Decadent Instant Pot Bread Pudding

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with our incredible Instant Pot bread pudding recipe, a delightful dessert that’s remarkably easy to make in your Ninja Foodi or any pressure cooker! If you’re a fan of rich, moist, and flavorful treats, you’re in for a spectacular experience. This recipe transforms humble raisin bread into a magnificent pudding, perfectly baked in a mini bundt pan. For those who cherished our homemade banana bread pudding, prepare to be enchanted by this smaller, equally irresistible version, now made effortlessly in your pressure cooker.

Have you ever considered baking in your pressure cooker? It’s an absolute game-changer, especially for desserts like this glorious Instant Pot bread pudding! This particular recipe quickly became a star in our household, not just as a decadent dessert, but also as a fantastic addition to a brunch spread or a special breakfast treat. Its versatility and ease of preparation solidify its spot as one of our top Instant Pot recipes here at The Typical Mom.

For years, especially during the holidays, our traditional oven-baked raisin bread pudding has been a beloved staple. But we were curious: could we achieve the same beautiful presentation and incredible flavor in a multi-cooker? The answer, as you’ll soon discover, is a resounding yes! This method makes baking in your pressure cooker surprisingly straightforward, opening up a world of culinary possibilities.

Effortless Ninja Foodi Bread Pudding & Pressure Cooker Desserts

Whether you own an Instant Pot, a Ninja Foodi, or a Crockpot Express, this recipe is perfectly adaptable. All these electric pressure cookers feature a high-pressure function, making them ideal for this dessert. So, simply use the appliance you have on hand – the results will be equally delicious across all brands.

The Joys of Pressure Cooker Baking: A Culinary Revelation

You might wonder why you should bother baking in a pressure cooker when a traditional oven exists. Let me share the compelling reasons why this method has become a cherished option for us, and why it might become your new favorite:

• Perfect Portions, Less Waste: This recipe yields just enough for our family of five, ensuring minimal leftovers. This is ideal for managing portion sizes and avoiding the temptation of overindulgence!
• Beat the Heat: During scorching summer months, turning on the oven can feel like a punishment, especially when your air conditioner is working overtime. The pressure cooker allows you to bake delightful treats without heating up your entire kitchen, keeping your home cool and comfortable.
• Unrivaled Moisture: One of the most significant advantages of pressure cooking is the moist environment it creates. This results in baked goods that are exceptionally tender and incredibly moist, far surpassing what an oven often achieves. Say goodbye to dry bread pudding!
• Oven Freedom: Free up your main oven for other dishes! This is a lifesaver, particularly during holidays or when hosting brunch, where you might need to prepare several brunch menu items simultaneously. Your pressure cooker can handle dessert while your oven bakes casseroles or roasts.

Throughout my culinary journey, I’ve experimented with numerous bread pudding recipes. Typically, I’ve relied on day-old French bread for its sturdy texture. However, for this particular raisin bread pudding, I decided to take a different approach: using a loaf of raisin bread. The outcome was absolutely incredible, infusing the pudding with wonderful fruity notes and a unique texture.

While I’ve also prepared this with a fruity twist in a conventional oven, I highly encourage you to try both methods and discover your personal preference. But, if you’re looking to keep your kitchen cool and conserve energy, turning to your pressure cooker is an ingenious solution. You can also adapt this raisin bread base for other delightful variations, such as apple pie bread pudding, for an extra layer of flavor and indulgence.

Decadent Toppings: What is Bread Pudding Sauce Made Of?

A bread pudding isn’t truly complete without a luscious sauce or topping. The beauty lies in its versatility. You can whip up a simple glaze by combining powdered sugar with a splash of milk for a classic finish. For a richer experience, heavy cream can be incorporated into your glaze, or if you desire a sophisticated kick, a touch of bourbon adds a wonderful depth of flavor. Alternatively, you can spoon a fruit pie filling over the top, much like we did with our unbelievably yummy Strawberry bread pudding, creating a vibrant and fruity accompaniment.

For the perfect presentation and even baking, a small bundt pan is highly recommended. I find it performs significantly better than a round springform pan. The bundt pan’s central hole ensures that the pudding bakes more uniformly, preventing the center from being underdone while the outer edges become overly dry. Simply grab a 7-inch bundt pan and a spacious mixing bowl to combine your ingredients.

Key Ingredients for the Best Instant Pot Bread Pudding

The foundation of this exquisite bread pudding starts with the right ingredients. Using Sunmaid Raisin bread, cut into generous bite-sized cubes, provides an exceptional base. For optimal texture, ideally allow the bread to sit on the counter for a day or so until it achieves a slightly “day-old” dryness. This allows it to better absorb the custard mixture without becoming soggy.

