Transforming humble ingredients into an extraordinary dessert has never been easier, thanks to the magic of pressure cooking. Our Instant Pot bread pudding with raisin bread is a true game-changer, quickly becoming one of our most beloved sweet treats. Whether you own a Ninja Foodi or a classic Instant Pot, this recipe promises a wonderfully moist and flavorful pudding, beautifully cooked in a mini bundt pan. If you’ve enjoyed our homemade banana bread pudding, prepare to be delighted by this perfectly portioned pressure cooker version, designed for convenience and deliciousness.
Have you ventured into the delightful world of Instant Pot recipes yet, specifically baking with your pressure cooker? Our Instant Pot bread pudding is an absolute triumph! It’s so incredibly good that it transcends traditional meal categories. While it makes a fantastic dessert, it also shines as a standout item for a special brunch or a comforting breakfast treat. This recipe has quickly earned its place among our top favorite Instant Pot creations here on The Typical Mom blog, and we’re confident it will become a staple in your kitchen too.
For those new to “baking” in a pressure cooker, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how straightforward it is. Over the years, especially during festive seasons, we’ve cherished making our famous raisin bread pudding in the oven. However, the convenience and superior moisture retention of the multicooker piqued our interest, leading us to discover how to create an equally beautiful and even more tender bread pudding using this modern kitchen marvel. The results, as you’ll soon discover, are truly impressive.
Mastering Pressure Cooker Bread Pudding: Adaptable to Any Brand
Regardless of the brand of pressure cooker you own – be it a Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot, or Crockpot Express – this recipe is entirely adaptable. All these electric multicookers feature a high-pressure function, making them perfect for this decadent bread pudding. Our guide focuses on general pressure cooking techniques, so feel free to use whichever appliance you have readily available. We particularly enjoy developing easy Ninja Foodi recipes and desserts, but the principles apply across the board.
If pressure cooking is a new adventure for you, our blog is a treasure trove of simple one-pot meal recipes and helpful resources. To ensure your bread pudding experience is a success, here are a few fundamental tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our Instant Pot recipes page. We consistently add new and exciting recipes each week!
- For a better understanding of cooking times for various ingredients in your pressure cooker, PRINT this handy guide: Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet.
- We HIGHLY recommend investing in a non-stick inner pot. It significantly reduces the chance of food sticking and makes cleanup much easier.
- While it’s useful to know how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautéing, a non-stick liner minimizes potential issues.
For your reference, all our recipe creations, including this delicious bread pudding, are developed using a 6-quart Instant Pot model. Its versatility and consistent performance make it a kitchen staple.
The Advantages of Baking Desserts in Your Pressure Cooker
You might be wondering, “Why bake a dessert in a pressure cooker when I have a perfectly good oven?” It’s a valid question! Let us share the compelling reasons why this method has become a go-to for us and might just revolutionize your baking, especially for dishes like our incredibly moist pressure cooker bread pudding.
- Perfect Portions: The beauty of using a mini bundt pan in a pressure cooker is that it yields just enough for a family of five. This means fewer tempting leftovers, helping with portion control and preventing overindulgence. 😉
- Beat the Heat: During those sweltering summer months, turning on a hot oven is the last thing anyone wants to do, especially when your air conditioner is working overtime. The pressure cooker allows you to bake delicious treats without heating up your entire kitchen, keeping your home cool and comfortable.
- Unmatched Moisture: This is arguably the biggest advantage! Pressure cooking creates an incredibly moist environment, resulting in baked goods that are exceptionally tender and never dry. Your bread pudding will have an irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Oven Freedom: Freeing up your main oven is a huge plus, particularly during holidays or when hosting gatherings. If you’re preparing multiple brunch menu items or a multi-course dinner, using your pressure cooker for dessert means you won’t have to juggle oven space, simplifying your meal prep.
Throughout my journey making various bread pudding recipes, I’ve often relied on day-old French bread for its ideal texture. However, for this particular raisin bread pudding, I decided to take a different approach. By using a loaf of raisin bread, the results were nothing short of incredible! The natural sweetness and soft texture of the raisin bread elevated this pressure cooker dessert to new heights.
While I’ve also experimented with oven-baked versions featuring a fruit kick, like our apple pie bread pudding, using your pressure cooker is an excellent choice when you want to avoid heating up your entire home. You could even adapt the apple pie bread pudding recipe to use raisin bread for an added twist. We encourage you to try different variations and discover your personal favorite!
Elevating Your Bread Pudding: Decadent Sauce Ideas
A truly exceptional bread pudding is often perfected with a complementary sauce or topping. The beauty is in the versatility! You can opt for a simple yet elegant glaze or explore richer, more complex flavors. Here are some fantastic ideas for your bread pudding sauce:
- Classic Powdered Sugar Glaze: A quick and easy option, simply whisk powdered sugar with a touch of milk until you reach your desired consistency. It provides a sweet, delicate finish.
