This dessert is as elegant as it is comforting: Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding. It’s perfect for Christmas morning or whenever you need a delicious breakfast!

Imagine velvety, sweet custard mixed with buttery croissants and tangy strawberries. Each mouthful is like a little slice of heaven!

It’s a beautiful combination of fresh strawberries and fluffy croissants. Think French sophistication meets Grandma’s kitchen comfort. So good!

This croissant bread pudding recipe is a great way to give stale croissants a delicious new life. Got some sitting on your counter? Perfect way to use them up!

It’s surprisingly easy to whip up, even though it tastes and looks like you’ve been at it all day. What mother-in-law? Are you so impressed?

This croissant bread pudding is great for everything! Perfect for a cozy family brunch, an afternoon tea, or even a decadent dessert.

It serves as a wonderful base that you can tweak to your heart’s content. Experiment with other fresh fruits or even a drizzle of maple syrup!

What is Croissant Bread Pudding?

Bread pudding is a kind of dessert that uses bread as its main base. It can be made sweet or savory depending on how you want to serve it up.

Bread Pudding with Strawberries is a delicious dessert (or breakfast, if you fancy!) that combines torn croissants with a creamy egg custard.

Baked to perfection, it has a wonderful contrast between the crispy, buttery croissant tops and the smooth, sweet pudding base.

Where Did Bread Pudding Originate?

This bread pudding with fruit finds its roots in 11th century England.

Initially it was used as a way to make use of stale bread. I know I almost always end up with stale bread so I get it!

While bread was great, when it went stale? Not so great! That’s where we get french toast too!

Bread pudding has since transformed into a treasured dessert enjoyed around the world, each culture adding its own unique spin.

What Ingredients are in Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding?

We need a handful of ingredients to create our sweet treat:

Croissants: Providing that buttery base and a luxurious texture.
Strawberries: Adding a fresh, tangy contrast to the sweetness of the pudding.
Cream Cheese: Ensuring a silky, rich custard.
Sugar: Sweetening up the whole dish.
Eggs: They help set the pudding and add creaminess.
Vanilla: Enhancing the other flavors with its rich, warm notes.
Milk: The crucial component of our custard mixture.

Pro Tip:

No strawberries? No problem! Try blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries instead.

How to Make Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding

This is a delicious way to use up some large croissants.

Use it for Easter Brunch, Christmas breakfast, or whenever you want!

Begin by tearing your buttery croissants into bite-sized pieces and tossing them into a baking dish.
Sprinkle your fresh strawberries on top of the croissant mixture.
Next, whisk your cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl until they’re smooth.
Gradually mix in the milk and pour this custard mixture evenly over your croissant pieces.
Let it sit for a while so the croissants can soak up all that custardy goodness before baking it until it’s set and golden brown.
Finish it off with a dusting of powdered sugar and voila – dessert is served!

Pro Tip:

To avoid over-browning the tops, cover the dish with aluminum foil for the final few minutes of baking.

Can You Use Old Croissants for Bread Pudding?

Definitely! In fact, slightly stale croissants are perfect as they can absorb the custard mixture better without becoming soggy.

I like to buy the big pack of croissants from Costco or Sams Club just for that purpose.

When my family inevitably can’t get through them all, I can use the old ones in this recipe.

Can You Use Frozen Strawberries for Croissant Bread Pudding?

You can absolutely use frozen strawberries for croissant bread pudding! Frozen strawberries work wonderfully in this recipe and can be a lifesaver if fresh berries aren’t in season!

If you’ve got a lot of liquid in the frozen strawberries, you should probably thaw them and strain before adding to the recipe though.

Can You Use Wilted Strawberries for Croissant Bread Pudding?

You sure can use wilted strawberries for this bread pudding! Once baked, wilted strawberries will still provide that lovely burst of flavor we’re after.

So this is really the ideal recipe for using up all your strawberries.

Or other fresh berries! Don’t forget about the blueberries, blackberries and raspberries!

How to Store Croissant Bread Pudding

Keep your leftover bread pudding in an airtight container in the fridge.

It’ll stay tasty for a couple of days!

Though honestly, if my family knows there are leftovers, they’re probably going to be eaten up before the day is over!

Can You Freeze Croissant Bread Pudding?

Yes, you can freeze bread pudding with fruit. Wrap it securely in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil to freeze.

It’ll keep for up to a month. Don’t forget to let the entire dish cool completely before freezing though!

This makes it great for Christmas morning or a baby shower. Because you can literally pull it out and warm it whenever you need it.

How to Reheat Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding

To reheat this strawberries and cream bread pudding, remove from the fridge and allow it to reach room temperature.

Then warm it in the oven at medium heat until it’s heated through.

Remember that it’s already been cooked. Don’t burn the bread! Just bake it until warm.

Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding?

While strawberries are fine for dogs, the sugar, milk, and other ingredients in this recipe are not suitable for them.

It’s best to stick to pet food for your furry friend and skip this bread pudding with croissants recipe. It’s better for them and they’ll thank you for it!

Fresh Strawberry Recipes You’ll Love…

Ready to whip up this heavenly Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding? The soft, buttery croissants soaked in sweet, creamy custard and topped with juicy strawberries will win your heart in no time!

Yield: 4-6 Servings

Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding

Name: Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 3 large croissants, cut up into small bite size chunks (about 5 to 5 1/2 cups); 1 cup fresh or frozen Strawberries sliced up into small pieces; 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 2/3 cup sugar; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1 cup milk

Treat yourself to the perfect dessert: our Strawberry Croissant Bread Pudding, where fresh berries meet buttery pastry in a creamy, dreamy custard.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350*F.
Place croissant pieces in a 9 inch square pan. Sprinkle with strawberries.
With a hand mixer, blend cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl until smooth.
Add eggs and vanilla and beat again.
Slowly add milk 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
Pour evenly over croissant pieces. Let stand 20 minutes.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until set in center and golden brown. You may want to cover it with foil for the last 10 minutes if the tops are getting too browned.
Serve warm or room temperature sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 199Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 154mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 20gProtein: 5g

Originally Posted: December 5, 2014

Photos & Text Updated: September 19, 2023

Recipe Adapted From: The Girl Who Ate Everything