Red, White, and Blue Bread Pudding is the best patriotic bread pudding you'll ever see...or taste.
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Red, White, and Blue Bread Pudding is available at the end of this post. OR you can hit the "jump to recipe" button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe.
The ingredient list:
**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- Italian bread, cut into cubes
- fresh rhubarb stalks, trimmed and chopped, discard leaves.
- fresh strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered
- fresh blueberries
- white chocolate chips
- butter
- eggs
- milk
- granulated sugar
- pure vanilla extract
- kosher salt
The kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- cutting board
- serrated knife
- paring knife
- mixing bowls
- medium saucepan
- measuring cups and spoons
- whisk
- 9 x 13 Baking Dish
- baking spray (optional for the dish)
- plastic wrap or aluminum foil (for storing in the fridge)
Why this recipe works:
It's relatively easy to make, requires minimal kitchen skills, and it will earn you rave reviews from your family and friends.
Fresh strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb, and white chocolate are combined with bread cubes and then bathed in a rich, creamy custard sauce before baking.
When to serve red, white, and blue bread pudding?
Creamy, sweet, and utterly delicious. This berry good bread pudding makes a glorious breakfast, brunch, or a delicious dessert!
Or, if you're hosting (or attending), a Memorial Day or 4th of July celebration this year then you definitely want to add this patriotic bread pudding with strawberries, rhubarb, and blueberries to the menu.
The effort required to make this recipe is pretty minimal. As long as you can use a serrated knife to cut the bread into cubes, and can bring milk and butter to a low simmer on the stovetop, you'll be successful in making this recipe.
What could be better?
Can this recipe be made in advance?
100% yes!
Make the bread pudding up until the point of baking, and then store in the refrigerator (covered) for a few hours, or overnight is best.
To bake, bring the bread pudding to room temperature for at least 45 minutes before baking and then continue baking as instructed.
Can this patriotic bread pudding be frozen?
Yes!
Bake it as per the instructions and then allow it to cool completely.
Wrap well and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To bake from frozen, cover and bake at 350-degrees for 45 minutes.
Uncover and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the bread pudding is heated through.
What if I don't like rhubarb? Do I have to use it?
Nope. Not at all.
Leave the rhubarb out completely, or substitute raspberries (or additional strawberries) for the same red white, and blue effect.
The step-by-step photo instructions for making patriotic bread pudding:
- Butter or spray a 9" x 13" baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan bring milk, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract to a low simmer.
- Remove the pan from the heat and set it aside while you cube a loaf of Italian bread into 2" cubes.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl.
- Trim and chop the rhubarb into approximate ½" pieces (this doesn't need to be exact).
- Place the chopped rhubarb (reserving ½ cup for later) into the bowl with the bread. Discard the leaves, if any.
- Trim and chop the strawberries into the same approximate size as the rhubarb, and add them, along with the blueberries (reserving a ½ cup of each for later) into the bowl with the bread cubes.
- Add the white chocolate chips (reserving ½ cup for later) to the bread bowl and toss to combine all the ingredients.
- Pour the bread and fruit mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and set aside while you prepare the custard.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Add 1 cup of the milk mixture that was set aside, into the egg bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the egg and milk mixture from the small bowl into the saucepan with the remaining warm milk mixture.
- Whisk to combine.
- Pour all the custard evenly over top of the bread cubes and fruit in the baking dish, pressing the bread cubes into the custard mixture making sure it's evenly coated.
- Bake the bread pudding in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove the bread pudding from the oven and evenly sprinkle the remaining fruit and white chocolate chips evenly over top.
- Sprinkle the entire top with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Return the baking dish back into the oven and continue baking until the custard is set in the middle and the bread pudding is puffed and golden.
- Allow to cool for approximately 30 minutes and serve warm.
- Enjoy!
Additional red, white, and blue recipes you'll also enjoy:
*American Flag Heart Decorated Sugar Cookies (shown below and in the featured video)
While these adorable red, white, and blue sugar cookies do take a little extra time to prepare, American Flag Heart Decorated Sugar Cookies are definitely worth the effort! They’re sure to be a hit at your next patriotic party or event.
*Patriotic Cinnamon Sugar Dessert Nachos (not shown)
Red, White, & Blue Dessert Nachos are a patriotic sweet treat your family and friends will rave about. Homemade cinnamon sugar tortilla chips are generously topped with red and blue seasonal berries, a white chocolate drizzle, and sweetened coconut.
*Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Covered Bananas (shown below)
Want something cold and creamy? Something that’s healthy and yet slightly decadent, too? These White Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas are just the thing you’re craving!
*Popular Patriotic Red, White, and Blue Recipe Roundup (not shown)
When you’re feeling patriotic and you want your table to reflect your spirit, this Red, White, and Blue Recipe Roundup will come in handy.
*Red, White, and Blue Bread Pudding (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!
Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's easy and delicious berry bread pudding.
