Coffee Donut Bread Pudding brings two breakfast favorites together in one comforting baked dish. Tender pieces of cake donut soak in a rich coffee custard, bake until set, and finish with a sweet donut-style glaze for an easy brunch dessert everyone will remember.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
This is a quick overview of the recipe. Jump to the recipe card for the full ingredients and instructions.
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Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Servings
16 people
Difficulty
Easy
Calories *
418 kcal per serving
Technique
Mix the coffee custard, pour it over donut pieces, bake, then drizzle with glaze.
Flavor Profile
Sweet cake donut bread pudding with espresso flavor and a classic donut glaze.
* Based on nutrition panel
This was such a fun dessert! The kids absolutely loved it. My niece, a true donut lover, told me it was the best dessert I had ever made. I used the chocolate donuts too, and it was so good! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mara
Mother’s Day has a way of reminding us what matters most. It is a day for gratitude, reflection, and celebrating the people who have shaped us in quiet, steady, unforgettable ways.
My mother has been one of the strongest influences in my life. So many of my memories, habits, and values can be traced back to her. She read to me every night from the time I was tiny until I was old enough to read on my own, and even then, we still shared books together. She taught me to love words, to appreciate hard work, and to understand that showing up for the people you love is one of the most meaningful things you can do.
She also taught me not to waste. That lesson is exactly how this coffee donut bread pudding came to be. After making cake donuts, I could not bring myself to throw away the extra pieces and trimmings. Instead, I fried them, tucked them into a baking dish, poured a simple coffee custard over the top, and baked everything into a warm, sweet, custardy dessert.
The result is indulgent in the best possible way. This recipe combines coffee and donuts, two breakfast classics, and turns them into an easy baked brunch dish. It is soft in the center, slightly crisp on top, and finished with a sweet glaze that makes it taste like a donut shop treat in casserole form.
You can make this bread pudding with homemade cake donuts or with store-bought donuts. Day-old donuts work especially well because they hold their shape better as they absorb the custard. Fresh donuts can also be used, but they may soften more quickly, so they can go straight into the oven after the custard is added.
Chocolate cake donuts and traditional sour cream cake donuts are both delicious here, and a mixture gives the bread pudding extra flavor. Any cake donut you enjoy can be used, as long as it is sturdy enough to soak up the custard without falling apart completely.
The coffee custard is simple but flavorful. Whole milk, heavy cream, eggs, sugar, and espresso powder create a rich base that soaks into the donut pieces as the pudding bakes. The espresso powder gives the dessert a clear coffee flavor without making the recipe complicated.
For the best texture, do not skip the turbinado sugar on top if you have it. It adds a crunchy, caramelized finish that contrasts beautifully with the soft custard underneath. After baking, let the bread pudding cool before slicing or serving. This resting time allows the custard to set properly, making each spoonful creamy rather than loose.
The final drizzle of donut glaze brings everything together. It adds sweetness, shine, and that classic bakery-style finish. Serve this coffee donut bread pudding warm or at room temperature for Mother’s Day brunch, a holiday breakfast, or any time you want a simple dessert that feels playful and comforting.
It is rich, nostalgic, and easy to assemble, with no need for fancy techniques. If you love coffee, donuts, bread pudding, or make-ahead brunch recipes, this one deserves a place on your table.
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and to all the mothers who love, support, teach, and encourage with everything they have. You are appreciated more than words can say.
Coffee Donut Bread Pudding
Ingredients
For the Bread Pudding:
- 5 cups cake donuts torn or cut into 1-inch pieces, about 13 donuts
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons espresso powder
- 3 eggs
- Turbinado sugar optional
For the Glaze:
- 100 g whole milk 100 ml
- 4 g kosher salt
- 400 g powdered sugar 3 ¼ cups
Instructions
To make the bread pudding:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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Place the donut pieces in an 8-inch square baking dish or another similar baking dish.
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In a bowl, blend the heavy cream, sugar, whole milk, espresso powder, and eggs with an immersion blender. If you do not have one, whisk thoroughly until combined.
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Pour the custard over the donut pieces. If the donuts are fresh, bake immediately. If they are stale, cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes before baking.
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Sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar, if desired. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the depth of the dish. The center should give slight resistance when gently pressed and should not feel liquid underneath.
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Cool for at least 45 minutes before serving so the custard can set.
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Drizzle with donut glaze and serve.
For the glaze:
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, powdered sugar, and salt. Cover the glaze with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface until ready to use.
Nutrition
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