Easy Donut Bread Pudding

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If you’ve ever opened a bakery box and found a few forgotten donuts looking a little… tired, congratulations—you’re halfway to dessert. Leftover Donut Bread Pudding is the perfect way to use up stale donuts while turning them into something that feels intentional, comforting, and wildly good.

This is one of those recipes that proves easy doesn’t mean boring. Softened donut pieces soak up a rich, custard-style mixture, bake into a warm, cozy pudding, and get finished with a simple icing drizzle that makes it dangerously hard to stop at one serving. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and exactly the kind of dessert that makes people ask, “Wait… this was made with donuts?”

And here’s the little secret no one talks about: this recipe is a fantastic excuse to buy discounted donuts on purpose. Many grocery stores mark down day-old donuts early in the morning or later in the day, and those slightly sad-looking pastries are exactly what you want here. Letting donuts sit out for a day or two actually improves this recipe—the drier they are, the better they soak up the custard. So whether you scored a clearance deal or intentionally “forgot” a box on the counter, this bread pudding turns yesterday’s donuts into a next-level dessert.

Ingredients

• 6–8 stale donuts (glazed or sugar donuts)
• 1 stick salted butter, melted (½ cup)
• 2 cups + 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 4 large eggs
• ⅓ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8×8 pan with nonstick spray.
2. Cut the donuts into large chunks (about 6–8 pieces per donut).
3. Place the donut pieces in a medium mixing bowl and pour the melted butter over them.

1. Gently stir until all pieces are coated.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, 2 cups of heavy cream, cinnamon, and vanilla.

1. Pour the cream mixture over the donuts and let them soak for 10 minutes.

1. Gently transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. If needed, spoon the donuts in first, then pour the remaining liquid over the top.

1. Bake for 45 minutes, or until cooked through. The bottom will be slightly soft. Allow to rest for five minutes.
2. In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon heavy cream (or whole milk).
3. Drizzle the icing over the bread pudding.

1. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Lynda – Southern Kissed

Easy Donut Bread Pudding

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Donut Bread Pudding is an easy, comforting dessert that transforms stale glazed or sugared donuts into a rich, custardy bread pudding topped with a simple icing drizzle. Perfect for using up day-old donuts and turning them into a warm, irresistible treat.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Resting Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Calories: 679

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 6-8 stale donuts (glazed or cake donuts)
• ½ cup butter melted
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 4 large eggs
• ⅓ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 8×8 pan with nonstick spray.
2. Cut the donuts into large chunks. I normally do about 6-8 chunks per donut.
3. Place the donut pieces in a medium mixing bowl and pour the melted butter over them.
4. Gently stir the contents of the bowl until everything is coated in the melted butter.
5. In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, 2 cups of heavy cream, cinnamon, and vanilla.
6. Pour the cream mixture over the top of the donut pieces and allow them to sit and soak for 10 minutes.
7. Gently pour the donut mixture into the prepared pan. If needed, gently spoon out the donut pieces, then pour the remaining liquid from the bowl over the top.
8. Bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through. It will be a little soft on the bottom. Allow to rest for five minutes before moving to the next step.
9. In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon heavy cream (or whole milk).
10. Drizzle the icing over the top of the bread pudding.
11. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 679kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 9gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 34gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 242mgSodium: 186mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1835IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Nutrition is an approximation and is based upon using 6 Krispy Kreme glazed donuts. 

Each Krispy Kreme Glaze Donut has:

• 190 calories
• 10 grams fat
• 5 grams saturated fat
• 0 cholesterol
• 100 mg sodium
• 22 grams of carbohydrates
• less than 1 gram of dietary fiber
• 10 grams sugar
• 3 grams protein

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Don’t Toss Those Donuts

Before you throw away stale donuts, remember this recipe. Glazed and sugared donuts work especially well, and even hard donuts soften beautifully once soaked and baked. This is one of those rare desserts where stale is actually better.

💡 Tips & Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can leave it covered on the counter for up to 2 days. Best served warm.
• Freezing is not recommended.
• Glazed and sugared donuts have worked best so far. Cake donuts haven’t been tested.
• Whole milk can be used in place of heavy cream if needed, but the cream adds extra richness and flavor.

This is comfort baking with a purpose—easy, cozy, and secretly brilliant.

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Cozy Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream

Last Bite

Leave a comment below and tell me what kind of donuts you used… or if you bought them on clearance justto make this. No judgment here. 🍩