This donut bread pudding recipe is so easy and delicious, using only simple ingredients; using regular glazed or Krispy Kreme donuts but feel free to experiment with your favorite kind!
It’s hard to top our favorite bread pudding, but donuts have been a top favorite since I recommend trying new types of bread to use in that recipe.
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Why Make a Donut Bread Pudding?
Well, why not?
But in all seriousness… we’ve all been there. Our eyes were bigger than our belly and we ordered way too many donuts. So when they start to get a little stale, it’s hard to throw away those golden little circles.
So using up donuts in a bread pudding is the next best thing. You may even want to make a batch of these Bronuts, just to use them in a bread pudding!
Recipe Ingredients
- Milk – I like to use whole milk but you can use your favorite type.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter will work.
- Donuts – I’ve listed types of donuts that work great for this recipe below but making sure they’re stale is key.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
Notice that I didn’t use sugar in this recipe, like in my original bread pudding recipe. That’s because donuts already have sugar and adding more isn’t typically necessary.
However, if your donuts aren’t very sweet, you may choose to add ¼ cup of white granulated sugar if you feel it is needed.
What Kind of Donuts to Use
We recommend using your favorite glazed donuts, like Krispy Kreme’s, but feel free to use other flavors like:
- apple cider donuts
- chocolate iced
- cake donuts (like my circus animal donuts or red velvet cake donuts)
- donut holes
- gluten free donuts
- … really any kind of stale or “day old” donuts that you have on hand should work. (However, watch the “filled” and “jelly donuts” as those may add a texture that you’re not looking for.)
How to Make Donut Bread Pudding
You can find the full recipe card with ingredients and instructions toward the bottom of this post!
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F. and grease an 8×8 baking dish with nonstick spray or butter.
What to Serve with Donut Bread Pudding
My favorite way to serve this donut bread pudding is warm. You may also choose to make a vanilla cream sauce to go on top but it’s not required.
Fresh berries or even a whipped cream would look and taste lovely on the side as well.
Recipe Tips
- Donuts not stale? If you have donuts that are not stale, you can leave them out, uncovered, overnight.
- Want to add more or different toppings? Feel free to add fruit glazes (think jelly-filled donut flavor), fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, and more!
- Feeling creative? Feel free to add nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, or your favorite warm spice to this recipe as well.
Recipe FAQs
Making doughnut bread pudding is a great way to use leftover doughnuts, and you can even freeze them (or it) for later.
Yes. Even though it is baked, it’s best to refrigerate any leftovers. Wait until it has fully cooled before covering it and storing it in the refrigerator.
Baking this donut bread pudding for 45 minutes gives a “soggier” type bread pudding, so baking it longer is recommended if you prefer a different, dryer, texture.
More Dessert Recipes Like This
If you love desserts like this one, then you’ll also love this easy chocolate bread pudding, sweet potato pudding, this croissant bread pudding recipe and this banana bread pudding recipe!
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Donut Bread Pudding
Video
Ingredients
- 6 stale glazed donuts
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 beaten eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease an 8×8 baking dish with nonstick spray or extra butter.
- Cut up 6 stale donuts in to small cubes and place in the greased baking dish. Pour melted butter over the top of the donuts.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add in 4 beaten eggs (or beat the eggs in the bowl before adding the following ingredients).
- Add in the 2 cups of milk, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix until combined well.
- Pour the mixture over the cubed donuts. Let soak for 10 minutes.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Serve warm. You can also top it with this vanilla sauce recipe.
Notes
- If you have donuts that are not stale, you can leave them out, uncovered, overnight.
- Want to add more or different toppings? Feel free to add fruit glazes (think jelly-filled donut flavor), fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, and more!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Christie says
It seems that you have changed the recipe since some of the comments were posted. For instance, some of the comments talk about half and half, some talk about creamer and it being too thin, but the recipe now calls for milk, which is thinner than both of those.
Also, there is melted butter in the ingredients list, but it seems to be missing from the instructions. Where do you put the butter? And if you’re mixing it with cold eggs and milk, it’s going solidify before it can really get mixed in.
I’m hoping you can answer soon, because I’m really looking forward to making this. I’m going out tomorrow morning to “rescue” donuts that didn’t sell today (To Good To Go app) and planning to use them in this recipe. Thanks.
