Healthier Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding Recipe

Name: Healthier Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding Recipe
Prep time: 720 min
Cook time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat bread (cubed); 3 cups 2% milk; 3 cups applesauce (unsweetened); 4 eggs; 2 tbsps ground cinnamon; 2 tsps ground nutmeg; 2 apples (cored and diced); 1 cup dried cranberries; 1/2 cup pecans (chopped); 6 tbsps vanilla whey protein powder; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup 2% milk

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Our healthier cinnamon apple bread pudding recipe is made with some of our favorite scratch made ingredients. We use natural sugars of apple sauce to sweeten the pudding as well as vanilla protein powder to make a delicious cream sauce.

A serving of bread pudding topped with cream is placed on a decorative green plate with a fork. In the background, there is a dish of additional bread pudding and a bowl of cream on a wooden surface.

BREAD PUDDING and FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE are some of those naturally nostalgic holiday recipes. But they can be a bit on the heavy side. We like to take our favorite recipes and lighten them up a bit and this one was fun to develop and even more fun to eat!

We use only natural sugar in this one with the use of apple sauce and real apples. The bread is a bit better for you too simply by using whole grain bread and the cream sauce, well, let’s just say, you have to just try it!

Ingredients

This healthier cinnamon apple bread pudding recipe has the taste and texture you would expect in a traditional sweet bread pudding recipe but with a whole lot less sugar. No fancy ingredients, just pantry staples!

A close-up of a baked dish in a glass pan filled with a golden-brown bread pudding containing visible chunks of bread and apples. Beside it, a green and white floral plate holds a single serving of the pudding with a fork resting next to it.

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD – whole grains have so many health benefits. Stale bread is really what is used for traditional bread puddings so feel free to let it get a bit stale. Even fresh will work just fine.
MILK – we like using 2% milk to get some good milk fat but whatever you have on hand works just fine.
UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE – this can be found in the grocery store with all of the canned fruit, just make sure there are no added sugars.
EGGS – whole eggs for this one for the protein source as well as the binding benefits.
GROUND CINNAMON – fresh ground is a game changer but store bought ground cinnamon that you have on hand works.
NUTMEG – love it or hate it, it really adds a ton of warmth to any recipe. Don’t skip, just cup back a bit if you don’t love it. There is enough flavor here to hide it a bit.
APPLES – we like golden or red delicious apples for this so they kind of melt into the recipe. We also leave the peeling on and just chop them. That adds vitamins and minerals to the recipe as well as added fiber.
DRIED CRANBERRIES – a bit better than raisins as far as sugar content.
CHOPPED PECANS – the protein packed nut native to the South, bread pudding is so much better with this texture and flavor powerhouse.
VANILLA FLAVORED WHEY PROTEIN POWDER – our unexpected ingredient for the cream sauce but trust me on this one, it is so good!
SOUR CREAM – for added protein and creaminess.
MILK – the wet ingredient for the cream sauce.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Like most scratch made recipes, this one is really better the next day. We also recommend a soak time for the bread of overnight for best results. If you have an hour though, that is enough if you just can’t wait.

A wooden cutting board holds slices of bread and chopped yellow cheese. Next to it, a hand is pouring milk from a measuring cup into a white mixing bowl, placed on a stove with a black stovetop visible in the background. A knife lies on the board.

In a large bowl add in milk.

A wooden cutting board has cubed yellow fruit and sliced bread on it, with a knife seen at the bottom. To the right, a hand is pouring honey from a jar into a white mixing bowl filled with liquid. The scene appears to be in a kitchen setting.

Mix in applesauce.

A person holds a patterned bowl of beaten eggs over a wooden cutting board. The cutting board has several slices of bread and cubes of cheese on it. A kitchen stove is partially visible on the left side of the image.

Slightly whisked eggs.

A cutting board with sliced bread and cubed cheese sits on a stovetop. A knife and fork rest nearby. A white bowl containing a light yellow mixture with a sprinkle of cinnamon is also visible next to the cutting board.

Add in ground cinnamon.

A person holds a grater and a nutmeg seed over a bowl of batter. Nearby on a wooden cutting board are slices of bread and diced apples. A knife and a spoon rest on the cutting board. This setup is positioned on a stovetop.

And ground nutmeg. Mix well to combine.

A person with a smartwatch cuts bread into pieces on a wooden cutting board. Beside the cutting board, there are small cubes of peeled potatoes. A pot filled with liquid and pieces of bread is on the stove, partially visible.

Cube or tear bread and add to wet mixture.

A person with a smartwatch and bracelets is chopping yellow potatoes on a wooden cutting board. A large knife, fork, and pieces of cut potato are visible. Next to the cutting board, there is a pot with a creamy mixture and potato pieces.

Wash and core apples and chop into small pieces. Add to bread and custard mixture.

A person's hand is seen pouring dried cranberries from a package into a pot on a stove. Next to the pot is a wooden cutting board with a knife, whisk, and fork resting on it. The scene looks like a cooking process in a kitchen.

Mix in dried cranberries.

A person holds chopped nuts over a mixing bowl on a stovetop. A cutting board, chef's knife, whisk, and fork are nearby. The scene suggests active cooking or baking, with ingredients and utensils in use.

