegranate arils. Serve as is or with ice cream or whipped cream!
Notes
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Carolyn says
What a great idea! the fruit cake already has a lot f ingredients and flavour so you don’t have to add much to get a sensational pudding!
Girl Heart Food says
Definitely 😉 Thank you so much, Carolyn!
Ayngelina says
I don’t enjoy fruit cake at all but I am intrigued about using it as a bread pudding, that could change my mind about getting them as presents.
Girl Heart Food says
It’s a great use of the fruit cake and is quite delicious 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
You are so right…Fruit Cake does get a bad rap! I think with this bread pudding, it could make a come back! 🙂 This sounds like a great way to use up fruit cake and turning it into something fabulous! Hope your Christmas was marvelous and Happy New Year!
Girl Heart Food says
Haha- maybe so 😉 Thanks Kathy! Same to you too, my friend!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
Dawn, I absolutely love this recipe, it is such a great way to serve fruit cake…easy and quick. And makes a perfect Christmas breakfast…so festive and yummy.
Thank you for all the great recipes and Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your family 🙂
Girl Heart Food says
Thank you so much, Ashika! Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to you and your family too!
Miriam - londonkitchendiaries.com says
Love, love, love bread puddings, Dawn! it looks so festive with the pomegranate seeds on top and it is so easy and quickly prepared – a winner on all fronts. Have a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the New Year!
Miriam xx
Girl Heart Food says
YAY! So happy to hear that! Thank you very much, Miriam 🙂 Have a wonderful Christmas too and all the very best in 2018! XO
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
Fruit cake totally has a bad rap, doesn’t it? I actually quite like it (although I’d prefer it looking like this)!! Genius idea to add white chocolate – and pomegranate is my fave fruit lately. This is an awesome way to jazz up fruit cake!!
Merry Christmas Dawn!!! I hope you have a wonderful holiday 🙂
Girl Heart Food says
Totally!!! Thanks Katherine! Merry Christmas to you guys too! XO
Milena | Craft Beering says
Goodness, I would love to be gifted one huge dark fruitcake every year. You sure married well:) I love this bread pudding you put together. And the same custard is probably going to make for great French toast. Or perhaps you can sub the milk with Christmas ale… That is what I have the urge to do looking at the pictures. Now I am going to have to find a recipe for fruit cake, I haven’t seen any sold around here. Kudos to your mother in law:)
Girl Heart Food says
Haha! Thanks Milena! I sure did 😉 You may just be onto something there!! Happy Holidays, my friend!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
Dark fruit cake is a favourite of mine. I’ve never had it with ice cream, but a thick butter icing on a slab of fruit cake is always a delicious treat! I love this fruit cake bread pudding recipe. Genius! Quick and festive, this will be a perfect dessert or breakfast over the holidays! Happy Christmas Dawn! Hope it’s a great one!
Girl Heart Food says
Thank you Leanne!! Merry Christmas to you too!
Luci's Morsels says
Love this unique variation of two classic holiday desserts! Such a beautiful and tasty looking dish, nothing can beat the festive combination of fruit cake and bread pudding!
Girl Heart Food says
Thanks Luci!! It’s great, especially this time of year 🙂
Marissa says
This is such a great idea, Dawn! I think people get overwhelmed by straight fruitcake. But I bet that even a fruitcake hater would be enticed by this!
Girl Heart Food says
Thank you Marissa!! I sure hope so 😉
Sarah says
This sounds amazing! I’ve actually never tried fruit cake, but if someone handed me this, I would happily devour it!
Girl Heart Food says
I’m sure you’d love it Sarah 🙂 Thank you!
Sues says
This looks wayyy more delicious than any fruit cake I’ve ever seen!! I LOVE the dark cake, white chocolate, and pomegranates!
Girl Heart Food says
Thanks so much, Sues!! Happy holidays 🙂
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
I never would have thought to make bread pudding with fruitcake! So brilliant! I’m not a fan of fruitcake on its own but I could definitely get behind it baked into bread pudding. Especially with that white chocolate! Have a wonderful Christmas, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food says
Thank you Kelsie!! Merry Christmas to you too!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
When I was young, my Grandmother always insisted everyone eat fruit cake, promising a “happy year” for every piece eaten. Somewhere along the way, I began to love fruit cake. And I”ve never looked back. So I”m loving this bread pudding for sure! Such a great idea 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Girl Heart Food says
I’ve never heard that before, but I love it! What a great thought!! Thanks Jennifer and happy holidays to you too!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
You are single-handedly putting fruit cake on the map with this one! I adore bread pudding and can imagine the gorgeous flavors here…all warm and comforting! Wishing you the happiest of holidays, my friend! XOXO
Girl Heart Food says
Haha! Thanks Annie!! Merry Christmas to you too, my friend! XOXO