Nutella Croissant Bread Pudding

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
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Rich, indulgent Nutella Croissant Bread Pudding is made with real croissants, heavy cream, Nutella, cinnamon, and egg yolks. It’s a decadent dessert like no other! Plus, it’s easy to make ahead and reheat – perfection!

An Ultra-Indulgent Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding

Nutella croissant bread pudding is such a treat. How could it not be, with a roster of ingredients that includes not only Nutella (Nutella, you guys) but also flaky, buttery croissants and plenty of heavy cream? The generous addition of cinnamon gives the whole dish a comforting warmth. I love making this dish during the holidays – after all, nothing takes down your stress level like a sinfully delicious dessert.

Sure, it’s not a traditional Thanksgiving dessert with pumpkin. But seriously – it has loads of Nutella, and is perfectly acceptable to be eaten for breakfast or for dessert (with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, perhaps?). Also, it can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or the microwave. So even if you are thinking about your plans and already feel your blood pressure ramping up, take comfort in the thought that you can always whip up this easy make-ahead treat.

From top left: Eggs, sugar, half and half, Nutella, croissants, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon.

Ingredients

What will you need to make Nutella croissant bread pudding? Well, definitely Nutella and croissants! You will also need a few standard custard-making ingredients – nothing complicated. Here’s the full list:

  • Croissants: You’ll need about 8 large or 16 small croissants, preferably stale. It’s helpful if you can swing by your favorite bakery 2 – 3 days in advance and let the croissants sit at room temperature (not in an airtight container!) to go stale.
  • Nutella: This chocolate hazelnut spread is so flavorful and rich, you’ll want to eat it on everything! You can use store bought Nutella or go for some Homemade Nutella!
  • Eggs: I use a combination of whole eggs and egg yolks.
  • Heavy Cream: A pint of heavy whipping cream takes this bread pudding to whole new levels of goodness.
  • Half and Half: Similar to using a combo of whole eggs and egg yolks, I add some half and half to the cream to get the right amount of liquid.
  • Sugar: You can use regular granulated sugar, or substitute raw sugar.
  • Cinnamon: If you don’t care for cinnamon and chocolate together, you could leave this out – but it really adds a warm, holiday-ish twist!
  • Vanilla: Some pure vanilla extract gives the recipe a bakery-style depth of flavor.
  • Salt: Just a pinch, to bring out the best in the ingredients.
An edge piece of bread pudding with crispy sides, topped with ice cream and chocolate drizzle.

Is Bread Pudding Made from Old Bread?

Yes, if you want to make the best bread pudding, you really need to use stale bread. Not moldy, mind you! Just past its soft, squishy prime. The reason for this is that fresh bread is already moist and doesn’t really want to soak up the French-toast-like custard mixture.

Stale bread, which has had time to dry out, will absorb the cream and egg yolks like a sponge, and bake up into a perfectly moist, perfectly rich bread pudding. Technically, croissants are very airy and you could get away with using fresh ones, but I definitely recommend using stale ones if possible.

A square of chocolate-hazelnut bread pudding being lifted from a dish.

Let’s Bake!

It only takes a short time to throw this together, and then your oven does the rest. And as I mentioned earlier, you don’t have to schedule this for your special day! Instead, you can assemble and bake the Nutella croissant bread pudding ahead of time, and reheat it when you’re ready to serve.

Prep the Oven and Baking Dish. First things first: go ahead and get your oven preheating to 375°F, and then make sure your baking dish is ready by greasing it with butter or a neutral oil. You will want to use a large, fairly deep baking dish.

Sandwich the Croissants with Nutella. Now take all of your croissants, and slice each one in half lengthwise. Take one of the halves, and spread a generous spoonful or scoop of Nutella on it. Sandwich the matching half on top. Repeat with all the croissant pieces.

Small pieces of croissant sandwiched with Nutella, lining the bottom of a baking dish.

Chop the Croissants and Place Them in the Baking Dish. Next, on a clean cutting board with a sharp knife or bread knife, cut the croissant-Nutella sandwiches into chunks, about 1 – 2 inches in size. They don’t have to be perfect, just a good rough chop. Spread the chunks evenly into the greased baking dish.

Make the Custard Mixture. To make the custard, get out a large mixing bowl and whisk the eggs, egg yolks, cream, half and half, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together.

