Chocolate Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce

by Alli

This shop, Chocolate Bread Pudding, was compensated by Collective Bias, Inc.

When I created Chocolate Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce, I had no idea it would go viral . . . with my family. I hit it out of the ballpark with this one.

Pralines are a Southern Thing

Pralines haven’t always been a southern thing. Those delectable confections of almonds and caramelized sugar were brought over to New Orleans by French settlers.

Due to almonds being in short supply and the South’s beloved pecans in abundance, New Orlean chefs ditched the almonds and added pecans and cream. That’s how the south’s pralines were born.

I’ve turned pralines into a sauce that will rival any chef’s creation. Keep reading for the easy praline sauce recipe and my delicious Chocolate Bread Pudding.

Chocolate Bread Pudding topped with BUTTERFINGERยฎ Cup Eggs and drizzled with homemade praline sauce

With Easter right around the corner and brunch in high demand, I decided to create a Chocolate Bread Pudding.

We won’t be making pralines, but we will be making the best praline sauce I’ve ever tasted. Relax, this entire dish is so easy to make and your family will love it.

The crunchiness of the bread, the chocolate and peanut butter goodness of BUTTERFINGERยฎ Peanut Butter Cup Eggs slowly melting over the pudding, and the smooth, silky deliciousness of the praline sauce takes this bread pudding to the next level.

RECIPE UPDATE: I’m pretty sure the Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup Eggs have been discontinued. I can no longer find them at the grocery store.

However, Butterfinger does have NestEggs, which are bite-sized peanut butter chocolate eggs. The 10-ounce package will work perfectly in this recipe. 

You could also replace the Butterfinger Eggs with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in this recipe. 

Ingredients At A Glance (full printable recipe card down below)

  • eggs
  • heavy whipping cream
  • milk
  •  dark brown sugar
  • pure vanilla extract
  • salt
  • ground nutmeg
  • day-old French bread loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 7 cups)
  • coarsely chopped toasted pecans
  • BUTTERFINGERยฎ Cup Eggs 6pk (for topping the bread pudding)

Praline Sauce

  • firmly packed brown sugar
  • half-and-half
  • butter
  • vanilla extract
  • toasted pecans

Time Saver Tip

Helpful Hint:  To save time, I make the bread pudding and the praline sauce the night before Easter. But don’t wait until Easter to try this. Go ahead and make it now. It’s that good!

How to Make the Bread Pudding

To make the bread pudding, cut a french bread loaf into 1″ cubes. I used whole-wheat french bread, but you can use white, too.

How to Make the Best Chocolate Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce

In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy whipping cream, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and ground nutmeg. Pour over bread crumbs and gently stir to coat all the bread cubes. Let sit for at least an hour or overnight.

Chocolate Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce

The next morning, I let the bread pudding come to room temperature and sprinkle toasted pecans over the top before baking at 350ยบ for approximately 45 minutes.  

Top with Butterfinger Eggs

This is where the chocolate part comes in!

As soon as the bread pudding finishes baking, I add the BUTTERFINGERยฎ eggs. It’s the perfect topping for my Praline Bread Pudding. 

The Best Ever Chocolate Bread Pudding with Homemade Praline Sauce

It’s a Masterpiece

Y’all, it has to be said. I’ve created a masterpiece and I’ve been patting myself on the back ever since I took the first bite.

My daughter happened to stop by the day I took this recipe for a test drive. I had just taken the bread pudding out of the oven and was placing the BUTTERFINGERยฎ Eggs on top. She said it was the best stuff she had ever tasted. I totally agree!

Drizzle Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce

After scooping up my yummy bread pudding into pretty bowls, I top it off with a drizzle of praline sauce and whipped cream. This bread pudding is the star of my brunch buffet!

Chocolate Bread Pudding with Homemade Praline Sauce Drizzled Over the Top - anallievent.com

How to Make Praline Sauce

To make my easy no-fail praline sauce, combine brown sugar, half & half, and 1/2 cup butter in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for one minute.

How to Make Praline Sauce for Chocolate Bread Pudding

Remove from heat, add vanilla and pecans, and let cool.

Chocolate Bread Pudding with Toasted Pecans and Praline Sauce

How To Store This Chocolate-Topped Bread Pudding

Store leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days.

The praline sauce is also good drizzled over vanilla ice cream and topped with chopped BUTTERFINGERยฎ Peanut Butter Cup Eggs. 

If the praline sauce gets too thick after being in the fridge, nuke it in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Stir before serving.

How to Toast The Pecans

To toast pecans, spread them in a single layer in a baking pan. Bake at 350ยฐ until golden brown, stirring often. Watch carefully. Nuts will be toasted in 6-10 minutes.

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Do you serve brunch on Easter? I do hope you try my Chocolate Bread Pudding. It’s so easy to double or triple the recipe. 

Yield: 12-14 servings

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Krispie Kreme Doughnuts Bread Pudding Chocolate Praline Bread Pudding

A delicious bread pudding is topped with chocolate Butterfinger eggs and drizzled with homemade praline sauce.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1-1/2 cups milk
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 (16-oz.) day-old French bread loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 7 cups)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans
  • BUTTERFINGERยฎ Cup Eggs 6pk (for topping the bread pudding)

Praline Sauce

  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecans

Instructions

  1. Stir together the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Add bread cubes, stirring to coat thoroughly. Let stand for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to ensure an even coating. Stir in pecans.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish; pour the bread mixture into the dish. Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly around the edges and firm in the center, about 45 minutes.
  3. As soon as the bread pudding comes out of the oven, top it with the Butterfinger Eggs. Serve warm with Praline Sauce.
  4. To make the praline sauce, combine the brown sugar, half and half, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in pecans and vanilla.

