Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding

5 from 3 votes

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This Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding is a delicious dessert casserole packed with fruit flavors. A great bread and custard dessert that can be made ahead.

This Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding is a fun and delicious new way to enjoy a classic dessert!

A white dish full of Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding with a spoon in it

I love a bread pudding with blueberries!

The berries bring pops of moisture and flavor amid the custard soaked bread cubes.

And I like to make it berry heavy! Add as many or few as you wish.

A white dish full of pudding with berries and powdered sugar

I see a lot of bread pudding recipes served with a cream sauce or custard.

My favorite toppings are either ice cream or my Salted Whiskey Caramel Sauce!

Caramel sauce being poured on a plate of bread pudding

Lemon Adjustments

You can choose to have the lemon pack a punch and be very noticeable, or a very subtle hint in the background.

The lemon in the recipe as written is strong enough to notice it but does not overpower the dish.

If you wish to make this more blueberry forward, or even just a blueberry bread pudding, cut the lemon back to 1 Tablespoon of zest and 1-2 Tablespoons of juice.

Get lemon zest by using a microplane. The zest really brings amazing flavor!

A dish of Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding with a plate of it next to it

Want a Smaller Batch?

This Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding makes a pretty large batch of dessert depending on how much people eat.

I halve my bread pudding recipes all the time – the photos here are actually just half a batch!

To make half a batch, simply cut the measurements in half.

Skip the extra egg yolk altogether (you won’t miss it) and just roughly estimate if needed.

Pro tip: 1/4 cup equals 4 Tablespoons for certain halving such as the sugar.

A close up of a plate of the pudding with caramel

Best Breads to Use

I have made homemade bread pudding with a few different bread options and densities.

A rustic, dense bread is the best bread for bread pudding because it holds it shape.

A light, airy bread like French bread or Italian bread work just fine, but I recommend some tweaks.

Since a light bread has so much air in it, if you use it fresh, it tends to puff up a LOT when cooking and then collapse quite drastically.

To combat this, I have found a trick.

You have two options to get the light breads to work best. Option one is to cut it into the cubes and leave it out, uncovered, overnight so it dries out.

The second option is to cut it into the cubes, spread them out on a baking sheet, and put them in a warm or low oven until they start to dry out.

I have done both of these, and it results in bread that does not collapse and holds its volume.

A spoon scooping the dessert out of a dish

More Bread Puddings

Pin image of Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding in a dish with the title at the bottom

Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding

This Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding is a delicious dessert casserole packed with fruit flavors. A great bread and custard dessert that can be made ahead.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Holiday, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Resting Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 581kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cut the bread into 1.5 inch cubes. Set aside.
    8 cups bread
  • Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add the bread and toss to coat.
    4 large eggs, 1 large egg yolk, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 1/2 cups heavy cream, 2 1/2 cups whole milk, 1/4 cup bourbon, 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 Tablespoons lemon zest, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 cups blueberries
  • Coat a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Pour the bread pudding mixture into the dish. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Bake the pudding on the lower middle rack until it is golden brown and puffing up around the edges, with a slight jiggle in the middle, approximately 45-50 minutes.
  • Let cool for 30-45 minutes before serving warm. This pudding is great served with whipped cream or ice cream.

Notes

If using a very light and airy bread like French or Italian bread, it is best to dry it out before using as it will hold its shape and volume better. Either cut and leave out, uncovered, overnight or dry out in a warm or low oven.
You can let the bread soak in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours if needed.
The lemon is noticeable but not overpowering in this recipe. For a subtle lemon, or straightforward blueberry bread pudding, reduce lemon zest to 1 Tablespoon and lemon juice to 2 Tablespoons.
Easily halve the recipe for a smaller crowd! Just cut everything in half and skip the extra egg yolk completely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 581kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 238mg | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 1445IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 203mg | Iron: 2mg
By on December 23rd, 2020

About Kim

Kim has grown up with a passion for cooking good food! You can find her in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, making dog treats, and eating Italian food!

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