• Eggs: Use large eggs, ideally at room temperature, and whisk them thoroughly to create a smooth, consistent custard base.
• Whipping and/or Heavy Cream: For unparalleled richness and a truly luxurious texture, heavy cream or whipping cream is far superior to regular milk. It contributes to the pudding’s decadent creaminess.
• Butter: Melted butter is essential for both flavor and moisture, helping to bind the ingredients and create a tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: A good quality vanilla extract adds a warm, classic aroma and flavor. For a slight variation, almond extract can also be a delightful addition.
• Cinnamon: We adore the comforting warmth that cinnamon brings to this dessert, enhancing the flavors of the raisin bread and applesauce.
• Applesauce: This is a secret weapon for moisture and a subtle fruity sweetness. For an elevated experience, consider making your own pressure cooker applesauce (without oats) – you can leave it a bit chunkier for added texture in the bread pudding, then enjoy the rest as a healthy snack!
• Maple Syrup: Opt for real maple syrup over artificial varieties for an authentic, rich sweetness that complements the other flavors beautifully.
• Vanilla or Cream Cheese Frosting: For a final flourish, a drizzle of melted vanilla frosting or cream cheese frosting elevates this pudding to a celebratory dessert.

As mentioned, a 7-inch bundt pan is my preferred choice for this recipe. Before adding your ingredients, remember to lightly coat the inside with cooking spray to prevent sticking, although the melted butter in the recipe also aids in easy release.

Flexible Substitutions for Your Bread Pudding

This recipe is incredibly forgiving and offers several substitution options to cater to various dietary needs or preferences:

• Butter Alternative: For a dairy-free version, feel free to use a dairy-free butter alternative.
• Applesauce Alternatives: If applesauce isn’t available, sour cream or even Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute, lending a lovely tang and moisture.
• Sweetener Options: Agave nectar works wonderfully as an alternative to maple syrup.
• Topping Flexibility: While the frosting adds a delightful touch, it’s not strictly necessary. For a simpler topping, whisk powdered sugar with a small amount of milk to create a quick, homemade glaze.
• Dairy-Free Cream: You can certainly use full-fat coconut milk instead of whipping cream for a dairy-free option. Be aware that it might not yield quite as creamy a texture and may not firm up as much due to its lower fat content compared to heavy cream. I’ve successfully used coconut milk for similar recipes, like French toast, for my husband.

The Importance of Covering Bread Pudding with Foil in a Pressure Cooker

When “baking” any dish in an Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi pressure cooker, it is crucial to cover the top of your baking pan with aluminum foil. This step is vital to prevent condensation from dripping onto the surface of your bread pudding. Without the foil, moisture from the pressure cooking process would collect on the lid and then drip down, making the top of your delicious pudding soggy. This protective barrier ensures your bread pudding maintains its ideal texture and consistency. This precaution is generally not necessary when baking in a conventional oven.

You’ll find the full recipe details below, perfect for printing and keeping handy. Before you begin, gather your essentials: a mini bundt pan, aluminum foil, and a large mixing bowl for whisking all the liquid ingredients to perfection.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Bread Pudding in an Instant Pot

Preparing this Instant Pot bread pudding is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Follow these simple steps for a perfect, moist dessert:

• Begin by cutting your raisin bread into uniform cubes. Then, melt your butter and pour it directly into the bottom of your 7-inch mini bundt pan.
• Evenly sprinkle the bread cubes over the melted butter in the pan.
• In a separate mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, whipping cream, applesauce, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until well combined. Pour this delicious custard mixture over the bread pieces in the bundt pan, ensuring the bread is well-saturated.
• Carefully cover the entire bundt pan tightly with aluminum foil.
• Pour 1.5 cups of water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Place a trivet (or a steamer rack) at the bottom of the pot, then gently lower your foil-covered bundt pan onto the trivet.
• Secure the Instant Pot lid and ensure the steam release valve is set to the sealing position. Set your pressure cooker to High Pressure for 20 minutes.
• Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural pressure release. This means letting the pressure naturally dissipate until the float valve drops, indicating it’s safe to open. This step is crucial for the pudding’s texture.
• Carefully remove the bundt pan from the Instant Pot and gently take off the aluminum foil covering.
• Place the bundt pan on a cooling rack and let the bread pudding cool completely. This cooling period is essential as it allows the egg custard to continue setting and solidify within the bundt pan, ensuring it holds its shape beautifully.
• Once cooled, carefully place a plate over the top of the bundt pan and invert it to release the bread pudding. If needed, gently run a knife around the edges to help it release. Slice and serve with a spoonful of melted vanilla frosting, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or your chosen sauce.

Delightful Bread Pudding Bites

For a fun, customizable, and perfectly portioned treat, you can easily transform this recipe into smaller bread pudding bites. You’ll need an egg mold, similar to the one we used for our delicious Instant Pot pancake bites with blueberries. Simply follow the recipe directions as described above, but instead of pouring the mixture into a bundt pan, spoon it into the individual cavities of your egg mold. Reduce the cooking time by half, and you’ll have adorable, moist bread pudding bites ready to enjoy. My children absolutely love making and decorating these bite-sized treats, much like they do with our Instant Pot donuts for breakfast or dessert.

In terms of preparation, this recipe shares some similarities with an Instant Pot breakfast casserole, particularly in its use of the pressure cooking method for a custardy, baked dish. If you’re using a Ninja Foodi, you’ll utilize the separate pressure cooking lid (not the attached air frying lid), but the core steps remain the same for achieving this wonderful dessert.