Soak the Croissants in the Custard. When the mixture is well-combined, pour it over the croissants. Let the dish sit and soak for at least 10 minutes, pressing the chunks of croissant down now and then so they get good and soaked.

Baked Nutella croissant bread pudding in a large rectangular dish.

Bake the Bread Pudding. Loosely cover the baking dish with foil. Use a sharp knife to pierce a few holes here and there in the foil, so some steam can escape during the baking process. Place the dish in your preheated oven, and let it bake for about one hour. Then take the foil off, and bake it uncovered for about 10 minutes longer, until the pudding is set. You’ll know it’s done when a knife inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.

Enjoy! Take the bread pudding out of the oven, and let it cool a bit before serving. You can serve it warm, or at room temperature – it’s up to you!

Close-up shot of bread pudding made with chocolate hazelnut spread and croissant chunks.

Easy Tips and Variations

Be sure to look over this section if you’d like to make the best bread pudding of your life – or if you’d like to check out some similar recipes with other flavors and textures. Happy baking!

  • Croissant Substitutions: As much as I love this dish with flaky, buttery croissants, you can definitely use other breads if you prefer! Some awesome options include challah, brioche, and even Hawaiian rolls.
  • Fun Toppings: Chopped hazelnuts would make a great topping sprinkled over the dish. You could also pipe or dollop whipped cream or marshmallow fluff on top. Yum! For a really simple decoration, just heat some Nutella until it’s a good consistency for drizzling, and drizzle it all over the finished bake.
  • More Bread Pudding Ideas: If you love bread pudding, you might want to check out some of these great variations from other bloggers: Bread Pudding with Amaretto Cream from Bella Eats, Raspberry Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding from Good Life Eats, and Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding from What She’s Having.
A square of bread pudding with a fork cutting a bite out of it.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

To store the entire dish, just cool it down to about room temperature. Then, cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap. Place it in the fridge, and use it within three days. If you are just storing leftovers, you can save room by transferring them to an airtight container or food storage bag.

To reheat, cover with foil and bake the bread pudding at 350°F until heated through. You can also microwave it (in a microwave-safe dish) until heated through.

Bread pudding with Nutella streaked throughout, and an ice cream-Nutella topping.

Can I Freeze This?

Yes, you can freeze Nutella croissant bread pudding for later. Just cool it to room temperature, and then store it appropriately. That means a tight layer of plastic wrap, plus a generous layer of foil, if you’re freezing the whole dish. If you’re just freezing a portion, you can put it in a freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing. Freeze for up to 2 months, and reheat directly from frozen.

A slice of Nutella Croissant Bread Pudding on a plate with ice cream on top and chocolate sauce.
4.8 from 5 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 8 Servings

Nutella Croissant Bread Pudding

This Nutella Croissant Bread Pudding is amazing when served with a little vanilla ice cream. Make it ahead of time and reheat in the oven or the microwave as needed!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 large croissants, preferably stale
  • ½ cup Nutella, or Homemade Nutella
  • 3 whole large eggs
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 ½ cups half and half
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoonfuls cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt

Optional Toppings:

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 10 x 6 by 3-inch deep glass baking dish.
  • Slice each croissant in half lengthwise and spread a generous scoop of Nutella on one side. Sandwich the halves back together and roughly chop into 1-2 inch pieces. Layer croissant/Nutella pieces evenly in prepared glass baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, combine large eggs, egg yolks, heavy cream, half and half, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Pour the custard mixture over the croissants and allow to soak for 10 minutes, pressing down gently.
  • Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Cut a few small holes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 55-65 minutes. Then remove foil and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until the pudding, is set and a knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean (there will be Nutella on it).
  • Remove from the oven and cool slightly for about 10 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top!

Notes

Storage
Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 750kcal, Carbohydrates: 63g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 50g, Saturated Fat: 31g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 336mg, Sodium: 412mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 38g

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Recipe Rating




44 Responses
  1. Nora

    5 stars
    I often offer to bring this as a dessert for special occasions and I usually get asked for the recipe. It’s so yummy! I make ahead the croissant/nutella sandwhiches and squish them down into the baking dish up to a day ahead of time (it’s messy and time consuming). I make the custard right before I leave and pack it separately. When I arrive at the dinner I whisk the custard up, pour it over, and pop it in the host’s oven and its ready just as we finish dinner! Yum!

