My slow cooker bread pudding with cranberries and walnuts is served with a homemade caramel sauce. This recipe is quick and easy to whip up in the crock pot – and it will add cozy smells from this traditional holiday dessert all around your home!
We love making desserts in the crock pot, because it’s SO easy and makes your home smell amazing for hours. For more easy slow cooker desserts, see my Crock Pot Apple Cobbler, my Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake or my Crock Pot Peach Cobbler!
This slow cooker bread pudding
- is super easy to make
- tastes absolutely delicious with all your holiday meals
- is served with an easy homemade caramel sauce for the ultimate treat!
Cranberry is such a favorite for the holidays, and I LOVE all the recipes you can make with it. Dried or fresh, I don’t care!
Some of my favorites include my Cranberry Orange Bread, my Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Bars and my Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies!
Recipe tips and tricks
- make sure to keep checking on the bread pudding (try not to open the lid) after around 3 hours so it doesn’t burn (depends on how hot your crock runs)
- if you know your slow cooker heats unevenly (my very old one does!), rotate the crock (without opening the lid) every 30-60 minutes or so
- you can leave out the cranberries and walnuts if you prefer a plain bread pudding!
Can you make this in the oven?
Yes, you can.
Just place in a well-greased casserole dish and bake for 35-40 minutes.
More holiday desserts
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.
Printable recipe
Cranberry Walnut Slow Cooker Bread Pudding
Recipe details
Ingredients
For the Bread Pudding:
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 5 cups bread cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup walnuts roughly chopped
- ½ cup dried cranberries
For the Caramel Sauce:
- 1 can condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Pinch of sea salt optional
Instructions
To Make the Bread Pudding:
- Whisk milk, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Add the cubed bread and allow to soak for 10 minutes.
- Grease the slow cooker well with the butter.
Add the cranberries and walnuts to the bread mixture and transfer everything to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours.
To Make The Caramel Sauce:
- Add the condensed milk, brown sugar and butter to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until bubbly and thickened. Add a pich of sea salt if you like. Serve warm with the hot bread pudding.
Shelley Oliver says
Worked out great. I was broke and had to have a dessert for unexpected guests. Great with coffee and no one knew it was a last minute desperate search for a recipe that I had the ingredients in my kitchen. Thank you so much- Shelley O.
Maryclyde says
We love this recipe one of our favorites, just to simplify things I kinda poke the bread pudding everywhere with a fork and pour the sauce over pudding and serve. Then put rest in frig easier to have left overs as just scoop and warm up so delicious!
Nora Rusev says
That’s such a smart tip, Maryclyde! I’ll have to try that sometime. Thank you so much for sharing!
April says
I’m gonna make this but instead of walnuts (nut allergy) and cranberries I’m gonna try it with blue berries
Nora Rusev says
That sounds delicious, April!
Shelley Oliver says
How did that work with blueberries?
Kerry says
What kind of bread did you use?
Nora says
Kerry, I used a regular loaf of white bread and cut it into thickish slices, then into cubes. Hope that helps!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Definitely craving a massive bowlful of this bread pudding right now Nora, it looks so comforting and delicious. Your little girl is the cutest ever too – gorgeous pics!
Nora says
Thanks so much Thalia! Wish I could send some over 🙂
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
This looks so very delicious! That crusty bottom part looks BOMB!! 😀 😀
Nora says
Haha, yes, that was the best part of the entire thing! And the caramel sauce, oh the caramel sauce… 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
This slow cooker bread pudding looks AMAZING! I want to grab a spoon and dig in!
Nora says
Thank you Natalie! That’s what my husband did right after I took the pictures – I could hardly make him wait 😉
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Nora, your daughter is beautiful!!! love seeing those photos! and love this cranberry walnut bread pudding!! and made in the slow cooker?! Winning! love this!
Nora says
Thank you so much Alice!
maggi g says
I cant wait to try this recipe. my mom used to make this when I was young and I always loved it.
your baby is just beautiful, by the way.
Nora says
Oh I love those childhood memories around food! Thank you so much Maggi!
Levan @ MyWifeMakes.com says
OMG the caramel sauce… Looks like a steam of heaven! Cranberry Walnut Bread for the win as well! I wonder, is it possible to squeeze in some raspberries into the recipe? I’m imagining all sorts of wonderful fruit combinations. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your wonderful creation! This looks absolutely perfect for the holiday season. 🙂
Levan
Levan @ MyWifeMakes.com says
Stream, not steam. Stupid iPad! Haha!
Nora says
Story of my life, haha!
Nora says
Thank you Levan! I’m not 100% certain about fruit in the bread pudding – I’m sure it would taste divine but it might totally whack off the liquid content! Especially juicy fruit like berries. But it’s always worth a try 🙂
Crystal | Apples & Sparkle says
This bread pudding sounds to-die-for! Your little family is just the cutest! : )
Nora says
Thank you so much Crystal!
Kathryn says
Nora, I don’t find my kids have decent sleep during the day until 4-5 months, really closer to 5! That’s awesome she’s sleeping so well at night! I’m loving these recipes. So great.
Nora says
I’m so glad you’re telling me this Kathryn! I guess it’s just a matter of waiting! We don’t have great nights every night – sometimes she’s up and ready to play at 2am.
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
I’ve never made bread pudding before, and this post has me thinking that’s sort of bananas. This looks SO GOOD!!!
Nora says
Bread pudding is the best! We had it on our wedding dessert buffet and I have been dreaming of it ever since 🙂