- Rich Cream Sauce: For a more decadent experience, a sauce made with heavy cream offers a luxurious, smooth texture that melts beautifully over the warm pudding.
- Bourbon Sauce: For those who appreciate a deeper, more sophisticated flavor profile, a splash of bourbon in your cream sauce adds a wonderful punch and aromatic warmth.
- Fruit Pie Filling: If you’re looking for a burst of fruity goodness, spooning a warmed fruit pie filling over the top is a fantastic idea. We did this with our Strawberry bread pudding, and it was absolutely scrumptious!
To achieve the best results for your pressure cooker bread pudding, a small, seven-inch bundt pan is highly recommended. We find it works significantly better than a standard round springform pan because the bundt shape allows for more even baking. This prevents the common issue of the center being underdone while the edges become overly dry. Simply acquire a good quality mini bundt pan and a mixing bowl to combine your ingredients, and you’re well on your way to bread pudding perfection.
Key Ingredients for the Perfect Instant Pot Bread Pudding
The foundation of any great recipe lies in its ingredients. For this delightful pressure cooker raisin bread pudding, we’ve carefully selected components that ensure maximum flavor and optimal texture. Here’s a closer look at the stars of our dish:
- Raisin Bread: We highly recommend using Sunmaid Raisin bread, cut into generous, bite-sized cubes. Ideally, leave the bread out on the counter for a few hours (or even overnight) to achieve a slightly “day-old,” drier texture. This allows the bread to better absorb the custard mixture without becoming soggy.
- Eggs: Use large eggs, and for best results, ensure they are at room temperature before whisking. This helps them incorporate more smoothly into the liquid mixture.
- Whipping and/or Heavy Cream: For a truly rich and creamy custard, heavy cream or whipping cream is superior to regular milk due to its higher fat content.
- Melted Butter: A touch of melted butter adds richness and helps create that wonderful, slightly crispy crust on the edges when the pudding sets.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is a must for its warm, sweet aroma and flavor. Almond extract can also be a delightful alternative if you prefer.
- Cinnamon: We adore the comforting warmth that a good quality cinnamon adds to this bread pudding, complementing the raisins beautifully.
- Applesauce: This is a secret ingredient that contributes incredible moisture and a subtle fruity sweetness. Our pressure cooker applesauce (made without oats) is perfect here because you can make it chunkier, which adds fantastic texture to the bread pudding. Plus, you’ll have extra for snacks!
- Maple Syrup: Opt for real maple syrup over artificial varieties. Its deep, natural sweetness and distinct flavor are irreplaceable in this recipe.
- Vanilla or Cream Cheese Frosting: While optional, a light drizzle of melted vanilla or cream cheese frosting over the warm bread pudding adds an extra layer of indulgence and visual appeal.
As mentioned, a 7-inch bundt pan is ideal for this recipe, providing the best shape and even cooking. Remember to thoroughly grease the inside of your pan with cooking spray, even though the melted butter in the recipe will also offer some non-stick properties. This ensures an easy release of your beautifully baked bread pudding.
Flexible Ingredients: Adapting Your Bread Pudding Recipe
Dietary needs and personal preferences often call for substitutions, and this Instant Pot bread pudding recipe is wonderfully flexible. Here are some alternatives you can consider without compromising too much on flavor or texture:
- Dairy-Free Options: For those avoiding dairy, a dairy-free butter alternative works perfectly in place of traditional butter.
- Applesauce Alternatives: If you don’t have applesauce on hand, sour cream or Greek yogurt can be used to add moisture and a slight tanginess to the custard.
- Sweetener Swaps: Agave nectar is an excellent substitute for maple syrup if you’re looking for an alternative natural sweetener.
- Milk Alternatives: You can certainly make this bread pudding with coconut milk for a dairy-free option. While it might not be quite as creamy or firm up as much due to the lower fat content compared to heavy cream, it will still yield a delicious result. I’ve successfully used coconut milk when making French toast for my husband, so it’s a viable choice.
- Topping Variations: While the recipe calls for frosting, you truly don’t need much more sweetness. However, if you desire an extra touch, a simple glaze made by whisking powdered sugar with a bit of milk or water is always a winner.
The Importance of Foil: Preventing a Soggy Bread Pudding
When baking in a pressure cooker, whether it’s an Instant Pot or a Ninja Foodi, a crucial step is to cover the top of your bundt pan with aluminum foil. This isn’t just an optional step; it’s essential for achieving the perfect texture for your bread pudding. The reason is simple: as the pressure cooker builds steam and cooks, condensation forms on the underside of the lid. Without foil, this moisture would drip directly onto your bread pudding, making the top soggy and compromising its texture. In contrast, when baking in a conventional oven, this step is unnecessary as the cooking environment is dry.
