Bread pudding isn’t just a great way to use up stale bread (that’s just a side benefit). It also makes a wonderful brunch dish, easy breakfast for a special day, or even a dessert, topped with caramel sauce, maple syrup, or vanilla sauce. This sweet casserole is often rich in dairy, but this dairy-free bread pudding is made without milk and without butter of any kind. It can be made the same day, or you can prepare it ahead and bake it in the morning.
Classic Dairy-Free Bread Pudding that’s Moist, Delicious, and Butterless
Years ago, a reader named Jonathan submitted a recipe for dairy-free bread pudding. It was an entry in a recipe contest we held. His recipe held promise, but was a little too vague in the ingredients and directions. So we’ve used his version, in combination with a beloved recipe from CD Kitchen, to create this everyday dairy-free bread pudding recipe.
This is a very moist, sweet, and delicious bread pudding. It’s naturally butter-less and oil-free, but I’ve also included options for sweetness, adjusting the moisture, and making a larger batch. Don’t be afraid to play around with the recipe, trying different add-ins and flavors. But if you do plan on drizzling it with a sweet sauce, or topping it with dairy-free ice cream, I recommend using the reduced sugar option.
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Bread Pudding
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, oil-free, and vegetarian.
- 8 slices stale/dry dairy-free bread, cubed (gluten-free, if needed)
- ½ cup raisins
- 4 cups unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage, divided (see Milk Beverage Note below)
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- Pinch salt
- Grease a 2-quart (like an 11x7-inch) baking dish. Add the bread cubes and raisins, toss together, and spread in an even layer.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the 2 cups milk beverage, eggs, sugar, and vanilla until the sugar is dissolve. Add the remaining 2 cups milk beverage, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, and salt, and mix on low just until combined.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes. Let it sit and soak for about 30 minutes, and then preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Bake the dairy-free bread pudding for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until set and golden brown.
Milk Beverage Note: I recommend using a richer milk beverage, not a very thin or very low fat one. You can alternatively use all or part dairy-free creamer, or use lite canned coconut milk for half of the milk beverage.
Sweetener Variations: You can substitute coconut sugar or reduce the sugar to ¾ cup for a less sweet bread pudding. Or, substitute ¾ cup packed brown sugar for a different flavor.
More Dairy-Free Bread Pudding Recipes
Pumpkin Pie Bread Pudding with Warm Spiced Maple Syrup
Chocolate Challah Bread Pudding
Slow Cooker Vegan Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding
19 Comments
I used full fat oat milk and 4 Chia seed “eggs”, I didn’t have raisins in the house so I used a small handful of vegan chocolate chips, it was a hit, I also found vegan brioche bread at Trader Joe’s, I’m a hero to my vegan daughter, and everyone else loved it too!
That’s wonderful it worked so well! Thank you for your feedback and sharing your successful modifications Susan.
Your instructions say to grease the dish but what do you grease it with if you’re wanting a dairy free and oil free vegatarian recipe?
You can line it with parchment paper.
I made this and it is soooo good. I used 3 cups if Bonsoy and 1 cup of coconut milk. Also used mostly Stevia and a little raw sugar. Served with vanilla So Good and it’s heavenly 😋😍
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it Kate, and thank you for sharing your modifications.
Did I mess where you say specifically what kind of dairy free milk beverage to use? As someone who is very new to this I would have no idea where to start.
Hi Karrie, it’s in the notes, at the bottom of the recipe. There are a lot of different types you can use, I just recommend using a richer one if you can. This really varies by brand and type. For multi-purpose, I often use coconut milk beverage, and as noted, you can use lite canned coconut milk even. But other types will work well too.
I’ve never heard of a bread pudding without sugar. Is something missing here?
I agree, it’s different. The almond milk beverage they use is sweetened, plus the addition of raisins. And you can optionally drizzle it with maple syrup or a sauce when serving.
I was thinking the same thing..no sugar???..
I was actually in the process of updating the recipe! It is modified now, and yes, it definitely includes some sweetener.
What is the approximate measurements of the 8 slices of bread?
I’m no sure – 8 slices from a standard bread loaf. Usually they’re about 3/4-inch thick I believe. Based on online calculators, that’s about half a standard loaf or about 6 cups of cubes.
What is a “half loaf of bread”? Bread loaves vary considerably in size, without even including a baguette.
Hmm, this is a contributed recipe, as noted, so I can’t say for certain. But I would assume a standard 1-pound loaf. Bread puddings are fairly forgiving, so a little bigger or smaller loaf should work fine. You can even add a little more bread if it looks like it will be too eggy (is too soupy and not absorbing enough liquid).
Lovely recipe! Made it with egg nog flavored almond milk. All loved it. Thanks.
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing your feedback and modification.
this was very useful finally a website forpeople that can not or choose not to drink or eat diary i can be a human now
thumbs up for this one i can do my work in class now and not have to sit out lessons because i can not have diary 🙂