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    Home » Recipes » Christmas Breakfast

    Easy Panettone Bread Pudding

    Published: Nov 14, 2021 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Serve this easy panettone bread pudding with a drizzle of homemade amaretto cream sauce for an unforgettable Christmas breakfast or dessert. The top is delicate and crispy with a rich custard filling studded with sweet dried fruits. Don't miss the make-ahead tips to help you get it prepped quickly.

    Have you spotted the boxes of panettone Christmas bread at your local grocery store yet?

    For me, that is one of the first signs that Christmas is coming. I get so excited every year when I first find the store shelves filled with my favorite holiday bread.

    Though it is absolutely delicious eaten plain as it is, my favorite thing to do with a fruit filled panettone is to turn it into a delicious Christmas treat.

    Jump to:
    • Is Bread Pudding a Breakfast or a Dessert?
    • What is Panettone?
    • Ingredients
    • Make-Ahead Tips
    • How to Assemble the Bread Pudding
    • Baking Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Variations
    • More Christmas Breakfast Ideas
    • More Christmas Dessert Ideas
    • FAQ
    • 📖 Recipe

    Is Bread Pudding a Breakfast or a Dessert?

    It's Christmas -- you decide! I have served it to happy family members as both a Christmas morning breakfast and a festive Christmas dessert.

    The egg-filled custard base let me justify it as a breakfast bake.

    The crispy powdered sugar top and sweet amaretto sauce poured over the top totally qualifies as a gorgeous dessert.

    What is Panettone?

    A sliced loaf of panettone shows the texture of the bread and the amount of dried fruits inside.

    I was first introduced to panettone when I was living in Milan, Italy during the Christmas season. My office hosted a holiday party for the employees and they served large trays filled with chunks of panettone as one of the treats. I instantly fell in love with it and have sought it out every year since.

    Panettone is a traditional Italian Christmas bread that features an eggy dough filled with dried fruits. Once baked, it has a light and airy texture, very similar to brioche, and the flavor has hints of citrus and delicate spices.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients for this bread pudding are very simple:

    The Ingredients for Panettone Bread Pudding are on the kitchen counter.
    • Panettone: You can usually find traditional boxes of Italian panettone at the grocery store starting in late October and running through the Christmas season. There are two main brands most commonly available--Balocco and Bauducco. I've found them at World Market, Fresh Market, and even on Amazon. Just be sure to get the 2-pound package (or 2 1-pounds.)
    • Eggs
    • Milk & Heavy cream
    • Vanilla & Almond extracts
    • Cinnamon

    Make-Ahead Tips

    My favorite part about this recipe is how easy it is to prep ahead of time. This comes in very handy if you want it to serve as an easy Christmas morning breakfast or holiday brunch item.

    Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with softened butter.

    Unwrap the panettone and remove the paper wrappings. Slice it into thick 1-inch slices and then cube the slices.

    Scatter the bread cubes evenly in the pan.

    Butter the dish and cube the bread, scatter it evenly in the baking dish like this.

    If you are prepping this dish ahead of time and plan to bake it the next day, cover the dish with plastic wrap and store it at room temperature.

    You can prepare the custard filling ahead of time as well. Just be sure to store it separately from the bread dish. Keep it covered and store in the fridge for easy pouring before you bake it.

    The eggs, sugar, and vanilla are in a large mixing bowl next to a measuring cup filled with milk and cream. The bread in the baking dish is in the background.

    To prepare the custard, simply whisk together the eggs, sugar, milk, heavy cream, vanilla and almond extracts, and cinnamon.

    How to Assemble the Bread Pudding

    When you are ready to bake the panettone bread pudding, pour the prepared custard over the bread cubes in the baking dish.

    Gently pat the bread down into the cream so that every single cube is coated in sauce.

    The custard mixture has been poured over the bread and the cubes are soaking up the liquid.

    Let the dish stand for at least 15 - 20 minutes while the oven preheats. This allows the bread to absorb as much of the custard filling as it can before baking.

    Baking Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Bake the bread pudding for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and toasted and the custard has completely set.