If you've made this recipe, or are excited to make this recipe, I'd appreciate it if you'd take a moment to leave it a star rating on the recipe card, along with a comment if you're so inclined. Thank you. 🙂
Red, White, and Blue Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 5 cups Italian bread cut into 2" cubes
- 2 cups fresh rhubarb stalks trimmed and diced into 1" pieces, reserve ½ cup and set aside
- 1½ cups sliced strawberries reserve ½ cup and set aside
- 1½ cups fresh blueberries reserve ½ cup and set aside
- 8 ounces white chocolate chips reserve ½ cup and set aside
- 3 cups milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar plus 1 tablespoon, set aside
- 4 tablespoons butter plus additional to butter the baking dish
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 eggs beaten
- pinch salt
Tools and equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
- Liberally butter or spray the baking dish with baking spray, and set aside.
- Cube the Italian bread and place in a large bowl.
- Bring the milk, sugar, butter and vanilla to a low simmer in a medium size saucepan. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Trim and cut the rhubarb and strawberries and add to the bowl with the bread cubes.
- Add the blueberries and white chocolate chips to the bowl with the bread and rhubarb.
- Toss to the ingredients in the large bowl to combine.
- Turn the bread and fruit mixture out in an even layer in the buttered baking dish.
- In a medium bowl whisk 3 eggs and a pinch of salt.
- Slowly add about 1 cup of the warmed milk and butter mixture into the blended eggs. Stir to combine.
- Pour the egg and milk mixture into the larger bowl with the remaining milk and butter mixture and stir well to combine.
- Pour the milk and egg mixture (custard) evenly over the bread, fruit and chocolate mixture.
- Press the bread into the custard to it's evenly covered.
- Bake the bread pudding for 45 minutes in a preheated oven.
- Remove from the oven and top the bread pudding evenly with the reserved ½ cup rhubarb, strawberries, blueberries and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.
- Return the bread pudding back into the oven and continue baking until the center of the bread pudding is set and it's puffed and golden.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm (preferred) with vanilla ice cream, if desired (not shown).
Notes
Nutrition
Wait! Before you go...
Since the window for fresh strawberries, blueberries and rhubarb only last for a short while, I have a few other recipes that call for these superheroes of the produce department that I think you'll also enjoy.
Additional recipes for fresh berries and rhubarb:
*STRAWBERRY BREAD WITH RHUBARB AND BANANAS
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's recipe for patriotic bread pudding as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I have everything I need for this dish, can’t wait to make it this weekend!
Renée says
Enjoy it, Shadi!
Sam says
This bread pudding was delicious! My family loved it!
Renée says
Thanks, Sam. Glad to hear it!!
Taryn says
I've never put rhubarb in bread pudding before but it was so good! Thanks for a great recipe.
Renée says
I like to go for a little unexpected sometimes. Plus, one of our dear friends loves rhubarb so the addition was for him.
I know you're going to love it, Taryn. Enjoy.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Love how this works whether I'm feeling patriotic and want red, white and blue, or I can sub other fruits as well.
Renée says
Always, Dorothy! This can be made with any fruit you love!
Donna says
I love how different this is from the usual patriotic foods you see. All that fruit works so well with the white chocolare!!
Renée says
Thank you, Donna! I have a friend who loves bread pudding so I wanted to make something special for her. That's what inspired this recipe. 🙂
Dara Michalski says
This is such an awesome dessert for the 4th! My husband adores rhubarb, so this was definitely a hit at our house.
Renée says
Thanks so much, Dara! Enjoy!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I made your recipe for a gathering the other day and everyone kept asking for the recipe. It was totally a hit!
Renée says
Awesome, Shadi. Thanks.
Nicole says
I made this today and it really IS the best bread pudding I've ever made. So decadent and divine. I added some fresh blackberries, too. I will definitely be making this again.
Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says
I love all the summer fruit in here! I've had bread pudding (and loved it)... but it's usually really rich and heavy. This is such a lovely, light summery twist!
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
Rhubarb and bread pudding are two things I don't normally think of together - but now I won't be able to stop thinking about it. This sounds delicious...and so pretty!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
This sounds wonderful and with the addition of the white chocolate it's sure to be a winner!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
I just fell in love with bread pudding a few years ago! I'm 100% head over heels for this one with all of the strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb and white chocolate chips!
Joanie @ ZagLeft says
I love bread pudding and I especially love the addition of fresh fruit. Such a great dessert to bring to a party.
Brenda@ SugarFree Mom says
SO perfect for a summer dessert!!!
Isabelle @ Crumb says
I love rhubarb in desserts, but I've never tried putting it in a bread pudding before. I love how pretty it is with the rhubarb and berries scattered on top... I bet it tastes absolutely delicious, too!
Stephanie says
Oh my. This looks 100% delightful!
christine says
You know I always think bread pudding as a heavy looking, not for summer dish but man those berries sure to liven it up. Great rendition for the summer!
The Food Hunter says
Patriotic and delicious perfect for the 4th!
Laura at I Heart Naptime says
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! I'm betting that white chocolate just sends it over the top - I love it paired with berries!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
This looks fantastic and so festive! I adore rhubarb!
TidyMom says
oh how i love bread pudding! lots of great flavors going on here!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
This bread pudding is perfection!
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer says
This is just perfect! I am loving all the fresh fruit on this bread pudding! And your pictures are beautiful!