Crowd Pleasing Orange Craisin Waffle Bread Pudding

Sharing is caring!

Upgrade your usual bread pudding game with our Orange Craisin Waffle Bread Pudding. Serve it up warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate decadent treat.

 

This year for breakfast, I thought I’d whip up something interesting and different this year.  Something delicious, with a bit of a kick, that’s wholesome, hearty, and packed with fruit!  Orange Craisin Cranberry Waffles!  They’re sweet, they’re tangy, and they’re so easy to whip up for any breakfast.

 

The hubs isn’t much of a waffle or breakfast sweets eater.  How did I miss this when we were dating?  So, now what I’m to do with all these waffles?  Well, what any food blogger would do with leftover sweet breakfast breads?  I know, say it with me!  BREAD PUDDING!

 

 

What is bread pudding and where does it come from?

 

Bread pudding is a comforting and delicious dessert that has been enjoyed for centuries. Its roots can be traced back to medieval times when frugal cooks sought ways to use up stale bread. By soaking the bread in a mixture of milk, eggs, and sugar, they were able to create a simple yet satisfying dish that satisfied sweet cravings without wasting any precious ingredients. This practice eventually made its way across Europe and beyond, evolving into the decadent dessert we know today.

 

Can you use leftover waffles to make bread pudding?

 

If you happen to have some leftover waffles sitting in your kitchen, don’t let them go to waste. Instead, consider transforming them into a delectable bread pudding that will surely delight your taste buds. By using the waffles as the base of your bread pudding mixture, you can create a unique twist on this classic dessert. Plus, the added texture and flavor of the waffles will take this dish to a whole new level of deliciousness. So gather up those leftover waffles and get ready to impress your friends and family with a creative and mouthwatering dessert.,

 

 

Ingredients for this bread pudding recipe

 

I’ve used some healthier, lower calorie and fat options for this recipe.  Feel free to swap for regular ingredients if you like.  If you don’t have cranberry orange waffles on hand, you’ll need:

Dry ingredients –

• Flour
• whole wheat flour
• baking powder
• salt
• dried cranberries

Wet ingredients –

• Eggs
• Milk
• orange juice
• butter
• vanilla extract
• orange zest

 

 

For the pudding you will need:

• 6 to 8 leftover waffles (or croissants, or other bread of your choice)
• Dried cranberries

Custard ingredients –

• Eggs
• orange juice
• sugar
• salt
• orange zest
• vanilla extract
• milk
• cream

 

Make the Waffles

 

Preheat your waffle iron so it’s ready when you are.  Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to break up any lumps.  Next, separate the eggs and put the yolks in a small mixing bowl and the whites in a metal bowl or stand mixer to whip into peaks later.  Add the remaining wet ingredients to the egg yolks and stir with a whisk until thoroughly combined.  Set aside.  Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

 

 

Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the egg mixture stirring until almost all the flour is combined.  Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes before folding in the egg whites.  Fold in the dried cranberries and cook the waffles according to the manufacturer’s instructions for your waffle iron.  Store in an airtight container until you’re ready to make the pudding.

 

For the pudding, preheat the oven to 350 F.  Coat your casserole dish with cooking spray.  Cut the waffles in half and arrange them in the casserole dish.  Sprinkle them with the dried cranberries and set it aside. 

 

 

Make the Bread Pudding

 

In a heat proof bowl, combine the eggs with the orange juice, sugar, salt, zest, and vanilla extract.  Stir with a whisk until the sugar is dissolved.  Scald the milk and cream by placing them in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  When bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan, turn off the heat.  Temper the eggs by slowly steaming a ladle of the milk mixture into the egg mixture whisking constantly.  Carefully pour the remaining milk mixture into the eggs.  Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove any cooked bits of egg.

 

Pour the custard over the waffles, pressing the waffles down into the custard to make sure they absorb the custard.  Let the bread pudding sit for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) to allow the waffles to absorb the custard then bake at 350 for 45 to 60 minutes or until the custard is cooked through and no longer jiggles when you shake the pan.  Cool for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

 

 

How can you customize bread pudding recipes?

 

To elevate your waffle bread pudding even further, consider incorporating a variety of mix-ins and toppings to add unique flavors and textures. To compliment the dried cranberries, try sprinkling in some chopped nuts, or chocolate chips to the custard mixture for an extra burst of sweetness and crunch.  You can add other dried fruits like golden raisins, apricots, or currents for additional flavor.

 

Try sprinkling cinnamon, nutmeg, or demerara sugar on top of your Orange Craisin Waffle Bread Pudding before baking to enhance the flavors of the dish.  Alternatively, you can add these spices to the milk before scalding for more seasonal flavors.  Finally, for a luxurious touch, drizzle caramel or chocolate sauce over the finished bread pudding before serving.  Or try an orange liqueur hard sauce for decadent drizzle on top.

 

 

 

Since the waffles are made, in part, with whole wheat flour, these waffles by themselves are hearty enough for any loved one.  You won’t have to worry if they eat one extra.  Also, you can easily use egg substitute and skim milk in this recipe and it will still taste rich and delicious.

 

You can’t say this is a bland dessert.  Not at all!!  Because I’ve combined sweet tart dried cranberries with the punch of orange zest.  It’s so full of sweet, tangy, zest, hearty, healthy, fruit filled goodness that your guests will ask for this time and time again!  And, since it’s made of waffles, you could easily serve it for brunch!!

 

Delicious Cranberry Desserts

• Brown Sugar Bundt Cake with Cranberries from Hezzi-D’s Recipe Box
• Cranberry Crumble Bars from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Cranberry Fluff Salad from Jen Around the World
• Orange Craisin Waffle Bread Pudding from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Cranberry Pecan Muffins from That Recipe
• Quick Cranberry Pecan Bread from Art of Natural Living

We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you’re at it, join our Pinterest board, too!