Before you dive into the recipe, make sure you have all your tools ready: your trusty mini bundt pan, aluminum foil, and a good mixing bowl for whisking the liquids. These simple preparations will ensure a smooth and enjoyable cooking process. You can find the full printable recipe card below, complete with detailed instructions for this incredible pressure cooker dessert.
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Instant Pot Bread Pudding
Making this delightful raisin bread pudding in your Instant Pot is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Follow these steps for a perfectly moist and flavorful treat:
- Begin by cutting your raisin bread into uniform, bite-sized cubes. In a separate microwave-safe bowl, melt your butter until fully liquid.
- Pour the melted butter evenly into your greased mini bundt pan (a 7-inch pan works best).
- Distribute the cubed bread pieces over the melted butter in the bundt pan.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs (ideally at room temperature), maple syrup, whipping cream, applesauce, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Carefully pour this liquid mixture over the bread cubes in the bundt pan, ensuring all pieces are moistened.
- Cover the top of the bundt pan tightly with aluminum foil to prevent condensation from making the pudding soggy.
- Pour 1.5 cups of water into the bottom of your Instant Pot liner. Place the trivet (the metal rack that comes with your Instant Pot) in the middle.
- Gently lower the foil-covered bundt pan onto the trivet.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and ensure the steam release valve is set to the “Sealing” position.
- Set your Instant Pot to High Pressure Cook for 20 minutes.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) until all the steam has fully escaped and the float valve drops. This natural release is crucial for the pudding to set properly.
- Carefully open the lid, remove the bundt pan from the Instant Pot, and then remove the foil covering.
- Place the bundt pan on a cooling rack and allow the bread pudding to cool completely. This cooling period is vital, as the residual heat will continue to cook and solidify the egg custard inside the bundt pan, ensuring a firm yet tender texture.
- Once thoroughly cooled and the pudding has slightly pulled away from the edges of the pan, place a serving plate over the top of the bundt pan and carefully invert it to release the bread pudding.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of melted vanilla frosting, cream cheese frosting, or a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Enjoy!
Delightful Bread Pudding Bites: A Fun Twist
If you’re looking for a charming, bite-sized version of this delicious dessert, creating bread pudding bites is a fantastic idea! You’ll need an egg mold or silicone muffin molds, similar to what we use for our Instant Pot pancake bites with blueberries. The process is simple: follow the main recipe directions, but instead of pouring the mixture into a bundt pan, spoon it into the individual cavities of your egg mold or silicone molds.
These smaller portions will bake in approximately half the time, offering a quick and easy way to serve individual treats. My kids absolutely adore making and decorating these mini portions, much like they enjoy crafting Instant Pot churro bites or Instant Pot donuts for breakfast or dessert. It’s a fun, interactive way to enjoy bread pudding!
In essence, this method is somewhat akin to making an Instant Pot breakfast casserole, just on the sweeter side. If you’re using a Ninja Foodi, remember to use the separate pressure cooking lid (not the attached air fryer lid) for this recipe. Beyond that, the same principles and steps apply, ensuring consistently delicious results.
Instant Pot Raisin Bread Pudding Recipe
Equipment
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1 pressure cooker
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1 7″ bundt pan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 4 slices raisin bread, cubed, or day old bread
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature ideally
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 cup apple sauce, or pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
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Cut bread into cubes and melt butter. Pour melted butter into your greased 7-inch Instant Pot bundt pan.
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Sprinkle the cubed bread pieces into the pan, over the butter.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, whipping cream, applesauce, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread pieces in the bundt pan.
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Cover the bundt pan tightly with aluminum foil.
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Pour 1.5 cups of water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Place the trivet inside, then carefully lower the foil-covered bundt pan onto the trivet.
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Close the lid and set the steam release valve to “Sealing.” Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes.
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Once cooking is complete, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) until all steam has been released and the float valve drops.
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Carefully remove the bundt pan from the Instant Pot and remove the foil covering.
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Place the pan on a cooling rack and allow the bread pudding to cool completely. This crucial step allows the custard to finish setting and solidify.
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Once cooled, carefully invert the bundt pan onto a serving plate. Slice and serve with a spoonful of melted vanilla frosting or a scoop of ice cream.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 231kcal,
Carbohydrates: 22g,
Protein: 4g,
Fat: 13g,
Saturated Fat: 7g,
Cholesterol: 117mg,
Sodium: 134mg,
Potassium: 127mg,
Sugar: 14g,
Vitamin A: 515IU,
Vitamin C: 0.2mg,
Calcium: 57mg,
Iron: 0.8mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info