  2. phuket map

    This is very good comment you shared.Thank you so much that for you shared those things with us.I am wishing you to carry on with your achievement.All the best..Thanks for sharing.

  3. Liana

    This looked too good so I went straight to the market after work. Only problem was all the Nutella was sold out…so I bought and used Biscoff spread instead. Woooo let me just say, you’ve got to try it. It came out not overly sweet, just right. By the way, I think you’re blog is fantastic! ^_^

  4. Nabiya

    I love that green mold you have in the last picture, it’s SO CUTE! We can’t find stuff like that where I am… at least, not for a good price.

    Also, more importantly, I think I love you. You had me at Nutella. LOL can’t wait to try this recipe out, and I will most probably be posting it up on my blog when I’m done (with credits to you, of course) if that is okay.

    Thanks for sharing!

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      Hey Erica! Sorry to just be getting back to you! I was on a cruise and had no internet! Annnyywwayyysss…. I would not recommend making this the day before. I think the bread would turn out way too soggy by then. It’s really better the day off and right out of the oven!

  5. carly {carlyklock}

    I haven’t stopped dreaming of this chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon glaze I had once. Amazing.

    Love the idea of using nutella! holy moly.

  6. Jen @ BeantownBaker.com

    Love your tips! Hubby and I both got a stomach bug for Thanksgiving this year, so we missed the big meal. But we made up for it on Friday!

  7. Joeycake

    Just found your blog! I like you!

    I have a dreaded relative I do everything in my power to avoid sitting beside. He eats the turkey butt every year and it makes me want to hurl.

    This nutella goodness looks amazeballs.

    Thanks! jolie

  8. Katie from Katie's Cucina

    oh man… leave it to you to take it to the next level! I love bread pudding, croissants, and nutella. Need to make ASAP! :)

  9. Lauren at Keep It Sweet

    I love your tips! Even more, I love this! Too bad I’d rather make it for myself than share it with anyone, is that bad?

  10. kyleen

    When everyone goes around to say what they are thankful for, say, “I’m thankful I had another bandaid since I lost mine while making the potatoes.”

    LOL

    This croissant bread looks delicious. You had me at croissants!

  11. Brandy

    Ok, that made my waist band tighten just looking at that and I’m wearing sweats at the moment! :) In all seriousness though, I have hosted Thanksgiving at my house for the last five years just so I could drink my weight in wine. And my dad brings the good stuff too. I’m pretty sure I’m going to work that bandaid line in at some point during the day tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!!

  12. DessertForTwo

    Excuse me while I rush to the ticket counter to change my ticket to Florida and come to your house to eat every single serving of these. Must have ’em!

  13. brandi

    “enjoy your time with your family. They may be certifiably insane, but they are yours.: YUP!

    i love ’em, crazy and all :)

  14. Julie @ Sugarfoot Eats

    Ha! I’ll have to remember the “I’ll be in charge of the wine” trick for Christmas. My whole “I’ll be in charge of the side dishes” for Thanksgiving was a bad idea!

  15. Ann

    LOVE the tips! Being grateful for the second bandaid because you lost the first one is HYSTERICAL! Happy Thanksgiving!

  16. mom

    One year when I was just a toddler…I mean teenager…Aunt Gay had to make our Thanksgiving Dinner. Your Granny and PaPa had to leave for a funeral and returned on TDay! Anyways…..Gay was trying so hard…chopping and all that and somewhere along the way she chopped off a finger nail.

    Long story short we never found it and everyone enjoyed dinner!
    HA!

  17. Joanne

    See I think I need to make this so I have something delicious to stress-eat during all of this holiday baking and cooking!

  18. Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray

    This is amaaaaazing. I am usually not a bread pudding fan (um, why are you using your stale bread to make me dessert?!), but this just looks like magic. Oh, and I like your emphasis on “healthy” scoop of vanilla ice cream–adds calcium! ;)

  19. Annalise

    Day-um. This looks absolutely incredible. I’m about to drop all my pie making plans I have for the next few days and make this instead. Looks fabulous!

  20. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    Oh wow. I love nutella and I love bread pudding. So this is totally fat free and ‘light’ then, right? :) I don’t care what it is…I WANT IT!

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Jessica
For the past 15 years, Jorge & Jessica have loved getting to share their families' favorite recipes with all of you. They live in Florida with their 3 kids.