Pineapple Upside-Down Bread Pudding contains all the wonderful fruity flavors of the traditional upside-down cake but in bread pudding form! This bread pudding cake has a caramelized top layer with a super moist, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth interior.
Pineapple Upside-down Cake makes me think of Spring. I don’t know, maybe it’s the pineapple maraschino combo.
I always have that fruit combo in my favorite cocktail!
And I have this cocktail on the beach.
I go to the beach in the Spring and Summer.
So hot weather equals pineapple maraschino combo equals Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.
See how that works?
See how my brain works?
Beware, it’s a pretty scary place!
I’m so excited to share this Pineapple Upside-Down Bread Pudding with you today. I normally am scheduled out on the blog about three weeks ahead. I’m so excited about sharing this that I rearranged to post it earlier!
I had a brainstorm (my brain was working overtime!). I had old bread I needed to use, but I wanted pineapple something! So this fabulously tasty Pineapple Upside-down Bread Pudding was born!
The butter and brown sugar cook and caramelize making a crispy outside. The pineapple and cherries almost turn into candy during the process. Have you ever had candied orange or other fruit? That’s what I’m talking about! Even though the outside is crispy and the fruit is caramelized, the center of this bread pudding is smooth and creamy.
This bread pudding has a slightly sweet glaze that the brown sugar and butter create but it’s not an overly sweet or over rich dessert. The cherries offer a tart tangy-ness which is the real kicker. The combo of the buttery brown sugar and cherry juice seeping into the cake will be the reason you can stop eating this dessert! It’s the reason I had to give it to a friend so I wouldn’t eat the entire cake!
I made this bread pudding twice in order to perfect it before sharing. I added ground cinnamon the second time and it made a huge difference. The cinnamon gave a nice back note of flavor and paired well with the pineapple.
Are you familiar with making bread pudding? It’s an economical dessert to make. That’s why a lot of restaurants have it on the menu. It’s a way for restaurants to use their old bread and not have that waste. Actually, it’s preferable to use old bread rather than fresh bread. Not old like it has mold specks on it, but old as in slightly dried out. When bread is dry it will absorb the custard better. I usually get french bread that has been discounted at the grocery store for my bread pudding. I save about 50% buying old bread. It adds up.
This cake is best fresh out of the oven maybe even with vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed it without ice cream and it was fantastic. If it isn’t devoured immediately you want to store this moist cake in the refrigerator. Of course, you could eat it cold, but I recommend heating the leftovers up one slice at a time in the oven or toaster oven. This will crisp up the outside again. Although popping it in the microwave is super easy and quick, to me it changes the texture and for once, I’d rather be patient and heat it in the oven.
Pineapple Upside-Down Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup butter I don't recommend substituing margarine or coconut oil in this recipe
- 1 pound French bread you will get about 10 cups of bread cubes once they're cut
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla yes, tablespoon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 7 slices pineapple
- 7 maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Mix evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk together.
- Beat eggs, add to milk and stir.
- Pour milk mixture over cubed bread in a large bowl.
- Allow to sit 10 minutes.
- Wrap heavy aluminum foil around bottom of 10 inch spring-form pan. Heat oven to 375 degrees and melt butter in oven in the spring form pan. Remove from oven and sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter.
- Drain pineapples and cherries. Place one slice of pineapple in center of pan over butter and brown sugar. Place other pineapple rings around the center one. Place a cherry inside each pineapple ring. (You can fill every gap with a cherry if you wish.)
- Carefully, spoon breading mixture over pineapple slices. Press firmly down.
- Bake in a 375° oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Center will be set and bread golden brown.
- Allow cake to cool 10 minutes in pan before inverting on a serving platter.
Notes
- You can substitute 1%, 2% or whole milk for evaporated milk, it will be slightly less creamy.
- I used a 10 inch springform pan for this recipe. You could also use a cast-iron skillet.
- Day old bread is good for this recipe as it will absorb more of the custard. If you don't have old bread, cut the bread into cubes and dry out in a 200 degree oven for 10 minutes.
Nutrition
One month ago: Raspberry Sauce
One year ago: The Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Glaze
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MB says
Will canned pineapple work for this or should I use fresh pineapple? Sounds delicious.
Paula says
You can used canned.
Nadine Watts says
I’m making this for a friend, his favorite cake is pineapple upside down , I love bread pudding! Will use an iron skillet I think. My old favorite uses stale hot dog buns. Makes a silky textured pudding. My sister’s specialty!
