Guava Caramel Bread Pudding (Printable)

Creamy custard-soaked bread with guava and caramel layers, finished with pecans.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Dairy Base

01 - 8 cups day-old brioche or challah, cubed
02 - 2 cups whole milk
03 - 1 cup heavy cream
04 - 4 large eggs
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Guava & Caramel Layer

08 - 1 cup guava paste, cut into small cubes
09 - 1/2 cup caramel sauce (plus extra for drizzling)

→ Nut Topping

10 - 3/4 cup chopped pecans

→ Butter for Preparation

11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (plus more for greasing)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together milk, heavy cream, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined and smooth.
03 - Add cubed brioche or challah to the custard mixture. Gently stir to coat all bread pieces evenly. Let soak for 10 minutes to absorb the liquid.
04 - Fold in the guava paste cubes and half of the chopped pecans into the soaked bread mixture.
05 - Pour half of the soaked bread mixture into the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with half the caramel sauce. Add remaining bread mixture on top and drizzle with the rest of the caramel sauce.
06 - Sprinkle the remaining pecans evenly over the surface. Drizzle melted butter across the top layer.
07 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown and set in the center. If the top begins to brown too quickly, tent loosely with aluminum foil.
08 - Let the pudding cool slightly for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce if desired.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The contrast between warm, custard soaked bread and pockets of tart guava is absolutely addictive
  • It comes together surprisingly fast but tastes like something that took all day to make
02 -
  • The bread must be slightly stale or it will turn into mush instead of holding its texture
  • Don't skip the resting time after baking or the slices will fall apart when you try to serve them
03 -
  • If your guava paste is too hard to cube, microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds to soften it slightly
  • A water bath in the oven creates an even creamier texture, though it's not strictly necessary
Go Back