Jessica says
Hi Christie! Yes, I did actually update the recipe after years of it being published! I found that this current recipe, that is similar to my old-fashioned bread pudding recipe, is much better than the original. I’m glad you said something about the butter too! Although it’s not a MUST, especially when using donuts – since they’re already buttery in general, I drizzle the melted butter on top of the donuts before pouring on the egg and milk mixture. I hope that helps and I hope you enjoy it!
(Redacted for privacy) says
This recipe is simply divine! Makes me want to buy extra donuts just to have some on hand to make this! 5+/5⭐️s! ❤️
Jessica says
I’m so happy you liked this donut bread pudding! Thank you for sharing!
Kenya says
I loved the recipe. I used krispy kreme glazed donuts and I added black pepper, bacon grease, and cranberries to offset some of the sweetness. Will definitely make again
Lori Blessing says
I made this today using frosted Honey Buns. I didn’t have 1/2 & 1/2 so I subbed in caramel coffee creamer. I think it needed more eggs to thicken it up. Don’t get me wrong though, flavor was wonderful. Just didn’t hold together like bread pudding should.
Jessica says
Hi Lori! It could be because coffee creamer was used instead of 1/2 and 1/2, as that does tend to be more thin. Honey Buns sound delicious in this!
paula says
it was fantastic!
Caroline says
Super easy! Very good! I swapped Fit milk by Darigold instead of regular milk and cream because that’s all I had on hand. 350 degrees in the air fryer for about 15 minutes. Perfectly caramelized! Topped with whipped cream and fresh blueberries. Thanks for the recipe!
Jessica says
Oh yum!! This all sounds amazingly delicious for the donut bread pudding! Thank you so much for sharing!
Jim Conway says
We are going to our cabin that’s kinda off the grid. We do not have an oven. But always have old donuts. Could this be made in an instant pot? I found recipes for instant pot regular bread pudding, but I worry about the ingredients being the same, not to be too sweet. Thanx.
Jessica says
Hi Jim! I haven’t made this in an Instant Pot yet, I’m sorry! So I hate to tell you it will work without testing it myself. But I’d love to hear if you try it!
Diane Cerabone says
This looks like a great recipe. I’m wondering about the calories in the nutritional information. Just between the donuts, half and half, and eggs you’re looking at at least 3200 calories. How is 1/6th of this recipe (you claim 6 servings) going to be 122 calories? It won’t keep me from making it, of course. If it was me and I made a math or typing mistake I would want someone to tell me.
Jessica says
Hi Diane. Thank you so much for pointing that out. Changes have been made to reflect a better estimate. 🙂
Mlargaret loper says
Do you cover while baking?
Jessica says
Hi there! No, no need to cover while baking unless you find that your rack is really close to the top burner and it’s cooking on the top too fast. But if your rack is in the middle of your oven, you should be ok without covering it. I hope that helps!
Jan says
The easiest recipe ever & delicious. Had 11 glazed donuts leftover, all the other ingredients in the house. Didn’t have the cream, but used liquid Vanilla Carmel coffee creamer.
It was amazing. Got to give this a try.
Jessica says
What a great way to use up those donuts!! Donut bread pudding is something that is a favorite around here too. 🙂
Sandy says
Are you suppose to add sugar?
Jessica says
Hi Sandy! The donuts should have enough sugar for the recipe! But if you find that it’s not sweet enough, you could sprinkle some cinnamon-sugar on afterward! Or include it the next time you make it! 🙂
Betty Presnell says
Very simple recipe. I had to half it for my husband & me. Thank you.
Jessica says
So glad that you liked this donut bread pudding too. Thank you!
Michael Cohen says
Can you use cake donuts instead of glazed? We may have gone a little crazy buying apple cider donuts after apple picking.
Jessica says
Haha! I’ve never used cake donuts but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work!! It actually sounds delicious!
Bonnie says
I used the apple filled cinnamon cake donuts for a brunch last week. Needless to say there was not a crumb left! So yes, you can use cake donuts.
Jessica says
Oh yum!!!! This sounds amazing and so good to know. Thank you so much for letting us know and for the 5-star rating!
Sabine says
Turned out beautifully.
I did a small batch in 20 mins 🙂 chocolate milk (1%) & french vanilla creamer in place of milk/vanilla. Chocolate chips too 🙂
Jessica says
Mmmm! That sounds delicious! Thank you so much for sharing!
rana durham says
I think this is a great idea of getting of day old donuts that need a little life in them. It is so clever and I think it would be amazing in the morning. I also like that it has added flavors of spices and icing. I think my family will love this.
Jessica says
Ooooh, having this for breakfast is a GREAT way to start the day!!