Add in chopped pecans. Mix well, cover and refrigerate at least one hour to overnight to allow the bread to soak. up the ingredients.

A rectangular glass baking dish filled with a casserole mixture containing chunks of bread, diced apples, and possibly cranberries. A wooden spoon is stirring the mixture, and the dish is placed on a stovetop with the burners visible in the background.

After the bread soak, remove and place in a lightly greased casserole dish. Bake at 350° for 45 to 60 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool or chill covered.

A person is scooping sour cream from a container labeled "Daisy Sour Cream" into a white bowl on a wooden cutting board. The person's hands are visible, and they are wearing a red top and a bracelet. The scene is on a stovetop with control knobs visible.

In a medium bowl, Add sour cream.

A person is pouring powder from a large white container into a white bowl on a wooden cutting board. The bowl already contains some white substance. The person is holding the container with their right hand over an electric stovetop.

Mix in vanilla protein powder.

A person is pouring milk from a bottle into a white bowl with a mixture, while also holding a spoon with a white substance over the bowl. The person is wearing a red shirt and a smartwatch. The bowl is on a wooden surface near a stove.

Add in milk and mix well.

A person with a red shirt and a smartwatch is wrapping a dough mixture in a white bowl with plastic wrap on a wooden surface. The background includes a stove with several black stovetop knobs.

Cover and chill until time to serve.

A slice of bread pudding with chunks of apple is on a decorative green and white plate, placed on a wooden table. A fork rests beside the slice. In the background, a glass baking dish with more bread pudding and a bowl of white sauce are visible.

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

Food nostalgia is rooted deep in my heart. Developing recipes that give me that good old feeling of days gone by is one of my favorite things to do these days. This one hits all of the memory marks and is so good. Not to mention, good for even the ones you love watching their sugar intake.

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Substitutions and Variations

Keep in mind, any alterations to the recipe will also alter the nutritional values but here are some yummy ideas.

Apples – we like the ones that tend to cook down but any apple will do. Granny Smith or Gala apples would be very good in this.
Cream Sauce – you can go with a more traditional CREAM SAUCE. The one linked is a good one made with heavy cream and if bourbon if that is not your thing you can leave the bourbon out.
Bread – feel free to substitute the bread with what you prefer or have on hand. Challah bread, French bread and even baked cinnamon rolls are all yummy options.

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

Storage

This is best served cold! Let it cool, cover it and store it in the fridge for a week.

Bread puddings don’t generally freeze well, so we don’t recommend freezing this recipe.

The image shows a slice of bread pudding with chunks of fruit on a green floral plate, topped with a light-colored sauce. A fork rests on the plate. In the background, there is a glass baking dish filled with more bread pudding and a bowl of the same light-colored sauce.

⭐ LOVE THIS RECIPE? It would mean so very much to me if you would take a moment to rate this recipe and leave me a sweet comment in the recipe card below! ❤️❤️We hope you love all of the Southern and healthy recipes we share here at The Buttered Home and would love to see you back here often!

A top-view image of a serving of bread pudding on a decorative plate next to a glass baking dish filled with more bread pudding. The serving on the plate is topped with a creamy sauce, and a fork is placed beside it.

Healthier Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding Recipe

We make just a few substitutions to cut out some of the sugar in this healthier option for cinnamon apple bread pudding. This recipe is still scratch made with all of the textures and flavors you love. Just lower in refined sugar!

Prep Time 12

Cook Time 1

Serving Size

Ingredients

For the Bread Pudding

2 cups whole wheat bread cubed
3 cups 2% milk
3 cups applesauce unsweetened
4 eggs
2 tbsps ground cinnamon
2 tsps ground nutmeg
2 apples cored and diced
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecans chopped

For the Cream Sauce

6 tbsps vanilla whey protein powder
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup 2% milk

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix milk, applesauce, eggs, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well.
3 cups 2% milk, 3 cups applesauce, 4 eggs, 2 tbsps ground cinnamon, 2 tsps ground nutmeg
Fold in cubed bread, apples, cranberries and pecans to the custard mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour to overnight for best results.
2 cups whole wheat bread, 2 apples, 1 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup pecans
After soaking, preheat oven to 350° F. Spread bread mixture in a lightly greased casserole dish and bake 45 to 60 minutes until the pudding is golden brown. Chill covered to cool if you wish.
In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, vanilla protein powder and milk. Whisk until well combined. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
6 tbsps vanilla whey protein powder, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup 2% milk

See How To Make It!

🍴 PRO TIP!

Bake this goodness up and allow it to cool. Cover it and refrigerate it. It really is better the next day!

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

How can I make this apple bread pudding dairy free?

Substitute all of the dairy options with soy or almond options. These days there are so many to choose from.

Do I need to reheat this to serve the leftovers?

This one is actually best served cold. It keeps well in the fridge and serving it cold makes it perfect for even breakfast.

Can I use raisins or other ingredients to make this a traditional bread pudding?

You sure can. As we have mentioned before, it will alter the nutritional values but feel free to use raisins and. your choice of dairy and bread to fit your needs.

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