    The panettone bread pudding is cooling slightly on the stovetop. It has a golden brown crust.

    If the top begins to brown faster than the custard can set, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil while it continues to bake.

    Serving Suggestions

    The panettone bread pudding is most delicious when served still warm from the oven, dusted with powdered sugar and servings drizzled with this super-easy amaretto cream sauce or this delicious vanilla creme anglaise would be amazing, too.

    A serving of the panettone bread pudding is on a holiday plate with a fork in front of the baking dish.

    Variations

    Though this recipe is nearly perfect as is, there are a few fun variations you could play with for your family:

    • Chocolate Panettone: Sometimes you can find a chocolate panettone where the bread part itself is flavored with chocolate powder. You could substitute that for the traditional fruit-studded version.
    • Add Almonds for Crunch: Stir in ½ cup of sliced almonds into the custard. Don't scatter them over the top, they are likely to burn over the full bake time.
    • Add Golden Raisins: For more fruity flavor, a ⅓ cup of golden raisins would be delicious in the custard.

    More Christmas Breakfast Ideas

    Looking for more delicious ideas for Christmas morning? You might also enjoy:

    • 3 tall bottles hold different flavored coffee syrups for a DIY coffee bar.
      DIY Christmas Coffee Station
    • A sliced loaf of almond poppy seed bread is ready for serving on a white platter.
      Almond Poppy Seed Bread
    • A cranberry orange muffin with cinnamon streusel is wrapped in a bright red muffin paper and sits on a pile of other muffins.
      Cranberry Orange Muffins with Streusel Topping
    • A serving of French toast casserole topped with pecans has slices of bacon on the side.
      Overnight French Toast Casserole {14 Flavors!}

    More Christmas Dessert Ideas

    Need more ideas for Christmas dessert? You may also enjoy:

    • The finished gingerbread house has been assembled and decorated by a young girl with gumdrops, candy canes, and sprinkles.
      How to Make a Homemade Gingerbread House
    • A hand is dunking a graham cracker into a creamy gingerbread dip.
      Easy Gingerbread Dip {For Kids!}

    FAQ

    Can you freeze panettone bread pudding?

    Since the base of the bread pudding has so much dairy between the eggs and cream, I don't recommend trying to freeze the bread pudding. The filling could separate and the texture would be compromised.

    If you’ve tried this panettone bread pudding or any other recipe on PeanutBlossom.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
    FOLLOW along on Instagram @peanut.blossom as well as on  Pinterest and Facebook.

    📖 Recipe

    Make-Ahead Panettone Bread Pudding

    5 from 1 vote
    This delicious panettone bread pudding can be served as a Christmas breakfast or a holiday dessert. Warm and fresh from the oven, dust it with powdered sugar and drizzle each serving with a bit of easy homemade amaretto sauce or vanilla creme anglaise.
    PREP TIME 20 minutes
    SETTING TIME 30 minutes
    COOK TIME 43 minutes
    YIELD 10 servings
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 loaf panettone bread cut into 1-inch cubes
    • 8 eggs
    • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
    • 2 ½ cups milk
    • 1 ¼ cups sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ cup sliced almonds

    Instructions

    • Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with softened butter all around the bottom and sides. Scatter the cubes of panettone evenly across the baking dish.
    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, sugar, extracts, and spices. Pour the mixture over the panettone and gently press down on the bread cubes to submerge them in the custard.
    • Let the bread pudding stand for 30 minutes before baking or you can cover it with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 hours.
    • Sprinkle the sliced almonds over the top of the pudding.
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    • Bake the bread pudding for 45 minutes or until it has puffed up and is set in the center. Serve while it is still warm.

    Recipe Notes

    Overnight Casserole Instructions:
    If you want to prepare this the night before for a holiday or special brunch, you can grease the baking pan and scatter the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and keep on the counter.
    Whisk together the custard mixture and store separately in the fridge. Pour it over the prepared bread in the morning and bake as instructed.
    COURSEDessert
    CUISINEAmerican
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

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