Notes

Update: I believe the Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup Eggs have been discontinued. You can replace the eggs with Butterfinger NestEggs Bite-Sized Chocolate Eggs (10 oz.) OR Reese Peanut Butter Cups.

Nutrition Information

Yield

14

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 502Total Fat 31gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 15gCholesterol 115mgSodium 358mgCarbohydrates 49gFiber 2gSugar 30gProtein 9g

Did you make this recipe?

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***Originally published March 2015 and updated March 2021 

 

 

25 comments

Chris Lewis March 11, 2016 - 5:52 am

WOW, this looks delicious and o easy to make. I know my kids would absolutely love this. Thanks for sharing it and now I need to get to the store to try it myself!

Reply
Kita March 11, 2016 - 7:10 am

Bread pudding is in M top 3 favorite desserts and I just bought Butterfingers for Easter candy. Now to make your recipe!

Reply
Alli March 11, 2016 - 7:16 am

My daughter doesn’t like bread pudding and she fell head over heels in love with this one. It’s a must make! ๐Ÿ™‚

Reply
Esther | The Cuteness March 11, 2016 - 7:10 am

Are you kidding me?! That looks AMAZING. I’ve been gluten free for quite awhile now, and I seriously miss delicious desserts like bread pudding. It’s one of my all-time faves. I should try to make this gluten free!

Reply
Alli March 11, 2016 - 7:15 am

Yes, you should! It’s that good!

Reply
Melanie March 11, 2016 - 7:11 am

This looks awesome. I may have to try this out a few times before Easter! [client]

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Alli March 11, 2016 - 7:14 am

Yes, you must try it! It’s amazing.

Reply
Shirley Wood March 11, 2016 - 7:17 am

Alli, shame on you!!! This looks amazing and only has 5 ingredients. I have been looking for more recipes to use leftover bread! I’m saving this recipe and making plans to prepare it.

Reply
Alli March 11, 2016 - 7:48 am

You really must make this, Shirley! Part of my family doesn’t even like bread pudding and they fell in love with this one. ๐Ÿ™‚

Reply
Zan March 11, 2016 - 9:16 am

Seriously, I have got to make this! Since I saw the first photo I wanted to keep on scrolling to see more. But of course, I had to read the instructions first. Oh my, I am adding the ingredients to my list. And I had no idea that the butterfingers had no artificial flavors and colors. We love bread pudding and this would be a hit with the sauce, pecans, butterfingers – what a combo!

Reply
Pam March 11, 2016 - 12:29 pm

I love a good bread pudding, probably because I’m from the South. I haven’t made one in forever, but this one is really tempting. I love that you used Butterfingers on top.

Reply
Heather @ GirlGoneMom.com March 11, 2016 - 1:07 pm

Oh my this looks completely divine. It’s the perfect recipe for Easter and the end of Lent!

Reply
Dina March 11, 2016 - 1:23 pm

Seriously? this looks amazing…I’m going to need you to bring that to my house…right now…pretty please! lol My mom loves praline I’ll have to make this for her.

Reply
Alli March 14, 2016 - 7:15 am

I’ll be right over with chocolate bread pudding in hand.

Reply
Travel Blogger March 11, 2016 - 1:32 pm

Oh my gosh! This looks so incredible! I love a good dessert, and I have been trying to find one that will top anything my mother-in-law makes for Easter lol. I am totally going to make this.

Reply
Alli March 14, 2016 - 7:14 am

This will top it by a mile! ๐Ÿ™‚

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Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai March 11, 2016 - 1:54 pm

Oh. My. Lord. this looks heavenly! I love Butterfingers and these Butterfinger Eggs are so cute. What a fun idea for an Eastery dessert. ๐Ÿ™‚

~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai

Reply
Angelic Sinova March 11, 2016 - 6:50 pm

Is there anyway I can just jump into this post and eat everything?! That Chocolate Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce looks so super yummy <3

Reply
Chantal March 11, 2016 - 11:38 pm

Oh my goodness, this looks like such a yummy Easter recipe! I have never seen the Butterfinger eggs, I wonder if we have them in Canada!

Reply
Miles L. March 12, 2016 - 8:04 am

This would be a great dessert or snack for the holiday. I have a friend whoโ€™d love to try this.

Reply
Anosa March 12, 2016 - 11:29 am

It looks so good! Haven’t seen anything like this before, I may have to give it a try but with similar products available in the UK.

Reply
Jaime Nicole March 12, 2016 - 1:08 pm

This looks like such a yummy dish, I would love to whip this up for the kids – I would definitely be the hero of the afternoon.

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michele d March 13, 2016 - 9:33 pm

I made bread pudding during Thanksgiving for my mom. She asked me to make it for her and it was the first time making it for me. I loved it so much. I bet your chocolate bread pudding would be a hit in my house too. Looks yummy.

Reply
Mimi "MimiCuteLips" Green March 13, 2016 - 11:48 pm

This looks yummy, I’ve never had bread pudding before. I love the festive Easter Eggs.

Reply
Audrey March 15, 2016 - 6:07 pm

This looks yummy!! I would love to be a taste tester for you!

Reply

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