Angelica says
Loved this recipe. Wasn’t sure my DH, who loves pineapple upside down cake, would love it but turned out to be a huge hit! A definite keeper, thanks.
Angelica
Shelley says
Hi…….This looks great I am wanting to make this for the fourth and was wondering if you can use a different type of pan and if you can maybe double this for a bigger pan?
Paula says
I used a spring form pan so it would be easier to dump out. You don’t have to dump it and leave it in the pan like most bread puddings are served. If you don’t plan to dump it, you can use any shape pan. You can also double the recipe and use a larger pan. I would not plan on dumping it out if you use a larger pan, this size was hard enough to dump and not break/crumble.
Mariah says
these are two of my favorites! any tips on how to make in a slow cooker (don’t have access to an oven/stove)
Jennie @ The Diary of a Real Housewife says
Yum! This looks so good! I remember my mom making a pinapple upside down cake when we were kids! I will have to try your recipe!
-Jennie
thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com/
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy says
This is so impressive! What a gorgeous upside down bread pudding! A perfect summer dessert! Pinned!
Paula says
Thanks Jen! I go to sleep at night thinking about unique food creations, do you do that? I was really pleased with it, thanks for visiting and sharing!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Love this twist on pineapple upside down cake or amped up bread pudding! Thanks so much for sharing
Jenn says
Omg this was sooo delicious!! My husbands two favorite desserts are pineapple upside down cake and bread pudding and this is the perfect combo:) we loved it thanks!!
Paula says
Thanks! I’m so glad you did, thanks for letting me know!
Joanne T Ferguson says
G’day and yum! Reminds me so much of childhood!
Viewed as part of Freedom Fridays Party
Cheers! Joanne
Maria says
I love how you made the traditional cake into a bread pudding! This looks so delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kristina & Millie says
oh my you just combined two of my fav desserts…..I think i am in heaven!! I am going to try this and if it is half as good as it looks and sounds, I will be eating this every single day for the rest of my entire life!!!
Paula says
I’m making it again this weekend, I’m a dessert snob and I totally couldn’t quit eating it! Hope you like it!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
Now this is so clever, Paula! 🙂 I love this take on pineapple upside-down cake!
Pinned & sharing.
Paula says
Thank you so much, Carrie. I’m actually in love with it, for once my crazy idea actually turned out! 🙂
naila khan says
That’s recipe looks awesome but u have 2 the recipe through some video or some pictures at least that shows how u can make this . I want 2 try this badly but without pictures of making or without some video by just using the recipe card its being difficult 2 try it!
Paula says
I have very detailed instructions in the post and in the recipe directions.
Cet says
Apparently typing complete words r 2 hard 2
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
Paula, I’m seriously drooling right now! Loving the whole caramel action with the brown sugar and butter is amazing. I love this kind of cake, pinning to make for this season!
Amy | Club Narwhal says
Well, I’m just bowled over by this gorgeous creation! Pineapple upside down cake is one of my favorites and I love this bread pudding twist–I would definitely scarf this whole thing down in a second 🙂
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Bread pudding meets a pineapple upside down cake with butter, sweet cond milk, brown sugar, can only imagine how GOOD this is! Totally fat free, too, right 🙂 WORTH IT!
Paula says
Totally fat, sugar and carb free 😉 I say we have a No Guilt Dessert Day every Tuesday!!
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos says
This is looks like heaven on a plate! What an amazing combo!!
Paula says
Thank you so much, I’m really proud of this one 🙂 and I ate wayyyy too much of it!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
That looks fabulous, Paula! I absolutely love bread pudding and have not made it in the longest time! Thanks for the inspiration! I would love it if you would link it up with us at Tasty Tuesdays!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
One of my fav cakes, love this!
Matt Robinson says
I love bread pudding and this is so cool that you made it that way! I may just have to try this sometime. Love it!
Paula says
Thanks so much! I didn’t know if it would be firm enough and hold together, but I loved the way it turned out.
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
What an inventive idea! I suspect this version of bread pudding would lure even the non-bread pudding eaters. I personally love bread pudding, so many awesome variations. However, there are people who don’t give it the respect it deserves. I suspect they had a bad run in with dry and rather tasteless bread pudding and wasn’t adventuresome enough to take the plunge again. It really did turn out beautifully.
Paula says
I do like bread pudding, I haven’t always, but now I can make one in my sleep I do them so much. I can honestly tell you, this is by far my favorite bread pudding if not my favorite dessert ever!